Every Actor Playing Elvis Onscreen, Ranked

Film: Angels with Angles (2005)

Verdict: 26 on Metascore

While lots of people will only know Frank Stallone as the younger brother of Hollywood legend Sylvester, he’s still carved a pretty good career for himself. Yes, Frank has nearly 80 acting credits to his name. And Elvis is one of them. In the forgotten 2005 comedy Angels with Angles, he joined the likes of Rodney Dangerfield and Adam West.

Film: Hounddog (2007)

Verdict: 31 on Metascore

Hounddog marked Blake Rayne’s on-screen acting debut back in 2007. What a way to make your bow! Not many rookies can say they were entrusted to play Elvis in a movie. It had quite the cast, too: Dakota Fanning, David Morse, Robin Wright, and Piper Laurie were all in it. Yet this drama about a young fan of The King didn’t get the greatest reception.

Film: Finding Graceland (1998)

Verdict: 40 Percent on Rotten Tomatoes

Harvey Keitel has brought plenty of memorable characters to life across his legendary career. But can any of them touch the iconic status of Elvis? Keitel provided an interesting depiction in 1998’s Finding Graceland. In that movie, an older version of the singer professed to have faked his passing years beforehand. It could only manage mixed reviews, though.

Film: Elvis and the Beauty Queen (1981)

Verdict: 4.4/10 on IMDb

Some three years before Miami Vice launched his career into the stratosphere, Don Johnson got the chance to bring Elvis to life in a television movie. Yep, 1981’s Elvis and the Beauty Queen detailed the singer’s romantic bond with Linda Thompson, who he started seeing following his split from Priscilla Presley. Yet despite Johnson’s best efforts, the film doesn’t have a big fanbase.

Film: Protecting the King (2007)

Verdict: 4.5/10 on IMDb

Following turns in movies such as The Frighteners and Last Exit to Brooklyn, Peter Dobson was already a recognizable face when he took on Elvis in 2007. The actor turned in an arresting performance in that year’s Protecting the King, which focused on the musician’s young security guard, stepbrother David Stanley.

Film: Lonely Street (2008)

Verdict: 5.1/10 on IMDb

We probably know what you’re thinking! “The T-1000 played the King?” In another “what-if” story, 2008’s Lonely Street presented an Elvis who staged his passing, with Robert Patrick bringing him to life. As the actor told newspaper the Daily Herald, “It’s kind of what we all wish would’ve happened if Elvis had stayed alive. He’s making protein drinks and he’s a fit man.”

Film: Elvis and the Colonel: The Untold Story (1993)

Verdict: 5.1/10 on IMDb

Elvis and the Colonel: The Untold Story hit the small screen back in 1993. As the title suggests, the television movie focused on Elvis’ complex association with his handler Colonel Tom Parker. Rob Youngblood took on the role of the singer, while Beau Bridges played Parker. It may be a little obscure, but it does have its fans.

Film: Kill the King (2016)

Verdict: 5.1/10 on IMDb

From Office Space to The Conjuring, Ron Livingston has featured in many memorable projects down the years. Did you know he played Elvis, though? The actor appeared in the 2016 crime drama Kill the King, which detailed a couple’s plot to take out the musician in the mid-1970s. It’s an interesting premise, to say the least!

Film: Heart of Dixie (1989)

Verdict: 5.2/10 on IMDb

After making his on-screen acting debut in 1987 Michael St. Gerard bagged the role of Elvis just a couple of years later in Heart of Dixie. Set in the late 1950s, the film is about a trio of young ladies navigating a formerly segregated university in Alabama. Virginia Madsen, Ally Sheedy, and Phoebe Cates starred in it. As for the reviews, they were pretty average.

Film: Heartbreak Hotel (1988)

Verdict: 5.7/10 on IMDb

Chris Columbus’ Heartbreak Hotel boasts a pretty crazy idea. The 1988 comedy is about a teenager who abducts Elvis after an accident involving his mom in the early ’70s, because he wants the pair to fall in love. Veteran actor David Keith scored the role of the musical icon. And thanks in part to his performance, the movie has a solid online following.

