Full Text: COPYRIGHT 2003 Financial Times Information Ltd.

(From CNN News)

Byline: Larry King

KING: Can't have that. PRESLEY: Not when you're married. KING: True that he didn't sleep until very late?

PRESLEY: Had a very hard time sleeping. KING: What brooded him? What -- what got him to drugs and depression and -- of course, he had all that, right? He had to fall into that. PRESLEY: He actually... KING: You wonder when you see someone that successful. PRESLEY: Yes, that was an addiction that started in the Army. KING: In the Army?

PRESLEY: In the Army, yes. KING: In Germany. PRESLEY: In Germany. KING: So you knew of it then?

PRESLEY: I did. I did, but it wasn't -- it wasn't anything, anything like later in life. I mean, he convinced himself he had to have Dexedrine to stay awake. So... KING: You mean did he take something to go to sleep?

PRESLEY: And he took something to go to sleep. That was part of his life. KING: Was he a drinker?

PRESLEY: No. KING: Wasn't into alcohol?

PRESLEY: No. KING: What bothered him? What did he -- what troubled him?

PRESLEY: What troubled him? You know, I think Elvis lost sight of his purpose in life, believe it or not, believe it or not. He never really understood why all the adoration. He never really understood where, I think, he wanted to go. I know he wanted to be a great actor, but he honestly couldn't understand where it was all going. And he had to keep motivated and it was, you know, keeping him motivated, keeping him focused was very difficult. KING: How about the weight?

PRESLEY: That was a problem. That was a problem, obviously. KING: He liked to eat?

PRESLEY: He loved to eat. He just, you know, he had a -- that was probably one of our problems is that I don't have an addictive personality and living with someone who has an addictive personality was very, very difficult and very hard to watch. So it was a big issue. KING: You had to confront it and, eventually, it didn't work for you. PRESLEY: No, especially when you have children. KING: How did it affect Lisa having a father -- I mean, the father and mother were so different. You were two different people. PRESLEY: Right. Who, Lisa and I? Lisa and I are different people and Elvis and I were different, very different, yes. KING: The effect of him on her. PRESLEY: The effect of him on her with drugs, you mean?

KING: Yes. PRESLEY: I think she was aware of it. I think she was -- even at 9 years old, I think she knew something wasn't right with him. I think she could perceive that. KING: What did you do with your own life? Now, you're divorced. You got a daughter. The daughter goes back and forth. You still love your ex-husband, but that's over. How did it all start for you, acting and everything? What did you decide to do?

PRESLEY: I actually was partners in a dress shop, a boutique in Beverly Hills. I design my own clothes. KING: Still do?

PRESLEY: I still do in some ways but not... KING: So you opened a dress shop?

PRESLEY: I opened a dress shop, yes. The girl who I was partners with, we would design my clothes for all the openings and closings of the shows in Vegas so I went into partnership with her. KING: What was it called?

PRESLEY: Biss and Bow (ph). KING: Did it do well?

PRESLEY: It did very well. It did well for its time. It's nothing like having a PR person like you do today. We did it all ourselves. It was a great time. KING: Were you there every day?

PRESLEY: I was there every day until then we had people coming in just to see me in the shop and that was difficult. KING: Priscilla Presley is the guest, more after this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(SINGING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PRESLEY: Hello, Mr. Drebin. LESLIE NIELSEN, ACTOR: Hello. (END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: We're back with Priscilla Presley . How did the acting start?

PRESLEY: The acting started, I was signed by William Morris and I started my first job was with Tony Orlando as a guest shot. I was his -- played his girlfriend in one of the -- one of... KING: "Love Boat"?

PRESLEY: No, he did a special. I was scared to death. He asked me if I could sing. I said, no, I think he actually tried to sing with me. He knew I couldn't sing, so he changed the whole thing. Then I started taking acting classes. And then one thing led to another. KING: What was your first movie?

PRESLEY: With Michael Landon. It was called "Love Was Forever."

