Priscilla Presley facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Priscilla Presley
Presley in August 2022
Born	Priscilla Ann Wagner (1945-05-24) May 24, 1945 (age 80) New York City, U.S.
Other names	Priscilla Wagner Priscilla Beaulieu
Occupation	Actress businesswoman
Years active	1973–present
Spouse(s)	Elvis Presley ​ ​ (m. 1967; div. 1973)​
Partner(s)	Marco Garibaldi (1984–2006)
Children	Lisa Marie Presley Navarone Garibaldi
Relatives	Riley Keough (granddaughter)

Priscilla Ann Presley (born May 24, 1945) is an American businesswoman and actress. She is best known as the ex-wife of the famous singer Elvis Presley. She also helped create and lead Elvis Presley Enterprises (EPE). This company turned Graceland, Elvis's home, into a very popular tourist spot in the United States. As an actress, Priscilla starred with Leslie Nielsen in Naked Gun movies. She also played Jenna Wade in the long-running TV show Dallas.

Early Life and Family Moves

Priscilla Ann Wagner was born in Brooklyn, New York, on May 24, 1945. Her biological father, James Frederick Wagner, was a US Navy pilot. He died in a plane crash when Priscilla was only six months old.

In 1948, her mother, Ann, married Paul Beaulieu, an officer in the United States Air Force. Priscilla took his last name in 1950. She grew up with her five half-siblings. Because her stepfather was in the Air Force, her family moved often. They lived in places like Connecticut, New Mexico, and Maine. Priscilla said she felt "shy" and "uneasy" about moving so much. She worried about making friends and fitting in at new schools.

In 1956, her family moved to Wiesbaden, West Germany. Priscilla was sad to leave her friends behind again.

Meeting Elvis in Germany

On September 13, 1959, when Priscilla was 14, she met 24-year-old Elvis Presley. He was serving in the military in Germany at the time. They met at a party at his home in Bad Nauheim. Priscilla's parents were not happy about her staying out late. But Elvis promised to bring her home on time, and her parents agreed to let them see each other. Priscilla and Elvis spent a lot of time together until he left Germany in March 1960.

After Elvis went back to the US, Priscilla received many interview requests. She also got fan mail from Elvis's fans. Some letters were kind, but others were not. She worried her relationship with Elvis was over. She also heard rumors about Elvis dating other people.

Moving to Graceland

Graceland, Elvis Presley's home

Priscilla and Elvis kept in touch by phone. They did not see each other again until the summer of 1962. Priscilla's parents let her visit Elvis for two weeks. They made sure Elvis paid for her flight and that she had a chaperone. She also had to write to her parents every day. Elvis agreed to everything.

After another visit at Christmas, Priscilla's parents allowed her to move to Memphis for good in March 1963. This was two months before her 18th birthday. Part of the agreement was that Elvis would marry her. Priscilla was supposed to finish high school at a Catholic school. She was also supposed to live with Elvis's father and stepmother. However, she soon moved into Graceland, Elvis's mansion. She later said, "The move was natural. ... I was there all the time anyway."

Priscilla wanted to go to Hollywood with Elvis. But he often told her he was too busy. She stayed in Memphis. She read news reports about Elvis dating his co-stars. Elvis told her these were just rumors to promote his movies. He told her not to believe the press.

Marriage and Family

Elvis and Priscilla with newborn Lisa Marie, February 1968

Elvis proposed to Priscilla in late 1966. They married on May 1, 1967, at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas. The wedding was small, with only a few guests. It lasted only eight minutes. After the wedding, they had a reception with friends and family.

Priscilla and Elvis then went on a short honeymoon in Palm Springs. They returned to Memphis and spent three weeks at their private ranch. Priscilla enjoyed taking care of Elvis herself. On May 29, they held another reception at Graceland for friends and family who missed the first one.

Soon after, Priscilla found out she was pregnant. Their only child, Lisa Marie, was born on February 1, 1968. This was exactly nine months after their wedding.

Separation and Divorce

Priscilla started taking private dance lessons. She realized she needed more from her relationship with Elvis. She also began studying karate, like Elvis. She wanted to share his interests and pass the time she spent alone.

Priscilla and Elvis separated on February 24, 1972. They filed for legal separation in July. To protect Priscilla and Lisa Marie, Elvis filed for divorce on his 38th birthday, January 8, 1973. The divorce was finalized on October 9, 1973.

They agreed to share custody of their daughter. Priscilla received a cash payment and money for spousal and child support. She also got a share of Elvis's business earnings. Priscilla and Elvis remained close friends. They even left the courthouse holding hands on the day their divorce was final.

Life After Elvis

Priscilla has never remarried. She had a long relationship with Marco Garibaldi, a screenwriter. They lived together for 22 years. Their son, Navarone Garibaldi, was born on March 1, 1987. Their relationship ended in 2006.

