Elvis (1979)

Just two years after Elvis Presley died, Kurt Russell brought him back to life in the original biopic about the King of Rock 'n' Roll. Broadcast on ABC in 1979, Elvis marked the first time director John Carpenter would work together in what would become a legendary pairing in film history (Escape From New York, The Thing, Big Trouble In Little China, The Thing and Escape From L.A.). Tracing Presley's life from his impoverished childhood to his meteoric rise to stardom to his triumphant conquering of Las Vegas, Elvis features Shelley Winters (Gladys Presley), Season Hubley (Priscilla Presley), Bing Russell (Kurt's real-life father as Vernon Presley), Pat Hingle (Colonel Tom Parker), Joe Mantegna ("Memphis Mafia" member Joe Esposito) and Ed Begley Jr. (drummer D.J. Fontana) in an all-star supporting cast for an effort that garnered numarous Emmy® nominations including Outstanding Lead Actor for Russell.