"To get to be with her at the Golden Globes, I'll never forget that for the rest of my life," the actor said.
Austin Butler is reflecting on his relationship with the late Lisa Marie Presley. The 31-year-old who played her famous father, Elvis Presley, in the movie Elvis opened up about his easy and immediate bond with Lisa Marie who died on January 12 at age 54. She passed away just days after she appeared with the actor for the film's promotion.
"I first met Lisa when we screened the film at Graceland," Butler told Jimmy Fallon during his appearance on The Tonight Show on January 30. Graceland is the Memphis, Tennessee estate of the late rock icon Elvis Presley. "I've never had an experience where I met somebody and felt an immediate depth of relationship with them," he added.
"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," Butler continued. "We got so close so fast and it's just devastating." She even invited him to see Elvis’ bedroom and showed him the late rock n’ roll legend's slippers. “His bedroom is a place that most people never get to see. Up there, he’s not Elvis. He’s just dad. To hear those stories — I’ll treasure that forever,” he said.
Butler has complex emotions about his first-ever Oscar nomination in the wake of Lisa Marie's death. While promoting the film he also had to mourn her death which he described as mixed feelings. "It's weird in moments like this because it's so bittersweet," Butler said. "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," added Butler. Host Fallon said that he was happy she got to see the actor. "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," said Butler, who won best actor in a drama for his performance in the Baz Luhrmann film at the January 10 award show.
.@austinbutler remembers the late Lisa Marie Presley. #FallonTonight pic.twitter.com/ngnBtbvKmn
— The Tonight Show (@FallonTonight) January 31, 2023
Butler also told TODAY on January 24 that he is "still processing" his nomination and expressed his sadness that Lisa Marie could not witness the film's continued success. He added, "It's the same thing I feel with Elvis, I wish that they could see these moments, you know? It's just sort of strange to celebrate at a time of such deep grief. But I sort of think of it as a way to honor her. This is for her."
References:
https://twitter.com/FallonTonight/status/1620287032579825664?s=20&t=wpfg8gVgou1UVGoJJVezdQ
Cover Image Source: Getty Images | (L) Photo by Jon Kopaloff (R) Photo by Kevin Winter