Film: Ricky Nelson: Original Teen Idol (1999)

Verdict: 5.8/10 on IMDb

Rob Fenton has only one acting credit to his name — but what a character to play! Yes, Fenton portrayed Elvis in the 1999 TV film Ricky Nelson: Original Teen Idol. Much like The King, Nelson was also a big thing during the 1950s, which the movie covers across its runtime. It’s got a decent rating online.

Film: Going for the Gold: The Bill Johnson Story (1985)

Verdict: 5.9/10 on IMDb

Going for the Gold: The Bill Johnson Story is a TV movie from 1985 with Anthony Edwards and Sarah Jessica Parker taking on the lead roles. But the film, which depicts the titular athlete’s skiing triumph at the Olympics, also includes a portrayal of Elvis. Croatia’s Karlo Metikos might not have been everyone’s first choice for the part, yet he doesn’t do too badly at all.

Film: Elvis & Nixon (2016)

Verdict: 59 on Metascore

There’s little dispute that Michael Shannon is quite the accomplished actor, boasting two Academy Award nominations in his career to date. So, he seemed like an inspired pick to play the music legend in 2016’s Elvis & Nixon. The movie presents a comical view of what might’ve happened when the famous pair met at White House, with Shannon in particular offering up a fun performance. It got a decent critical reception.

Film: Great Balls of Fire! (1989)

Verdict: 60 Percent on Rotten Tomatoes

Yes folks, Michael St. Gerard played Elvis more than once. And two of those performances came in the same year. Wow! We’ve already looked at one of them, so here’s the other. St. Gerard portrayed the King of Rock and Roll in 1989’s Great Balls of Fire! — a biopic about Jerry Lee Lewis. As you can see from the Rotten Tomatoes score, it did pretty well with the critics.

Film: Liberace: Behind the Music (1988)

Verdict: 6.1/10 on IMDb

As you can no doubt glean from the title, Liberace: Behind the Music is a movie about the legendary musician. And it had quite the cast as well, with Victor Garber and Saul Rubinek taking center stage. In addition to that, the 1988 TV film also included an Elvis appearance. Paul Hipp did a good job with the role — he refused to overplay it.

Film: Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007)

Verdict: 63 on Metascore

Who’d have thought that Jack White would make for an hilarious Elvis? The White Stripes singer made a memorable cameo as The King in Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. The comedy, which pokes fun at music biopics, has become something of a cult classic since its 2007 release. The critical reception was strong, too.

Film: Crazy (2008)

Verdict: 6.4/10 on IMDb

Crazy detailed the rise of musician Hank Garland, who wowed audiences with his guitar skills across the ’50s. Waylon Payne took on the lead role, with Ali Larter playing Evelyn Garland. Meanwhile, Elvis also featured in the story. To this day, it’s arguably Jason Alan Smith’s most high-profile part. The 2008 biopic has a fairly decent user rating online.

TV show: The Twilight Zone (1986)

Verdict: 6.5/10 on IMDb

Jeff Yagher has enjoyed a pretty solid acting career since making his bow in 1984. But one of his earliest efforts is arguably among his most memorable. You see, Yagher played both Elvis and an imitator in an episode of The Twilight Zone in 1986. It’s a well-regarded entry in the series, and for good reason.

Film: Memphis Rising: Elvis Returns (2011)

Verdict: 6.7/10 on IMDb

The premise behind Memphis Rising: Elvis Returns is as wacky as they come. The 2011 action comedy depicts the legend’s homecoming after he was abducted by aliens at the time of his “death.” Hey, we did warn you! With George Thomas in the lead, it clearly found an audience online.

