Introduction
Benjamin Keough has an unusual distinction in American pop- culture lore: he was Elvis Presley’s only grandson, and he spent much of his young life out of the shadow of his mother, singer Lisa Marie Presley, and legendary grandfather. Tall and handsome like his famous grandfather, Benjamin Keough attempted a career in music and acting before his untimely death by suicide in July 2020 at age 27. This is a compiled look at what we know about Benjamin Keough’s life, family and career.
Who is Benjamin Keough?
Benjamin Storm Presley Keough was the son of Lisa Marie Presley, a musician and Elvis Presley’s only child, and her first husband Danny Keough. Benjamin, Elvis Presley’s only grandson, was often mentioned in entertainment outlets for his resemblance to his grandfather, including inheriting the “famous pout and baby blues” of his late grandfather that his mother also possesses. He is credited as an actor for few television shows and films throughout his life, including Elvis by the Presleys (2005) and the comedy short Rod & Barry (2017), but he was better known publicly for being part of the Presley family and living a private life rather than as an entertainer himself. He died on July 12, 2020 in Calabasas, California.
Benjamin Keough Age
Benjamin Keough was born on October 21, 1992, in Tampa, Florida. He died on July 12, 2020, in Calabasas, California, at the age of 27.
| Date of Birth | October 21, 1992 |
| Birthplace | Tampa, Florida, USA |
| Date of Death | July 12, 2020 |
| Age at Death | 27 years |
| Nationality | American |
Benjamin Keough Height, Weight or Physical Attribute
Benjamin Keough’s height and weight have never been verified by his family nor officially published. Additionally, no entertainment outlets list any known measurements for Benjamin Keough. It is known that he closely resembled his grandfather and this has been reported by multiple outlets who cover news on the Presleys.
- Height: Not publicly disclosed / no verified figure exists.
- Weight: Not publicly disclosed / no verified figure exists.
- Eye Color: Blue — frequently described in media as matching Elvis Presley’s “baby blues.”
- Natural Hair Color: Not officially confirmed; he was photographed with dyed aqua-colored hair at some public appearances.
- Distinguishing Feature: Widely reported facial resemblance to grandfather Elvis Presley, including his pout and eyes.
- Build: No verified description available.
Because credible sources stop at describing his resemblance rather than citing figures, it would be inaccurate to state a specific height or weight here.
Benjamin Keough Early Life
Benjamin was born in Tampa, Florida, the second child and only son of Lisa Marie Presley and Danny Keough. His older sister is actress and model Riley Keough, born in 1989. Benjamin’s parents divorced in 1994 when he was a toddler, and he lived with both parents. He grew up outside of the spotlight that surrounded his mother as a child. However, due to his striking resemblance to his grandfather, pictures of him have surfaced occasionally in tabloid and entertainment magazines during his childhood and adolescence. He has been described by relatives as having a quiet, sensitive nature since childhood.
Benjamin Keough Family Background
Benjamin came from one of the most famous families in American pop culture. This is his immediate family and close relatives:
- Mother: Lisa Marie Presley, singer-songwriter, daughter of Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley, and Benjamin’s only sibling. Lisa Marie was Elvis and Priscilla’s only child, making Benjamin their only grandson.
- Father: Danny Keough, musician and member of Lisa Marie’s band. Keough divorced Presley in 1994 when Benjamin was two years old.
- Older sister: Riley Keough, actress and model, born in 1989.
- Younger half sisters: Harper Vivienne Ann Lockwood and Finley Aaron Love Lockwood. Born to Lisa Marie and musician Michael Lockwood, they are twins.
- Stepfathers: Lisa Marie married pop star Michael Jackson after divorcing Keough. They divorced without children. Benjamin had one other stepfather, actor Nicolas Cage.
- Grandmother: Benjamin was particularly close to grandmother Priscilla Presley throughout his life. After his death, she publicly shared that her and Lisa Marie were “destroyed”. Benjamin’s grandfather, Elvis Presley, died in 1977, when Benjamin was not yet born. Benjamin grew up without meeting his grandfather but was known for physically resembling him.
- Mother’s death: Benjamin’s mother, Lisa Marie Presley, died at age 54 in January 2023. Benjamin’s mother was later buried next to him in Graceland.
- January 2023: Benjamin’s mother was later buried next to him in Graceland.
Benjamin Keough Education
Benjamin Keough has no publicly available records of formal education. The majority of his childhood and day-to-day life was private due to family wishes. He spent time living between Los Angeles and elsewhere with family members after his parents divorced. Little else is known about Benjamin Keough’s education but he was very involved with music during his teenage years and into adulthood, rather than schooling or industry training. Benjamin Keough expressed interest in playing guitar and bass early on. Reports claim he began training for a professional recording career in his teen years rather than continuing with schooling past high school.
Benjamin Keough Career
Benjamin Keough had very little name recognition coming more from association with his family than any type of acting or musical discography.
Music career
- Somewhere around age 17, Benjamin was allegedly given a recording contract that would’ve given Universal Music Group the rights to five albums spanning $5 million.
