Beyond Elvis Presley’s musical success, the King of Rock ‘n Roll’s charming looks made him popular among his fans, who marveled at his ageless allure. And despite an early death — he was only 42 when he passed in 1977 — memories of the singer haven’t waned, particularly because it seemed that he had been reincarnated as his late grandson, Benjamin Keough, who mirrored him in looks and followed in his footsteps.
Tragically, Benjamin, the only son and the second child of Presley’s daughter, Lisa Marie, committed suicide in 2020 amidst his mental health struggles. His striking resemblance with his grandfather boosted his musical career, and he couldn’t handle the pressure that comes with Presley’s kind of legacy.
Lisa Marie Presley admitted to being overwhelmed by the similarities between her son and her father
While Lisa Marie chose to keep her children away from the spotlight, observers quickly recognized significant resemblances between Benjamin, who occasionally appeared in public, and his iconic grandfather.
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In a 2012 interview with CMT, Lisa Marie acknowledged these similarities. “He does [look so much like Elvis]! He was at the Opry and was the quiet storm behind the stage. Everybody turned around and looked when he was over there. Everybody was grabbing him for a photo, because it is just uncanny,” she admitted. “Sometimes I am overwhelmed when I look at him.”
Benjamin Keough’s struggles to keep up with his grandfather’s musical legacy led to his death
In July 2020, Keough passed away at 28 due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound, as confirmed by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office to Fox News. Following his death, one of his friends, Brandon Howard, shared with People that he had been grappling with depression due to the societal expectations of being Elvis Presley’s grandson.
“Sometimes he struggled with depression, which is a serious thing with [the coronavirus pandemic] and everything happening right now and everybody being locked in the house,” Howard confessed to the news outlet. “It’s a tough thing when you have a lot of pressure with your family and living up to a name and an image. It’s almost like you’re pressured into having to be a musician, having to be an actor.”