KING: Did Elvis get to see any of this?

PRESLEY: No, he did not. It was after his death. KING: What was your first date like after Elvis? I'm trying to picture this poor guy. PRESLEY: Well, what was my first date like? I don't know. I think it was very -- he was very intimidated. Very intimidated. Again, big shoes to fill. It was a very -- it was a very -- I think at first, you really like someone, but you don't really realize the bigness of it until you get into it. And it is very big and I think most men are very intimidated by it. KING: Your name is intimidating. You are -- you're beautiful, but your name is intimidating. PRESLEY: I think, and I think the situation, the people involved. KING: That's why I ask. PRESLEY: Yes, it's very intimidating. KING: How did the "Naked Gun" thing come about?

PRESLEY: I was actually working on "Dallas" at the time and... KING: You were a regular on "Dallas."

PRESLEY: I was a regular on "Dallas" for five years. And I went on audition for it and got the part right away. And I thought, my gosh, a comedy. I kind of jumped into this.

And after I -- the first day I got on the set, I went, oh, my God, I went to the director and I said, I don't know if I can do comedy. I don't know why I'm even here. He said, we don't want you to play comedy. We want you to be yourself and play it straight. It will work, trust me. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PRESLEY: Oh you... NIELSEN: Well, I see a certain kitten still knows how to scratch. (END VIDEO CLIP)

PRESLEY: So I think it was the best advice I ever got. KING: Did you realize it would be the hit it was?

PRESLEY: I never. I never realized. KING: I still watch it and crack up. PRESLEY: Yes, I know. And it's great because it's great for even younger generation. I mean, my grandchildren will love it and laugh and think it's great and it's hard to believe, you know, they think it's -- it's me, you know. KING: What was it like to work with O.J.?

PRESLEY: It was interesting working with O.J. O.J. was very different. KING: In what way?

PRESLEY: Mood, mood swings. KING: He did have them. PRESLEY: Oh, yes. KING: A lot of people, if you knew him -- I've interviewed him and spent some time with him, he was always upbeat. PRESLEY: Always up. But then again, you have your social personality, you have your chronic personality and your social personality and we all have it. KING: He would show it on sets?

PRESLEY: A little bit. But more, I think more, because I knew the crowd of people that he worked with and I knew about Nicole. I new the arguments. So it was -- it was a shock, though. KING: Where were you the night of the car chase?

PRESLEY: I was in Lake Arrowhead at the time. KING: Watching?

PRESLEY: Watching. KING: What were you thinking? You know this guy. You worked with this guy. PRESLEY: It was absolutely hard to believe. It was -- it was like -- no, he's -- I mean, he's probably nervous. He's probably upset. He's probably -- you think of every justification to not believe that this is actually happening. KING: Did you like acting?

PRESLEY: I do like acting, if it's the right part, I like it. KING: Are you very selective?

PRESLEY: I'm very selective. KING: Do you see a lot of scripts?

PRESLEY: I see some scripts, yes. Because I'm selective, I probably put myself out of the markets, but, you know, it just happens to be that way. KING: Do you do any lecture tours? Do you go around and speak?

PRESLEY: I am. I'm just starting lecture tours. KING: You are. PRESLEY: Yes. KING: That's great. You're going to talk about Elvis and life?

PRESLEY: I'll talk about life, yes, yes, I will. My first date, I believe, is in New York this month. KING: That should do very well for you. PRESLEY: I think so. I'm going to give it a try. I know I'm in great company. Many people do it. Mary Hart, Quincy Jones, Kelly Ripa, Patty Duke. So I think I have a lot to say. I think it will be good for me, good therapy. KING: You still need therapy?

