Austin Butler Reflects On His Emotional Connection To Lisa Marie Presley Before Her Death

Feb 16, 2023 by apost team

Born on Feb. 1, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee, to parents Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley, Lisa Marie Presley was one of the biggest celebrity children upon her birth. However, she passed at the age of 54 on Jan. 12, 2023, after being rushed to the emergency room when she was found unresponsive in her California home. 

Lisa Marie's passing comes about seven months after Baz Luhrmann's big-budget biopic about her father, "Elvis," was released in cinemas in the United States. The film generated a lot of buzz due to Luhrmann's participation in the project, as well as both Lisa Marie and Priscilla's involvement in the production. 

Both mother and daughter praised the film highly, particularly actor Austin Butler's portrayal of the "King of Rock and Roll" in the movie. 

Their sentiments were echoed by the Hollywood Foreign Press when it bestowed the Golden Globe award for Best Actor in a Drama Motion Picture on Jan. 10, 2023. After Butler was declared the winner of the award, he hugged Luhrmann and his sister, whom he had brought as his date, before blowing a kiss toward Priscilla and Lisa Marie, who made her last public appearance there only two days before her passing.

"And the Presley family. Thank you guys. Thank you for opening your hearts, your memories, your home to me. Lisa Marie, Priscilla, I love you forever," he said in his acceptance speech. 

As he spoke, an emotional Lisa Marie was seen, and Priscilla was tapping her heart with her hand. 

Weeks after Lisa Marie's death, Butler received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for the same role and film. In an interview at "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," Butler reflected on his relationship with Lisa Marie and how her presence made an impact on his life. 

Thanks to "Elvis," Butler earned his first Academy Award nomination for his acting career. In a statement to Good Morning America following the announcement, Butler did not forget to honor Lisa Marie in the recognition. 

"Life is full of so many ups and downs, and while this is such a positive moment, the grief is just so deep with the loss of Lisa Marie," Butler said." I know that this was important to her, so I know she'd be really happy right now."

Per the actor, he first met Lisa when they screened "Elvis" at Graceland, Lisa Marie's inherited estate from his father, Elvis. 

"I've never had an experience where I met somebody and felt an immediate depth of relationship with them," he told Jimmy Fallon on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon." "She's also — she's a person who didn't have anything to prove and wouldn't open up to anybody, and she opened up to me." 

"We got so close so fast," he added.

Butler also alluded to the "emotional contrast" of promoting the movie, and the awards season, while also mourning Lisa Marie at the same time. 

"It's weird in moments like this because it's so bittersweet," he admitted. "I mean, so much great stuff is happening, but I'm just devastated for her family. And for her to not be here celebrating with us, you know."

Fallon expressed his happiness that Butler got to meet and bond with Lisa Marie, even for a short while. In return, the young actor said:

"Yeah, I'm happy I got to be with her at the (Golden) Globes; I'll never forget that for the rest of my life." 

Butler is going head to head for the Oscars Best Actor category with Colin Farrell, Brendan Fraser, Paul Mescal, and Bill Nighy. 

apost.com

Have you watched "Elvis" already? What can you say about Austin Butler and Lisa Marie Presley's relationship? Do you think Butler deserves recognition in honor of Lisa Marie? Let us know, and pass this on to your family, friends, and other loved ones!