Brandon Elvis Howard is best known for his 30 year career as an Elvis impersonator hailing from the town of Fairmount, Indiana. With a flair for the dramatic and a drive to entertain the masses he is also now pursuing a career as an actor with an upcoming role on an episode of the series “Nine Perfect Strangers” due to air May, 2025.

For more information please see:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thatelvisguy

Instragram: https://www.instagram.com/thatelvisguy/

IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9040853/

 What was it like growing up in Fairmount, Indiana? Do you think the slow and relaxed pace of life there encourages one to dream and to pursue those dreams?  

I was very fortunate to have grown up in Grant County, Indiana. My first few school years, my family lived in Gas City and we moved to Fairmount when I was around eight years old. Both towns are very quiet, quaint little towns in which I was able to ride my bicycle or walk everywhere that I needed to go. I think I started to ride my bike into town when I was about nine because I finally got comfortable enough to do so. It was such a beautiful place to grow up. There was a nice little park, a record shop, a toy store, a general store, an adorable little gas station, and a family owned grocery store. I definitely learned early on that living in a tourist destination wasn’t necessarily always a good thing. There was always a divide between James Dean (and Jim Davis, respectively) fans and locals regarding how much James Dean and Garfield should be in the town. The local folks wanted to keep it as it was while the fans wanted to label everything, plaster Jimmy’s face everywhere, add bright lights to buildings to attract tourism, and basically turn our tiny town into a monument rather than the humble town that Jimmy (and Jim Davis) loved. Fairmount is now definitely much more of a tourist town than it was when I was a kid, but whether or not that’s a good thing is kind of up to the person who is experiencing it. To answer your question about fulfilling dreams, Grant County is small, so dreams are all that kids have. Fairmount is a small country town in which local sports are the most important subject on everyone’s lips (other than politics), so unfortunately, that means that if you play sports, that is your assigned destiny. Kids who excel in the arts, are typically not pushed to pursue those passions. I will gladly encourage any child who is passionate about music, art, or acting to follow those dreams (but to please think bigger than just Grant County). Adeline Nall encouraged Jimmy to pursue acting and told a young, asthmatic Jim Davis to keep drawing that fat, orange, cantankerous cat… and the rest is history. 

For those that aren’t familiar with your work can you tell us a little about what led you to become an Elvis impersonator?

 Sure! In short, it all started at a talent show when I was a freshman in high school. I wanted to be like my brother because he was always so confident singing in front of a crowd. I had just watched a wonderful film entitled “Blue Hawaii” and there was a scene in which Elvis opens a music box and this really beautiful song plays as he sings along. It was the song “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” Alone in my room, I sang along to a cassette tape and discovered that it was in my range. I bicycled up to the music store in Fairmount and discovered as fate would have it, they had the background music on a karaoke cassette tape, so I bought it and used it for the talent show. Are those wondering, I did not win…I got second place…Next to a clogger. 

What do you find to be the most challenging aspect of that? Do you ever get tired of Elvis? 

There have been a few times that I almost quit, but my grandfather, my father, Fairmount Historian Ann Warr (the founder of the Fairmount Historical Society) and Adeline Nall were all there to encourage me to continue to perform. I have never gotten tired of performing as Elvis, but since I started performing so young, I did have points in my life where I just wanted to be Brandon. Other than minor identity crises, the most difficult aspect of performing as Elvis has always been the die-hard fans who prefer to tear me down for not having the correct hairstyle, or the wrong shoes, or historically inaccurate onstage wardrobe choices (the “Elvis never wore that” crowd). That is why I always bring attention to the fact that I am an Elvis TRIBUTE artist, not an Elvis impersonator. When you come to my show, you get Brandon Elvis Howard paying tribute to Elvis, not an Elvis Presley wannabe. 

How has your approach to that particular role changed to most since you first started out? Do you see it as an evolving role? 

It has definitely been an evolving role due to the fact that public perception of Elvis has changed throughout the years. Obviously, when a new film about Elvis comes out, then public interest in Elvis grows, and suddenly I have a brand new audience. Another issue has been new tech technologies. When I first started out, my background music was on a set tape, then compact disc, then USB. That definitely affects which kind of equipment I need for each show. 

How does work as a tribute artist different most from your work as an actor? Do you prefer one over the other?

When I perform as Elvis, I know that it is going to be about me and how I want to portray myself to the audience. If there is something going on with me mentally or if I’m going through something, it comes out in the music (I cannot tell you the last time that I sang “My Way” without crying). I’m really good at expressing myself on stage. On set, however, I am a character. I am able to channel my anger in certain characters, my sadness in certain characters, my silliness in certain characters, and that is what I love the most about acting. It is excellent therapy. If I had to quit one of them, though, I would have to say acting because I was always taught to “dance with the one that brought you”… and that would be Elvis. 

