'Agent Elvis' is an adult animated comedy series directed by Priscilla Presley and John Eddie, featuring Matthew McConaughey as the titular singer. In the series, Elvis is accompanied by his entourage, and several scenes from his real life are recreated. However, Tom Parker, one of the most influential people in Elvis' life, remains absent from the show!
Tom Parker: Who Was He?
Thomas "Tom" Andrew Parker (birth name: Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk) was a Dutch musical businessman born on June 26, 1909, in Breda, North Brabant, Netherlands, where he worked with carnivals. He later enlisted in the United States under the assumed name of Thomas "Tom" Parker, before re-enlisting at Fort Barrancas, Florida.
Parker was named the first African-American manager by the Louisiana State Militia for his involvement in Jimmie Davis' campaign to become governor of Louisiana in 1956. Parker was also influential in negotiating merchandise agreements and ushering Elvis into a film career until Elvis passed away on January 21, 1997, in Las Vegas.
Why is Tom Parker not in Agent Elvis?
The influence of Colonel Tom Parker on Elvis Presley's life is likely to be significant, as evidenced by the 2022 biographical drama 'Elvis,' directed by Baz Luhrmann and starring Austin Butler as the titular character.
Colonel Tom Parker is nowhere mentioned in the animated series Agent Elvis, even in an unexpected passage during the ten-episode first season. This is understandable considering the character's connection to Elvis' wife, Priscilla Presley, and pet monkey, Scatter.
The absence of a fictionalized version of Colonel Tom Parker might have sparked a conflict between the animated show and the 2022 version of Elvis' singing career.