PRESLEY: No, I never had therapy. KING: Not you. It will be... PRESLEY: I think of it as good therapy to just, you know, there's a lot of shyness about me. I think that I'll, you know, probably help me a little bit. KING: You never -- it must be tough to always be a Presley. I'm trying to imagine. That must be hard. PRESLEY: It is hard. It is -- it's a big name to carry. KING: You meet people for the first time, first thing they think of is your late -- and late and ex and dead husband. PRESLEY: Right, as it's hard to get through that. It's true. KING: But there's nothing you can do about it. PRESLEY: Obviously not. I mean, I think once -- once someone gets to know me or even my daughter, you know, I think then they see the person there, that it's not just about the name. And, you know, it takes a while, but I think we go into that knowing that now. KING: We'll be back with our remaining moments. Priscilla is a member of the board of MGM, there's no fooling around with her. She is going to produce and bring back a famous movie, "The Party," and we're going to talk about the Dream Foundation right after this. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NIELSEN: Ah!

PRESLEY: Frank, Frank, are you all right?

NIELSEN: I'm soaking wet. PRESLEY: I'll get the talcum powder. NIELSEN: No, it's not that. I had a nightmare, there was crime all around me, I couldn't stop it. PRESLEY: Frank, it was just a dream. NIELSEN: You're right. All I need is a good night's rest, in the morning, everything will be just fine. (END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KING: We're back with our remaining moments with Priscilla Presley .

First, let's touch some other things. There's a recent front page story in "Daily Variety" that MGM and Dreamworks are joining forces to remake "The Party."

PRESLEY: Yes. KING: True?

PRESLEY: Very true.

KING: You're going to co-produce it?

PRESLEY: I am, with Darren Starr. KING: This was a Blake Edwards movie. PRESLEY: Yes.

Did you ever see that movie? Wasn't it fun?

KING: Fun!

PRESLEY: I love the concept. I think, you know, party in Hollywood. And that was really intriguing. I saw the movie about five times. Obviously, it's a little outdated but we'll fix that.

KING: Sure. Who's going to direct it?

PRESLEY: Jay Roach.

KING: He's terrific.

PRESLEY: He's great.

KING: Did a lot of television, too.

PRESLEY: Yes.

KING: Are you going to bring new stars -- I mean, anyone on board yet? PRESLEY: No, not yet. We've just actually signed Jim Harstfield to write. He did "Meet the Parents, "Schreck," So we've got a great team.

KING: Not bad. Then there's another story about the possibility of a play about your life. What is that... PRESLEY: This is actually -- it's a Broadway play, a musical, actually. A little bit... KING: About you and Elvis?

PRESLEY: Yes -- well, no, it's really my story. It's my story. We all pretty much no Elvis' story, but it will be from my perspective, which has never really been told.

KING: A play.

PRESLEY: A play.

KING: But someone will have to play Elvis in it, right?

PRESLEY: Oh, yes. Sure. So... KING: Someone's going to play you.

PRESLEY: Yes.

KING: Is that going to be a hoot, picking someone to play you?

PRESLEY: I think there's enough talent out there, though. There's a lot of people.

KING: But that's going to happen?

PRESLEY: Yes. Yes. We're just right in the middle of signing the writers.

KING: What's the Dream Foundation?

PRESLEY: The Dream Foundation is equivalent to the Make-A-Wish foundation for children, only this is for terminally ill adults.

KING: And what do you do?

PRESLEY: Grant wishes. Grant wishes for...

KING: How did you start something like that?

PRESLEY: Well, I'd heard about this foundation, actually, about four years ago.

KING: It was in existence before you?

PRESLEY: Yes. And we granted a wish to go to Graceland. And I was intrigued by it because I received a letter about what a great time they had.

And since then, this person has passed, but I became intrigued and I called the founder, Tom Rollerson, and I asked him about it. And we met and we've been together ever since. I'm the ambassador to the foundation.

KING: So these are people who are told, probably of cancer, that they're going to die.

PRESLEY: Yes.

KING: If they're in a hospice, they wouldn't be ambulatory, I guess.

