Tom Hanks' Transformation in Elvis: The Physical and Vocal Commitment to the Role

The Challenging Role of Colonel Parker

Tom Hanks' extreme transformation in Elvis raised questions about how much of his appearance was prosthetics, and how much of it was his physical commitment to the role. In the film, the 60-year-old American actor portrayed 'Colonel' Tom Parker, Presley's manager. While the Oscar nomination-worthy performance by Austin Butler as Elvis is the highlight of the film, the movie also gives plenty of importance to the role of the manager, which spawned mixed responses regarding Hanks’ portrayal.

Tom Hanks as Colonel Tom Parker in Elvis.

Colonel Parker’s role was challenging for Tom Hanks for several reasons. In the first place, he is someone who financially and emotionally abused Elvis, so he is perceived as the antagonist in the movie, something two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks is not used to, as he is frequently seen portraying the good guy. Secondly, the physical transformation was also a huge challenge considering the differences between his appearance and the Colonel's. Considering Tom Hanks’ filmography and the times he’s changed his appearance, it is reasonable to think he could have gained some weight for the role.

Tom Hanks as Colonel Tom Parker in Elvis.

Tom Hanks has a long history of physical transformation for specific roles. However, there are some facts to keep in mind when discussing his preparation for playing Colonel Parker in Elvis. Tom Hanks is now 67 years old, so undergoing extreme diets either to gain or lose weight might not be a healthy alternative at that stage in life. To make matters worse, Hanks was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2013, which fully prevents him from doing whatever it takes to reach a certain weight. It is for that reason that Tom Hank's appearance in Elvis is one hundred percent make-up.

The Physical Transformation

Regarding Colonel Parker's big body, Hanks wore what is commonly known as a fatsuit, which is a one-piece bodysuit meant to thicken an actor's appearance to make him look overweight. Brendan Fraiser's fatsuit in The Whale is another perfect example of this. As for the double chin and large nose, this was achieved through prosthetic makeup. Also, Hanks had to shave the top of his head in order to further match Parker's balding appearance. Interestingly, changing his physical appearance was only part of the process necessary to transform into Colonel Parker in Elvis.

Tom Hanks screams at Wilson Cast Away

Tom Hanks' extreme transformation in Elvis raised questions about how much of his appearance was prosthetics, and how much of it was his physical commitment to the role. In the film, the 60-year-old American actor portrayed 'Colonel' Tom Parker, Presley's manager. While the Oscar nomination-worthy performance by Austin Butler as Elvis is the highlight of the film, the movie also gives plenty of importance to the role of the manager, which spawned mixed responses regarding Hanks’ portrayal. Colonel Parker’s role was challenging for Tom Hanks for several reasons. In the first place, he is someone who financially and emotionally abused Elvis, so he is perceived as the antagonist in the movie, something two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks is not used to, as he is frequently seen portraying the good guy. Secondly, the physical transformation was also a huge challenge considering the differences between his appearance and the Colonel's. Considering Tom Hanks’ filmography and the times he’s changed his appearance, it is reasonable to think he could have gained some weight for the role.

Tom Hanks with a walking stick in Cast Away

The Vocal Commitment

Besides his particular physical appearance, Colonel Parker's accent was a huge part of the actor's work to become the character. Parker had emigrated from the Netherlands and was trying to make his Dutch accent pass for an American southern accent, which made him sound quite distinct. According to Alanna Nash, Parker's biographer, his way of talking was rural and it resembled someone with a speech impediment or a very specific dialect from the South of the US. Even though Tom Hanks' Colonel Parker's accent is inaccurate, according to Nash, there is a good reason behind it in Elvis. Hank's accent, while different from what Parker actually sounded like, has a great deal of work behind it and is meant to suggest there is something phony around the Colonel's character, thus hinting at his various personality flaws and ulterior motives. Keeping this in mind, Hanks's portrayal is rather effective, as he manages to create a negative aura around the character which is sustained considerably by his particular way of talking.

Tom Hanks looks on in Philadelphia

Although Elvis was clearly not the case, as it was previously established, before being diagnosed with diabetes, Hanks had had a long history of physical transformations for movie roles. The most famous of them is the one he underwent for the role of Chuck Noland in Cast Away, one of Tom Hank's most celebrated performances. He gained 50 pounds for the first part of the film and then lost them to look like a four-year castaway. However, this was not the only time he underwent a physical transformation like that, as he also did it to portray Andrew Beckett in Philadelphia as well as Jimmy Dougan in A League of Their Own.

Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington in Court in Philadelphia