Priscilla Presley’s Enduring Love Story: A Comprehensive Look at Her Marriages and Romances
Actress Priscilla Presley, a celebrated figure known for her roles in films like The Naked Gun series and the hit TV show Dallas, as well as her successful career as a businesswoman, has led a captivating life both on and off screen. Beyond her professional achievements, Priscilla, now 78, is perhaps most globally recognized as the former wife of the legendary “King of Rock and Roll,” Elvis Presley. While her marriage to Elvis was her only walk down the aisle, her romantic journey is dotted with several significant, long-term relationships and rumored romances with other notable personalities. This article delves into the fascinating love life of Priscilla Presley, exploring her iconic marriage to Elvis and the other famous men who have captured her heart over the decades.
Her Iconic Marriage To Elvis Presley
The red-haired beauty shared a profound and unforgettable bond with Elvis Presley, to whom she was married from 1967 until their divorce was finalized in 1973. Their initial meeting was unconventional; Priscilla was merely 14 years old and Elvis 24 when their paths crossed in Germany in 1959. At that time, Elvis was serving in the United States Army, a period during which their connection began to blossom. They reconnected several years later in 1962, when Priscilla was 17, as reported by US Weekly. It wasn’t until 1966, approximately seven years after their first encounter, that Elvis proposed. “One day he showed me the ring and simply asked me to marry him,” she recounted to Ladies Home Journal in 1972. She added, “Even though we were perfectly content the way we were, at that time it wasn’t nice for people to live together,” highlighting the societal pressures that often influenced their personal choices.
Their wedding was a grand, yet intimate, affair held in Las Vegas, symbolizing the official start of their life together. Shortly after, in 1968, their family grew with the birth of their daughter, Lisa Marie Presley. Despite the public fascination and their deep personal connection, the unique challenges of their high-profile marriage eventually took their toll. Priscilla, author of the revealing memoir Elvis and Me, filed for divorce from the iconic rocker in 1973. Decades later, in March 2022, Priscilla candidly reflected on her marriage to Elvis during an interview at the “Elvis: Direct From Graceland” exhibit in Australia, as documented by Daily Mail). She stated, “The beginning [of the marriage] was very difficult, but I knew what I was in for because I saw it at a very young age. That’s when I started not reading papers anymore or [magazines] in the grocery stores,” revealing the intense scrutiny and public intrusion they faced. Tragically, Elvis passed away in 1977 due to cardiac arrest, leaving an indelible mark on music history and Priscilla’s life. She has never remarried since his death, a testament to the profound impact he had. Their beloved daughter, Lisa Marie, also tragically died on January 12, 2023, at the age of 54, after experiencing cardiac arrest, further highlighting the deep personal losses Priscilla has endured.
Marco Garibaldi: Her Longest Relationship
Following her divorce from Elvis, Priscilla embarked on what would become her longest romantic relationship with film producer and computer programmer Marco Garibaldi, now 68. The couple first met in 1984, approximately 11 years after the dissolution of her marriage to Elvis. Despite their significant connection, Priscilla and Marco never formally married. Their commitment deepened considerably in 1987 with the arrival of their son, Navarone Garibaldi, now 36. This family milestone cemented a bond that lasted for over two decades. Their enduring relationship, marked by shared parenthood and a deep personal connection, ultimately concluded in 2006. Even after their separation, Priscilla and Marco maintained a respectful co-parenting relationship for the sake of their son, demonstrating the maturity and love that characterized their long-term partnership.
Robert Kardashian: A Brief, Intense Romance
Among the notable personalities the Dancing with The Stars alum dated was the late attorney Robert Kardashian. The patriarch of the now-famous Kardashian family, Robert and Priscilla were romantically linked for a brief but impactful period from 1975 to 1976. Their romance concluded just two years before he married the equally famous Kris Jenner, now 67, with whom he would build the foundation of a reality TV empire. After Kris and Robert divorced in 1991, he later married Ellen Pierson in 2003. Tragically, Robert Kardashian died in 2003 due to esophageal cancer, leaving behind a profound legacy.
Priscilla and Robert’s romance was revisited in intricate detail in Jerry Oppenheimer‘s 2017 book, The Kardashians: An American Drama. In the book, their mutual friend Joni Migdal shared insights into Robert’s feelings, stating, “Priscilla made Robert very happy. He wanted to marry her and have children with her. That was definitely his hope, his plan.” Another friend of the late businessman claimed that Robert confided in him, expressing that Priscilla was “terrific, but this guy Elvis doesn’t stop controlling her.” Robert reportedly told others close to him that Elvis didn’t want Priscilla to date other men, allegedly because “they had Lisa Marie, and Elvis was very involved in that.” These accounts highlight the complex shadow Elvis cast over Priscilla’s subsequent relationships, even years after their divorce.