PRESLEY: No, but -- no, I mean, we have too -- I mean, we grant wishes -- I mean, it would be -- it could be basically it's children. Children asking and writing letters if we could grant their wish, you know, to see their parents smile or be happy, you know, with them as a family again.

You know, we grant them -- I mean, simplistic ones such as even going to the ocean to walk on the ocean, they've never been in the ocean before -- I mean, or to Disneyland or to Graceland or, you know, to...

KING: And if want more information on that it's www.dreamfoundation.org. www.dreamfoundation.org. They help terminally ill people, give them a wish.

PRESLEY: Yes. Their last wish.

KING: Do you get to go see these people?

PRESLEY: I can, yes, I do. In fact, I'm having lunch with a gentleman tomorrow and...

KING: That's dying.

PRESLEY: Yes.

KING: Was his wish to have lunch with you?

PRESLEY: Yes. So it's a great foundation. It's wonderful. It's -- it gives me a lot of gratification.

KING: Do you get to Graceland much?

PRESLEY: I do. I go to Graceland about three times a year.

KING: For?

PRESLEY: Different things. Events. Business.

KING: Can you rent out Graceland?

PRESLEY: Rent out Graceland? To what? To do what? KING: Like events? Can you -- someone... PRESLEY: Yes, there are some -- there's -- we have facilities for that. Not Graceland as a whole to go in and, you know, just go in the house...

KING: Is it tough for you to go there?

PRESLEY: It is. It is tough. When we go in the house, and there's a lot of memories there. A lot. A lot of things happened in that house.

KING: Boy, I'll bet. People still come there a lot?

PRESLEY: Oh, my gosh.

KING: Outside tourists.

PRESLEY: Absolutely.

KING: The grave site is widely visited.

PRESLEY: About 450,000 a year. That's a lot of people.

KING: And your boyfriend, your significant other.

PRESLEY: Marco.

KING: Marco. What's his name? Marco... PRESLEY: Marco Garibaldi.

KING: Keep acting like... PRESLEY: And I hate "significant other." I mean, it's... KING: What is he then?

PRESLEY: Well, you know, what is he then? He's just -- he's the father -- pardon me?

KING: He's your guy. He's the father of your son.

PRESLEY: That's right.

KING: How does he handle all this?

PRESLEY: Very well. Very well. He doesn't -- you know, he lets me do what I need to do. You know, basically, in anything. But he's very supportive, 100 percent. And I think in a relationship, one needs that, you know.

KING: How about Elvis' music? You hear it everywhere, right?

PRESLEY: I do. I'll go into a store and it happens every time, I'll go into a store, a song will come on. And it's interesting because I -- people will then recognize me and then, it's funny how people react.

They'll either turn away or they'll go to someone else or they'll point or they'll ask if they -- if I want them to turn the music off or, you know, or am I OK? I mean, it's interesting.

KING: You say he had a great sense of humor.

PRESLEY: Great sense of humor.

KING: Would he have been a good guest on this show?

PRESLEY: Oh, I think so. Absolutely. You wouldn't get anything serious out of him.

KING: Nothing serious, but he would have been funny.

PRESLEY: Oh, yes.

KING: But he also was interested in causes. "In the Ghetto."

PRESLEY: Yes. KING: From that album, he gave money to the NAACP.

PRESLEY: That was a big step for him in those days to take that song.

KING: Colonel Parker didn't want him to do that song.

PRESLEY: That's right. That's right. You know, and he never really took a stand on anything and that was a big step for him.

KING: Again, www.dreamfoundation.org for any information about -- that's a great charity. Priscilla Presley is the guest. More after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KING: We're back with the lovely Priscilla Presley , very talented Priscilla Presley .

Good luck with the lecture tour. What are they calling it?

PRESLEY: Thank you. KING: "Meet Priscilla."

PRESLEY: I guess. "Meet Priscilla." I'll know when I get there.

KING: Thank you so much. PRESLEY: Thank you. KING: Great seeing you.

PRESLEY: Thank you. KING: Priscilla Presley .

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