Colonel Thomas Andrew `` Tom '' Parker ( June 26 , 1909 -- January 21 , 1997 ) , born Andreas Cornelis ( `` Dries '' ) van Kuijk , was a Dutch-born American entertainment impresario known best as the manager of Elvis Presley .
Colonel Thomas Andrew `` Tom '' Parker ( June 26 , 1909 -- January 21 , 1997 ) born Andreas Cornelis ( `` Dries '' ) van Kuijk , was a Dutch-born entertainment impresario . He was best known as the manager of Elvis Presley .