Fans were heartbroken on Sunday night to learn that Benjamin Keough, Elvis Presley’s grandson, had died by apparent suicide in Calabasas, California. The 27-year-old had been found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Not much is known about Benjamin Keough’s life, as he spent most of his life away from the spotlight. He stayed far from the public eye while avoiding the family entertainment business altogether. One of his last public appearances was back in 2017 when the Presley family held a vigil at Graceland to mark the 40th anniversary of Elvis’ death.
But we did a little digging, and here’s what we found out about Elvis’ look-a-like.
He Is The Only Grandson Of Elvis Presley
Born October 21, 1992, Benjamin Keough is the only boy in his famous family. He is the only grandson of rock legend Elvis Presley and both his parents belong to the music industry too. He is the son of Lisa Marie Presley with her first husband, musician Danny Keough.
Benjamin has one older sister, model, and actress Danielle Riley Keough. She has been known for her appearances at fashion shows for Dolce & Gabbana and Christian Dior and for appearing on the cover of Vogue when she was 15. She also appeared in several additional independent films, including Yellow and Kiss of the Damned in 2012, before appearing in the big-budget action feature Mad Max: Fury Road, the fourth film in the Mad Max series.
In addition to his musical father, Benjamin Keough also had celebrity step-fathers in both Michael Jackson and actor Nicolas Cage; his mother divorced from both. He also has two younger sisters, Harper Vivienne Ann, and Finley Aaron Love. They are Lisa Marie’s daughters with musician Michael Lockwood, but the pair have since split.
His Resemblance to the King of Rock’ N’ Roll is Uncanny
Though Benjamin Keough was not known as a performer and did not take many steps in show business to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps, he represented Elvis Presley’s legacy, as he bore a striking resemblance to the King.
The proud mother revealed that all of her children “got a little bit of [Elvis] in them. They all have their own little traits, and I can just sense it.” Benjamin, however, was the one with a strikingly familiar look.
“He was at the Opry and was the quiet storm behind the stage!” Lisa Marie said in 2012. “Everybody turned around and looked when he was over there. Everybody was grabbing him for a photo because it is just uncanny. Sometimes I am overwhelmed when I look at him.”
He Once Secured A Record Deal
Back in 2009, Benjamin Keough did secure a five-album record deal with Universal. It is said to be worth about $5 million, but he did not release any records, and Universal representatives later denied these reports to be true. “This story is totally untrue,” Peter LoFrumento, Executive Vice President of Universal Music Group, said at the time.
Though his mother once revealed that Benjamin “loves to be a part of” the music industry, and “it’s on his time frame. Always. Then when he’s ready to see me, he’ll come. It ebbs and flows, but they are very supportive. They just have pressing matters now with their own lives.”
Lisa Marie also said in another interview that Benjamin “loves music, but I really kind of don’t want to… that’s a lot to put on him,” she explained. “So I’m trying to let him do his thing without pushing that on him so much because I want him to feel I know it’s going to be hard.” She went on to share how she wanted him to come to music on his own terms, rather than pushing it on him.
He Inspired One of His Mother’s Songs
Lisa often dedicates songs to her children. In 2012, Benjamin became the inspiration of her song “Storm And Grace.” In the song, she sings about how Benjamin was growing too fast. “Stop moving so fast there, and then take your foot off the gas. My heart can’t seem to take it, your storm, and your grace,” she sings.
Benjamin Keough also enjoyed traveling with his mother when she toured to promote the album Storm & Grace. “He loves to be part of it. He loves touring,” Lisa Marie said at the time. She also accompanied the song with a beautiful music video featuring family photos.
A photo of Benjamin can also be spotted in the video for “I Love You Because,” a “duet” Presley recorded with her father in 2012.
He Had a Close Bond with His Mom
Benjamin had a particularly close bond with his mother, and Lisa Marie Presley often talked about it. “We all stay together. We are all very close. Wherever I am, they have their rooms and live with me,” she said in one interview.
“We all try to stay close as much as possible. Like, in the same room, preferably for me. I don’t like it when they are far away in any way.” They are so close that they even got matching tattoos.
Back in 2012, a fan asked Lisa Marie about the tattoo on her foot. Surprisingly, the King of Rock ‘n Roll’s daughter answered openly, explaining that the Celtic eternity knot was significant not for religious reasons, but for her connection with her son. The two went to a tattoo parlor together on Mother’s Day in 2009 to get the matching tattoos. The Celtic eternity knot” represents “eternal love and connection.”
With Benjamin Keough’s death, Lisa Marie is reported to be “completely heartbroken, inconsolable and beyond devastated, but trying to stay strong,” Roger Widynowski, Lisa Marie Presley’s manager, said. “She adored that boy. He was the love of her life.”