Film: Shake, Rattle and Roll: An American Love Story (1999)

Verdict: 6.8/10 on IMDb

Shawn Wayne Klush was given quite the task for his first on-screen acting role. Yep, he was cast as a younger Elvis in the 1999 television film Shake, Rattle and Roll: An American Love Story. Now, while the movie itself has a decent online rating, Klush really made an impression with his performance. Thanks to that, it wouldn’t be the last time he played The King…

Film: Elvis and Me (1988)

Verdict: 6.9/10 on IMDb

Dale Midkiff might be best remembered for starring in 1989’s creepy horror hit Pet Sematary. Yet just 12 months before that, the actor really got noticed thanks to his work in a television movie. We’re referring to Elvis and Me, which detailed Priscilla Presley’s time with the music icon. Thanks in part to Midkiff’s portrayal, the film has its fans online.

Film: Elvis Meets Nixon (1997)

Verdict: 7.0/10 on IMDb

No folks, Elvis & Nixon wasn’t the first movie to dive into that famous meeting between the rocker and the U.S. President. The 1997 TV production Elvis Meets Nixon had it beat by 19 years! Rick Peters was handed the responsibility of playing The King, and he acquitted himself well, arguably more than matching Michael Shannon’s later portrayal. The film itself is well-liked online, too.

TV show: Sun Records (2017)

Verdict: 7.5/10 on IMDb

Sun Records might’ve only lasted for eight episodes in 2017, but Drake Milligan was definitely one of the highlights. The musician’s take on Elvis featured across the entire run, and no doubt helped boost the show’s user score. Milligan had previous as The King, too, having depicted him in a short movie titled Nobody just three years before.

TV show: Legends of Tomorrow (2018)

Verdict: 7.5/10 on IMDb

Legends of Tomorrow was one of TV’s wildest comic-book shows, yet few episodes could top this. “Amazing Grace” first aired in 2018 with Elvis playing a huge role in its crazy plot. Luke Bilyk was cast for the part and didn’t do too badly at all. The episode has a solid online rating from users.

TV show: Vinyl (2016)

Verdict: 7.9/10 on IMDb

Like we hinted earlier, folks, Shawn Wayne Klush wasn’t a “one and done” in these rankings! Yes, some 17 years after Shake, Rattle and Roll: An American Love Story, he took on Elvis again in the 2016 TV show Vinyl. And Klush was excellent. The IMDb rating shows people loved it as well.

Film: Bubba Ho-Tep (2002)

Verdict: 79 Percent on Rotten Tomatoes

Bubba Ho-Tep had “cult classic” written all over it when it came out back in 2002. The movie is about an old Elvis doing battle with an ancient mummy. So, who better to play The King in that instance than horror legend Bruce Campbell? He’s great from start to finish. The reviews were very good as well.

Film: Mystery Train (1989)

Verdict: 80 on Metascore

Jim Jarmusch’s Mystery Train presents a trio of interconnected tales with one thing in common — Elvis’ ghost. Stephen Jones was entrusted to pull off the unique part, which proved to be pretty brief in the end. As for the movie, although it didn’t light up the box office in 1989 the critics still really liked it.

TV show: Red Dwarf (1991)

Verdict: 8.1/10 on IMDb

When it comes to classic British comedy, Red Dwarf is definitely up there among the best shows. Anyway, Elvis made an appearance in the 1991 episode “Meltdown” — or rather, it was an android copy of him. Clayton Mark was cast for the role, and had a lot of fun with it. He even sang the theme tune over the closing credits! It’s a highly-rated entry online.

TV show: Elvis (1990)

Verdict: 8.2/10 on IMDb

The year 1990 was a big one for fans of The King. Why’s that? Well, a new TV show titled Elvis made its debut during that spell. It ran for 13 episodes, covering the start of his incredible career. So, to portray the legend as a youngster, Lukas Cain was cast. He went on to appear in A Time to Kill some six years later.

TV show: Elvis (1990)

Verdict: 8.2/10 on IMDb

Yep, it’s that man again. Michael St. Gerard was called upon to play the musical icon once more in 1990’s Elvis. And as he had 13 episodes to show his stuff, the actor really grabbed the chance with both hands. St. Gerard did brilliantly, helping the show to its strong online rating. You can’t say he wasn’t reliable!

