Austin Butler and Lisa Marie Presley on Jan. 8, 2023.Photo: Eric Charbonneau/Shutterstock
Austin Butleris honoringLisa Marie Presleyafter herdeath at 54, just days after attending Golden Globe alongside her.
One of the last people to spend time with the star, Butler, 31, said Friday that his “heart is completely shattered” for her children and mother after “the tragic and unexpected loss of Lisa Marie.”
“I am eternally grateful for the time I was lucky enough to be near her bright light and will forever cherish the quiet moments we shared,” the actor said in a statement shared with PEOPLE.
“Her warmth, her love and her authenticity will always be remembered.”
Priscilla Presley, Austin Butler and Lisa Marie Presley at the Golden Globes on Jan. 10, 2023.Shutterstock for HFPA
The actor stars asElvis Presleyin theBaz LuhrmannfilmElvis, which was a nominee at the award show on Tuesday. Butler won best actor in a drama that night, and Lisa Marie was in the audience to cheer him on. In his acceptance speech, Butler thanked the Presley family “for opening your hearts, your memories, your home to me.”
“Lisa Marie, Priscilla,” he continued in his speech, “I love you forever.”
On Thursday, Lisa Marie, the only child of rock legend Elvis, was rushed to the hospital, anddied later that night. Her motherPriscilla Presleysaid in a statement to PEOPLE, “It is with a heavy heart that I must share the devastating news that my beautiful daughter Lisa Marie has left us.”
Priscilla continued, “She was the most passionate strong and loving woman I have ever known. We ask for privacy as we try to deal with this profound loss. Thank you for the love and prayers. At this time there will be no further comment.”
At a party celebrating theElvisfilm the weekend before the Golden Globes (on Sunday, Jan. 8, Elvis’s birthday), Lisa Marie addressed the attendees and said her dad would be proud of the movie.
RELATED VIDEO: Austin Butler Had ‘No Idea How’ Elvis Presley’s Family ‘Were Going to Respond’ to His Portrayal
In June, Butlertold PEOPLE about the responsibilityhe felt to the Presley family in capturing Elvis’s story for the big screen: “I can’t even put into words how much it means to me because I felt so much responsibility to them the entire time. That’s the thing that would shoot me out of bed in the morning every day [during production]. I had no idea how they were going to respond. I was fully ready for them maybe not to want to watch it or not to like it or anything.”
He added, “I feel like I’m in a dream right now because they have been so warm and welcoming.”
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source: people.com