Michael Stone: Post-Divorce Romance
Soon after the Dallas star’s marriage to Elvis concluded, Priscilla moved forward and began dating martial arts instructor and actor Michael “Mike” Stone. Their relationship blossomed around 1972, shortly after her separation from the music hunk, marking one of her first serious romances post-Elvis. Stone, who worked on films such as Enter the Ninja, American Ninja 2, and Eraser, brought a different dynamic to Priscilla’s life. Given Elvis’s own interest in martial arts, there was a certain synchronicity in Priscilla’s attraction to someone like Stone. Their relationship lasted for approximately three years before they decided to part ways in 1975. Michael Stone later married Taina Stone in 1986, moving on with his own life path.
Michael Edwards: A Troubling Chapter
Following her romance with Robert Kardashian, Priscilla entered into a relationship with actor Michael Edwards, now 79. Their six-year romance spanned from 1978 to 1984, during which the Mommie Dearest star and Priscilla were reportedly deeply in love. However, this relationship became a source of significant controversy and discomfort for Priscilla and her family. In his 1988 tell-all book, Priscilla, Elvis and Me, Michael Edwards made shocking revelations, claiming he had “developed feelings” for Priscilla’s daughter, Lisa Marie, as reported by US Weekly. This disturbing admission was later corroborated, to an extent, by Lisa Marie herself. During a 2003 interview with Playboy, via Elvis AU, Lisa Marie confirmed that Michael had indeed been “inappropriate” with her during the time he was dating her mother, shedding a dark light on this period of Priscilla’s life and the lasting impact of such betrayal.
Richard Gere: A Brief Encounter
While Priscilla herself has not publicly commented on this particular connection, Michael Edwards’ controversial memoir also alleged a brief encounter between Priscilla and acclaimed actor Richard Gere, now 74. According to Edwards, the two shared a “one night stand” in 1983. This alleged rendezvous occurred amidst Gere’s burgeoning career, prior to his starring role in the iconic film Pretty Woman, which would cement his status as a Hollywood heartthrob. Richard Gere’s personal life has seen several high-profile marriages: he married supermodel Cindy Crawford, now 57, in 1991, divorcing in 1995. He then married actress Carey Lowell from 2002 to 2016, and most recently tied the knot with Alejandra Silva, now 40, in 2018. The alleged brief affair with Priscilla remains a footnote in both their extensive romantic histories.
Julio Iglesias: An Alleged Early 80s Link
Another alleged romance, also brought to light by Michael Edwards in his book, was between Priscilla and acclaimed Spanish singer Julio Iglesias, now 80. The two were reportedly linked during the early 1980s, a period when Iglesias was already a global superstar known for his romantic ballads and charismatic stage presence. At that time, Iglesias’s personal life was also active; he had married TV host Isabel Preysler in 1971, a marriage that concluded eight years later. He eventually found lasting love with singer Miranda Rijnsburger, now 58, whom he married in 2010, and they have been together ever since. Julio Iglesias is famously the father of nine children, including the internationally renowned hit singer Enrique Iglesias, now 48. This rumored connection with Priscilla adds another intriguing layer to her already complex romantic tapestry.
Nigel Lythgoe: A Later-Life Connection
Much later in her life, Priscilla was linked to English film director, producer, and choreographer Nigel Lythgoe, now 74, known for his work on popular reality TV shows like So You Think You Can Dance and American Idol. Their rumored romance reportedly spanned from 2006 to 2009. Despite the whispers of a relationship with Priscilla, Nigel was in a long-standing marriage with Bonnie Lythgoe from 1974 until their divorce in 2010. During their extensive marriage, Bonnie and the Bobby in Wonderland director welcomed two sons, Simon Lythgoe, now 48, and Kris Lythgoe, now 44. The nature of Priscilla and Nigel’s connection remained largely private, but their rumored link added another prominent figure to Priscilla’s dating history.
Richie Palmer: Brief Romance with a Restaurateur
Priscilla also had a romantically linked, albeit brief, connection with restaurateur Richie Palmer, spanning from 2010 to 2011. Palmer was notably married to the iconic One Million Years B.C. star Raquel Welch from 1999 to 2008, a relationship that garnered considerable media attention. The blonde bombshell, Raquel Welch, did not remarry after her divorce from Richie, but she had been previously married three other times, including to André Weinfeld. Priscilla and Richie’s short-lived romance illustrates her continued appeal and her willingness to explore new connections, even into her later years, as she navigated the complex landscape of celebrity relationships.
Toby Anstis: The “Friendly Farewell” Kiss
Priscilla’s most recent rumored romantic link was to British radio host Toby Anstis, now 52. The two were photographed sharing a smooch in 2013, an image that quickly circulated and sparked speculation about a new romance, as reported by The Mirror UK. Anstis, a well-known voice on British radio and television, and Priscilla were at the time both public figures, making their interaction newsworthy. Despite the apparent kiss, both Toby and Priscilla later clarified that their lip lock was merely a “friendly farewell” and not indicative of a blossoming romance. This incident highlights the constant public scrutiny faced by celebrities like Priscilla, where even a simple gesture can be amplified into a major headline, underscoring the challenges of maintaining privacy in the public eye.