- His first album was purportedly pushed for release in 2010, but fizzled with no album ever released nor further announcements.
- Benjamin continued to play guitar and bass as a hobby, privately releasing no known commercially made recordings. However, friends close to Benjamin Keough and Trev Lukather (son of guitarist Steve Lukather) have stated that Benjamin was an accomplished musician.
Acting credits
- Elvis by the Presleys (2005) – television documentary/tribute to his grandfather Elvis Presley
- Rod & Barry (2017) – comedy short film
Television/Appearances
- Benjamin appeared in music video alongside his mother in 2012 for her duet with Elvis Presley, “I Love You Because.” The video features archival footage of Elvis Presley singing alongside new footage of Lisa Marie Presley singing alongside her son.
- Ben appeared with his mother and sister occasionally at events such as the opening of the Elvis Presley Theatre at Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino and attending Graceland with his sister Riley.
Selected Facts
| Category | Detail |
| Reported Record Deal | Universal Music Group, ~$5 million, offered around age 17 |
| Music Released | None publicly released |
| Notable Film/TV Credit | Elvis by the Presleys (2005) |
| Notable Film/TV Credit | Rod & Barry (2017) |
| Public Appearance | “I Love You Because” music video (2012) |
Unlike his sister Riley, who built a substantial acting career, Benjamin never fully stepped into the entertainment industry himself. Friends and family later said he struggled with the pressure of carrying his grandfather’s legacy and with living up to expectations tied to the Presley name.
Benjamin Keough Personal Life
- Relationship: Benjamin had been dating Diana Pinto, who works in post-production coordination, for years. Reports indicate that their relationship began circa September 2017.
- Privacy: Neighbors said Benjamin and his girlfriend were quiet and private. Despite having celebrity parents, they kept a low profile.
- Residence: Benjamin lived in Calabasas, California, in a house adjoining his mother’s property
- Struggles: Benjamin had talked to friends and family in the years leading up to his death about his continued battles with drug use and depression, and had previously reportedly entered a rehab facility for treatment.
- Upbringing influence: Partly raised in the Church of Scientology, King is said to have told friends some of his problems stemmed from growing up in that church.
- Death: Benjamin died by suicide at the Calabasas home on July 12, 2020, in the presence of Pinto, brother- in-law Ben Smith- Peterson and several others according to reports. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner- Coroner concluded the cause of death to be an intraoral shotgun wound. He was 27 years old.
- Family reaction: His mother Lisa Marie Presley publicly shared her grief as his grandmother Priscilla Presley called the death “one of the darkest days” of her life. .
- Burial: He was buried on October 1, 2020, at Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee in the Meditation Garden with Elvis Presley, great-grandmother Gladys Presley, great-grandfather Vernon Presley and great-great-grandmother Minnie Mae Presley — the first burial in the Presley family crypt at Graceland in nearly 40 years.
- Reunited in death: When Lisa Marie Presley died in January 2023, she was buried beside Benjamin at Graceland.
Benjamin Keough Social Media
Keough did not have a robust public-facing social media presence prior to his death and was noted to be intensely private throughout his life. He did not have the degree of public profile that his sister Riley Keough or mother Lisa Marie Presley maintained. Many images of Benjamin that have been made public originate from social media posts of relatives or his girlfriend’s personal accounts rather than his own. Posts by family and friends mourning his death-including an Instagram post from Diana Pinto that was extensively reported on and statements from Riley Keough and Priscilla Presley-are among the most visible documentation of Benjamin’s life and relationships that exist in the public sphere.
Conclusion
Benjamin Keough never had much choice about being Benjamin Keough: Whether he liked it or not, he inherited the legacy, expectations, and public interest that came with being Elvis Presley’s only grandson. Keough took music opportunities as a child and acted in a handful of projects, but mostly removed himself from the spotlight and chose to live privately with his family and longtime girlfriend Diana Pinto. Keough died by suicide in July 2020 at age 27, after publicly struggling with addiction and depression that he confided to friends and family. Keough was buried at Graceland, becoming the first Presley family member buried at the estate in nearly 40 years. His mother died by suicide herself three years later in 2023 and chose to be buried next to her son.
FAQ’S
Benjamin Keough was the son of Lisa Marie Presley and grandson of Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley. Keough briefly pursued careers in music and acting but spent much of his life out of the public eye.
Benjamin Keough was born on October 21, 1992, and died on July 12, 2020. He was 27 years old.
Benjamin Keough was born in Tampa, Florida, United States.
Keough died by suicide on July 12, 2020, at his father’s property in Calabasas, California. According to the Los Angeles County coroner, the cause of death was an intraoral shotgun wound.
Benjamin Keough is interred in the Meditation Garden at Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee, next to his grandfather Elvis Presley and other relatives from the Presley family. He was joined by his mother, Lisa Marie Presley, following her death in 2023.
As a teenager, Keough received a multi-million dollar recording deal from Universal Music Group. However, he never released any albums or music for commercial sale.
Also Read
John Ritter: Life, Career, Family & Net Worth of the Three’s Company Star