Film: Forrest Gump (1994)

Verdict: 82 on Metascore

Some 13 years before he took on the role again, Peter Dobson got his first crack at Elvis in the 1994 classic Forrest Gump. He shares a memorable little scene with the titular character, learning one of his famous moves. The film was a big hit with audiences and critics alike. Oh, and it won six Academy Awards. Can’t forget that!

Film: Walk the Line (2005)

Verdict: 82 Percent on Rotten Tomatoes

Yes, Walk the Line is Johnny Cash’s story, but Elvis does pop up before the 2005 movie ends. In that instance,Tyler Hilton — who you might know better for his stint on TV show One Tree Hill — does brilliantly to bring The King to life. The film bagged a single Academy Award, while its Rotten Tomato score shows that critics loved it.

Film: This Is Elvis (1981)

Verdict: 86 Percent on Rotten Tomatoes

This Is Elvis is a 1981 documentary charting the musician’s incredible life. It offers the audience a mix of real-life film and reenactments across the runtime, meaning various actors got to play The King. Paul Boensch III was recruited to depict Elvis as a ten-year-old, and it’s proven to be his only acting credit. Quite the thing to have on your résumé, though!

Film: This Is Elvis (1981)

Verdict: 86 Percent on Rotten Tomatoes

Okay, so we now know who played Elvis at age ten in This Is Elvis. But what about his teenage years? Well, that responsibility fell on an up-and-coming actor named David Scott. He portrayed an 18-year-old version of The King to perfection in one of his earliest roles. The resemblance was uncanny, too!

Film: This Is Elvis (1981)

Verdict: 86 Percent on Rotten Tomatoes

In another time-jump, Dana MacKay was recruited to bring 35-year-old Elvis to life in This Is Elvis. Much like Paul Boensch III, this is the only acting credit to his name. We’re sure there’s a future trivia question in there somewhere. Anyway, the documentary had one more period to cover as well...

Film: This Is Elvis (1981)

Verdict: 86 Percent on Rotten Tomatoes

You guessed correctly, folks — someone had to depict the music icon in his later years in This Is Elvis. So, Johnny Hara was cast for the role of 42-year-old Elvis. He too looked like a mirror-image of the real thing. The documentary wasn’t a smash-hit at cinemas, yet the rating on Rotten Tomatoes shows the critics warmed to it.

TV show: Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King (2006)

Verdict: 86 Percent on Rotten Tomatoes

Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King was a creepy little mini-series that ran for eight episodes in 2006. One of the stand-outs was titled “You Know They Got a Hell of a Band.” Old musicians such as Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison popped up in that story, as well as Elvis. Veteran actor Joey Sagal played him there brilliantly.

Film: True Romance (1993)

Verdict: 93 Percent on Rotten Tomatoes

True Romance is filled to the brim with magnificent characters. Seriously, it’s amazing that they’re all in this one movie! But Val Kilmer’s wonderful portrayal of a largely unseen Elvis “apparition” throughout the crime drama is something else. The actor makes full use of the brief time he gets. And Kilmer’s work no doubt helped the film reach its massive score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Film: Elvis (1979)

Verdict: Primetime Emmy nomination

When it comes to famous Elvis portrayals, Kurt Russell’s take is definitely near the top. The Hollywood heavyweight played the singer in John Carpenter’s TV film Elvis in 1979. He was excellent in the role, and definitely deserved his award nomination. Plus, it cemented Russell’s glorious partnership with Carpenter going into the 1980s.

TV show: Elvis (2005)

Verdict: Primetime Emmy nomination

While he might not have been many people’s first choice to play The King, Jonathan Rhys Meyers did a tremendous job in 2005’s Elvis. Joined by the likes of Randy Quaid and Rose McGowen, Meyers’ take covered the singer’s ascent to the top of the music world. He was mighty unfortunate to miss out on that Primetime Emmy.