Through her daughter, Lisa Marie, Priscilla has four grandchildren, including actress Riley Keough. Priscilla became a great-grandmother in 2022. Sadly, her daughter, Lisa Marie, passed away on January 12, 2023, at age 54.

Business Ventures

Designation of Graceland mansion as a National Historic Landmark in 2006, l-r Jack Soden, Priscilla Presley and United States Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton

In 1973, Priscilla opened a clothing store in Los Angeles called Bis & Beau. She designed clothes with her friend Olivia Bis. The store was successful and had many celebrity customers. It closed in 1976.

After Elvis died in 1977, his father, Vernon, managed his estate. Vernon named Priscilla to take over after he passed away. When Vernon died in 1979, Priscilla became the head of Elvis's estate. Graceland cost a lot to maintain, and Lisa Marie's inheritance was shrinking. Priscilla decided to open Graceland to the public as a tourist attraction. She hired Jack Soden to help.

Graceland opened on June 7, 1982. It quickly made back all the money invested in it. Priscilla became the chairperson and president of Elvis Presley Enterprises (EPE). Under her leadership, the company grew very successful. The estate's value increased to over $100 million.

Priscilla also launched her own line of perfumes. These included Moments, Experiences, Indian Summer, and Roses and More. She also sold her products on the Home Shopping Network. In 2006, she launched a line of bed linens called the Priscilla Presley Collection.

She has also helped produce movies like Breakfast with Einstein and Finding Graceland. In 2000, she joined the board of directors at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. In 2015, Priscilla was an executive producer for an album called If I Can Dream: Elvis Presley With the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. She also helped dedicate two US postage stamps honoring Elvis.

In 2019, it was announced that Priscilla would help create and produce Agent Elvis. This is a Netflix animated series about her former husband working as a spy. Priscilla also voices her own character in the show.

Acting Career

Presley in 2020

Priscilla was interested in dancing and modeling. A Hollywood producer, Hal B. Wallis, wanted to sign her to a contract. However, Elvis did not want Priscilla to have her own career. He believed "a woman's place is in the home." So, Priscilla did not pursue acting or modeling professionally at that time.

Priscilla made her TV debut as a co-host of Those Amazing Animals in 1980. Her first acting role was in an episode of The Fall Guy in 1983. She then starred in the TV movie Love is Forever.

After that, Priscilla took on the role of Jenna Wade in the TV show Dallas. She played this character for five years, becoming a regular cast member. She left the show in 1988. During her time on Dallas, she was offered a role in the James Bond movie A View to a Kill. But she could not take the role due to her busy schedule.

In 1988, Priscilla starred with Leslie Nielsen in The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! as Jane Spencer. Critics praised her acting. She appeared in the next two movies in the series: The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991) and Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult (1994). All three movies were successful. She also made guest appearances on TV shows like Melrose Place, Touched by an Angel, and Spin City.

In 2012, Priscilla performed in a pantomime show called Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in London. She played the Wicked Queen. She repeated this role in 2014.

The movie Priscilla (2023) is a film about her relationship with Elvis. It was directed by Sofia Coppola.

Charity Work

Since 2003, Priscilla has been an Ambassador for the Dream Foundation. This organization helps grant wishes for adults who are terminally ill and their families.

In 2013, Priscilla spoke out against the Tennessee Ag-Gag Bill. This bill would have made it harder to investigate animal cruelty. Priscilla wrote a letter to the governor of Tennessee. She shared her concern that the bill would reduce protections for horses and other farm animals. She mentioned her and Elvis's love for horses.

Honors and Recognition

Priscilla has received several honors. In 1998, she was given an honorary degree from Rhodes College. She was named the godmother of the American Queen steamboat in 2012. In 2018, she received the Distinguished Citizen Award from the AutoZone Liberty Bowl.

In 2022, Theatre Memphis honored her for her contributions to art and tourism in Memphis. There is also a square named after her in Egersund, Norway. This is the town where her grandfather was born.

Filmography

Portrayals in Film and TV

Many actresses have played Priscilla Presley in movies and TV shows. These films focus on her life with Elvis Presley.

• Season Hubley played her in the 1979 TV movie Elvis.
• Susan Walters played her in the 1988 TV miniseries Elvis and Me.
• Kehli O'Byrne played her in the 1993 TV movie Elvis and the Colonel.
• Alyson Court played her in Elvis Meets Nixon (1997).
• Antonia Barnath played her in the 2006 TV miniseries Elvis.
• Ashley Greene played her in Shangri-La Suite (2016).
• Olivia DeJonge played her in the 2022 movie Elvis.
• Cailee Spaeny played her in the 2023 movie Priscilla.

Images for kids

• 

  The Presleys in October 1973 after their divorce was finalized

See also

In Spanish: Priscilla Presley para niños