Benjamin Keough was an American socialite best known as the grandson and lookalike of Elvis Presley, the legendary musician and cultural icon often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll." He was the son of singer-songwriter Lisa Marie Presley.
Throughout his youth, Benjamin frequently attended events and media appearances with his mother, grandmother Priscilla Presley, and older sister, actress and model Riley Keough. In 2005, he appeared as himself alongside family members in the documentary Elvis by the Presleys. He also acted briefly, playing a delivery person in the short film Rod & Barry. In January 2016, he joined his mother at a red carpet event celebrating the opening of The Elvis Presley Theater at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino. Tragically, Benjamin Keough died by suicide on July 12, 2020, at the age of 27.
Born into the Presley family legacy, Benjamin Keough lived much of his life in the public eye. His resemblance to Elvis Presley fueled media fascination from an early age. Despite frequent childhood appearances alongside his family, Benjamin later chose to step away from publicity and maintain a low profile in adulthood.
As the only grandson of Elvis Presley, public interest in his life remained persistent. His mother, Lisa Marie Presley, has spoken candidly about being "intimidated by [her] father's legacy," a sentiment that reportedly contributed to her delayed musical debut at age 35 in the early 2000s. Benjamin was also rumored to have signed a $5 million record deal with Universal Music in his youth; however, this claim has not been substantiated, and no music was officially released as part of the alleged arrangement.
Benjamin Storm Keough was born on October 21, 1992, in Tampa, Florida, to Lisa Marie Presley and Danny Keough. His maternal grandparents were Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley. His father, Danny Keough, is a musician who previously played bass guitar in Lisa Marie’s band. Benjamin’s parents divorced in 1994, but over the years maintained a close personal relationship. Danny reportedly resided in a guest house on the Presley estate for some time.
Benjamin had an older sister, Riley Keough, a successful actress and model. According to Riley, their family background includes Creek and Cherokee ancestry. From Lisa Marie's subsequent marriage to Michael Lockwood, Benjamin had twin half-sisters, Harper Vivienne Ann and Finley Aaron Love. Riley Keough married stuntman and actor Ben Smith-Petersen. Benjamin was known to be close to his family, especially his mother, with whom he shared a strong bond and frequently accompanied to public events.
Benjamin Keough passed away on July 12, 2020, in Calabasas, California. The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office later confirmed his death as suicide by gunshot. He was 27 years old. The reasons behind his decision remained private and were not publicly disclosed by the family.
Following his death, Lisa Marie Presley's representative, Roger Widynowski, released a statement: "She is absolutely heartbroken, inconsolable, and beyond devastated, but she is trying to stay strong for her 11-year-old twins and her oldest daughter, Riley. She adored that boy. He was
