Benjamin Keough, Elvis’ grandson and Lisa Marie’s son, dies at 27 to apparent suicide

Benjamin Keough, Elvis Presley's grandson and Lisa Marie's only son, has died in an apparent suicide. Keough was 27 years old.

Roger Widynowski, manager to Lisa Marie Presley, has released a statement on her behalf. "She is entirely heartbroken, inconsolable and beyond devastated but trying to stay strong for her 11-year-old twins and her oldest daughter Riley," the statement read. Widynowski added: "She adored that boy. He was the love of her life."

TMZ reported, from their law enforcement sources, that Benjamin Keough died on Sunday (July 12) in Calabasas, California. The cause of death was reportedly a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Benjamin Keough's low profile

Benjamin Keough seemed to follow his grandfather, Elvis Presley, by pursuing a career in music. The King's grandson secured a $5 million record deal back in 2009. Variety adds that no music appears to have been released following the 2009 record deal.

The grandson of the King of Rock and Roll has mostly stayed under the radar. Benjamin kept his Instagram account private. One of his most public appearances include a 2019 Twitter post from his mother. On June 21, 2019, Lisa Marie Presley posted a picture with her four children. Captioned "Mama Lion with cubs," it features Benjamin's uncannily similar looks to the late Elvis Presley.

In 2012, Lisa Marie featured her children, Riley and Benjamin Keough, in the music video of "I Love You Because." It was her cover version of her father's 1954 hit song. She later revealed in an interview with CMT that people were "overwhelmed" with his resemblance to his grandfather.

"He was at the Opry and was the quiet storm behind the stage!" Lisa Marie Presley said of his son, who was backstage at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry. She added that everybody was looking to take a picture with her son because of the uncanny resemblance to Elvis.

In a 2013 interview with The Huffington Post, Lisa Marie said that Benjamin is "doing his own thing right now." She added that she intends to let her son decide "when he wants to go out and do what he wants to do."

Lisa Marie Presley's four children

Benjamin Keough is Lisa Marie's son with singer and songwriter Danny Keough. The couple married in October 1988 and the marriage has blessed them with two children. Danny Keough formerly mentored Lisa Marie in music and also played bass in her backing band. Presley and Keough in May 1994. Twenty days later, Lisa Marie married the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Presley and Jackson would end their marriage in January 1996.

Lisa Marie then married Nicholas Cage in 2002, divorcing in 2004. Her last marriage was with musician Michael Lockwood from 2006 to 2016. Presley's marriage with Lockwood resulted in twins - Harper and Finley Lockwood.

He has an older sister, 31-year-old actress and model Riley Keough, who has appeared in independent films over the years. She has starred in the 2018 thriller "Hold the Dark" and the 2019 horror "The Lodge."

Tags

Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Lisa Marie Presley