Austin Butler and Lisa Marie Presley.Photo: Eric Charbonneau/Shutterstock
Austin Butleris sharing some touching memories about his immediate bond withLisa Marie Presley.
During a Monday appearance onThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Butler talked about his easy connection with the musician, whodied on Jan. 12 at age 54, just days after she appeared with Butler to promote the film,Elvis.
“She’s also — she’s a person who didn’t have anything to prove and wouldn’t open up to anybody and she opened up to me,” added Butler. “We got so close so fast and it’s just devastating.”
“It’s weird in moments like this because it’s so bittersweet,” Butler continued about the emotional contrast of having to promote the movie — for which he recently received anAcademy Award nominationfor Best Actor — at the same time as mourning Lisa Marie.
“I mean, so much great stuff is happening, but I’m just devastated for her family. And for her to not be here celebrating with us, you know …” added Butler.
“I’m happy she got to see you,” hostJimmy Fallonsaid in reply.
“Yeah, I’m happy I got to be with her at the (Golden) Globes, I’ll never forget that for the rest of my life,” said Butler, whowon best actor in a dramafor his performance in Baz Luhrmann’s movie at the Jan. 10 award show.
Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images
“I just want to thank you for coming,” Lisa Marie said alongside Butler, daughterRiley Keoghand Luhrmann.
Variety’sMarc Malkincapturedthe celebratory speechat the Formosa Café — one of Elvis' favorite L.A. haunts — and posted the video on Twitter the following day.
Eric Charbonneau/Shutterstock
Just five days after that speech, on Jan. 13, her motherPriscilla Presleyconfirmed Lisa Marie’s death to PEOPLE in a statement.
“It is with a heavy heart that I must share the devastating news that my beautiful daughter Lisa Marie has left us,” said Priscilla, 77.
“She was the most passionate strong and loving woman I have ever known. We ask for privacy as we try to deal with this profound loss. Thank you for the love and prayers. At this time there will be no further comment.”
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Just a little over a week later, it was announced that Butler was nominated for his Oscar, and he called intoToday with Hoda and Jennashortly after hearing the news.
“It’s sort of a bittersweet moment right now because I think of how much I wish she was here right now to get to celebrate with me. It’s the same thing I feel with Elvis; I wish that they could see these moments, you know? It’s just sort of strange to celebrate at a time of such deep grief. But I sort of think of it as a way to honor her. This is for her.”
Elvis Presley (L); Austin Butler.Getty; Theo Wargo/Getty
Later in Monday’s interview, Fallon, 48, prompted Butler about a story he previously told him about Lisa Marie showing her dad’s slippers at Graceland.
“I get goosebumps,” Butler said. “That was after we screened the film. And the bedroom — you know, his bedroom is a place that most people never get to see, and she says, ‘I wanna show you something,’ so she took me up there. It was moments like that … up there, he was not Elvis, he was just ‘dad,’ you know?”
“So to hear those stories, yeah, I’ll treasure those forever.”
source: people.com