Has acting been something you have always wanted to do? What do you enjoy most about the work of being an actor?

I have always really enjoyed acting. I think the one time that my love for acting and my love of Elvis came together was when I was a freshman in high school. I portrayed Conrad Birdie in our school’s production of the musical “Bye Bye Birdie.” For those unfamiliar with the musical, it is about a very Elvis-esque character leaving fame and begins to join the military and how his fans handle it. The really extraordinarily special thing about that play was that I got to wear my grandfather’s World War II United States Marines uniform. That was TRULY an honor. 

As someone who has moved abroad, what are some of the most daunting challenges you face in being away from home?

Right now? Coming home. I do not feel like the United States is the same place that it was when I left. The biggest challenge I have faced other than that is missing my family, home sickness, and driving down those wonderful, lonely country roads at night. 

Do you welcome the chance to learn from every other actor that you get to work with? 

I have enjoyed every little nugget of information that I’ve been given from my fellow actors and directors. It was truly an honor to be directed by Wes Anderson (I love that he has a very “what if” style of directing and is always open to suggestions from the actors). The most memorable lesson that I’ve received which comes to mind was actually on the set of Wes Anderson’s upcoming film “The Phoenician Scheme.” My character smokes a cigarette while eating lunch and I apparently looked pretty awkward since I don’t smoke. Benicio Del Toro walked over to me in between takes and showed me how he believed that my character would smoke while eating. I was definitely more honored than offended. 

Are you excited about the upcoming appearance on ”Nine Perfect Strangers?” What did you enjoy most about that experience? What did you learn from it?

I’m extremely excited about the new season! I really enjoyed season one, so I’m extremely proud to now be a tiny part of the 9PS Universe.  I really enjoyed every moment on set and working so closely with the super talented Maisie Richardson-Sellers and King Princess. During filming, I think that I learned a lot about how a director can completely change a scene by adjusting something as small as an actor’s wardrobe. I can’t give away too much, but basically my character was originally in sweatpants and a robe, but it was changed to an outfit which will make it clear as to what season it is and to what the weather conditions are in the scene. My favorite moment was actually after our filming day was done. I had the great pleasure of walking through the studio lot with Maisie who is such a wonderful, beautiful human being. I will definitely treasure our after work conversation forever.  

Do you have any interesting stories from the sets of your works so far? 

So many! I think my biggest what the fuck moment came as we were about to take the car to the set of “The Phoenician Scheme.” A black car pulled up which I was supposed to get into, and just as I was about to open the door, it opened and out popped Bill Murray. He was much taller than I had ever expected while wearing his stupid Cubs hat. I, as a Guardians fan, told him that I’m a big fan of his, but that I hated his hat. He almost immediately said, “ I’m guessing that you are a Cleveland fan? Yeah. Thanks for the World Series”, smiled and walked away. Later in the day, we were on set, and he said “Hey your team is still the INDIANS!” (for those who don’t know, they changed their name from the Cleveland Indians to the Cleveland Guardians due to pushes for cultural appropriation, but it’s still strange to root for a team for thirty years then to have them change the name of the team). It was pretty cool to be able to bond with him over sports. However, as far as my favorite interactions with fellow actors, nothing will ever top Keanu Reeves sending me a Wyld Stallyns guitar (because “EVERY great Elvis needs a guitar!). The original idea for Bill and Ted Face The Music was to have the girls encounter Elvis instead of Jimi Hendrix. In the end, they went with Jimi, but even though I was hurt, I understood as the film needed a guitar PLAYER while Elvis was more of a strummer.  

Do you have a dream role or project you’d most like to work on? Is there anyone you’d most love to work with in the future?

I think my dream role would probably be an acting role in a Tim Burton film. I’ve always loved his style, and I would certainly love to witness his style of directing first-hand. The folks whom I would most enjoy acting with would be Margot Robbie (because I have a massive crush on her), Nicolas Cage (because I’d love to talk some Elvis with him), and it is a toss-up for first place between Jim Carrey and Keanu. I can’t imagine the hijinks which would ensue if you were to get me and Jim together, and I would like to actually work with Keanu in person since the only time that I got to work with him was during Covid via Zoom. 

What do you hope the people who see your work in both areas take away from your performances?

I would hope that they appreciate the performances, because I really do put my heart and soul into everything that I do. I hope that they walk away, knowing that I left it all on the stage or on the screen. 

Is there anything you’d like to say in closing? 

Sure, I would like to say that if you ever feel unloved, I know that you are loved by someone who may not say it or show it. If you feel unattractive, I can guarantee that someone has a crush on you, but you may never know it. If you feel worthless, I know that there is someone out there who thinks the world of you. If you ever feel like you’re completely alone, you’re not…I’m right here and I care.