Lisa Marie Presley was so devastated by the loss of her son, Benjamin Keough, that she kept his body in her home for two months after he passed away. She even invited a tattoo artist to see him so she could get matching tattoos.
This is just one of many surprising details in Lisa Marie’s new memoir, From Here to the Great Unknown, which was completed by her daughter, actress Riley Keough, after Lisa Marie passed away in January 2023.
Lisa Marie (left) next to her beloved son Ben, along with her third husband, Michael Lockwood, and a guest, at the London premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” in November 2010.
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In her book, Lisa Marie shared that she had to fight to stay alive for her other children, Riley and her twin daughters Harper and Finley, who are now 16. She didn’t say goodbye to Benjamin right away because she was torn between burying him in Hawaii or at Graceland, the Memphis estate where Elvis, her father, is buried.
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Lisa Marie kept the room at 55 degrees to preserve Benjamin’s body and got so used to caring for him and having him there.
Riley and Lisa Marie decided to honor Benjamin by getting tattoos like his. Benjamin had his sister’s name on his collarbone and his mom’s name on his hand. Riley had her brother’s name tattooed on her collarbone, and a tattoo artist was called to Lisa Marie’s home to add Benjamin’s name to her hand. When the artist asked if they had photos of Benjamin’s tattoos to match the font and placement, Lisa Marie said, “No, but I can show you.”
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Riley writes: “Lisa Marie Presley had just asked this poor man to look at her dead son, who was right next to us in the guest house. I’ve had a very strange life, but this moment is one of the weirdest.”
Lisa Marie also knew it was strange. She said, “I think it would scare the heck out of anyone else to have their son there like that. But not me.”
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Soon after the tattoo day, Riley remembers that everyone felt like Benjamin wanted to be laid to rest.
Even Lisa Marie said she could feel him communicating with her, saying, “This is crazy, Mom, what are you doing? What the heck!”
The family held a funeral for Benjamin in Malibu, and New Age author Deepak Chopra led the ceremony. Riley said she had to keep her eyes closed the whole time because she was struggling to cope with everything.
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Benjamin was buried at Graceland, next to Elvis, and Lisa Marie would later be buried there too.
Riley writes a lot about her brother’s struggles with mental health and how he often went on drinking binges. She doesn’t believe he truly wanted to die.
After his death, she and her mom went through his phone, looking for answers.
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Riley writes, “We found a text he sent to my mom a couple of weeks before he died that said, ‘I think something’s wrong with me mentally. I think I have a mental health issue.’ It’s heartbreaking to me that he only realized he might need help just two weeks before he took his own life.”
Bo Derek: A Hollywood Star with a Controversial Love Story
Bo Derek is an American actress and model whose beauty and ability have enthralled audiences for decades. In 1979, following her role in the romantic comedy “10,” her career took off. She has since acted in a number of movies, including “Tarzan, the Ape Man,” “Bolero,” and “Ghosts Can’t Do It.” However, she laments the love story that led to her prosperity.
Bo initially met John Derek, her future first husband, when she was sixteen years old and going through an interview for a part in the film “Fantasies.” Bo fell in love with John right away because, as her mother had said, he was really gorgeous. Bo found it impossible not to fall in love with John, even though they were married to seasoned actress Linda Evans and had a big age difference.
Despite Bo’s mother’s uneasy presence, their passion flourished throughout the filming of “Fantasies” on the stunning island of Mykonos, Greece. They chose to make their relationship public after the film completed because they were really in love.
But there was a price to their devotion. For their romance to last, John and Linda had to get a divorce. Additionally, because their relationship was illegal in the US, the couple was forced to remain in Europe. Bo left high school early to be with John and went on their European travels with him in order to stay together.
Bo stuck by John’s side until his death, in spite of her parents’ condemnation. She has, nevertheless, always felt responsible for ending Linda Evans’ marriage. Bo acknowledged in an interview that she despised herself for stealing someone’s husband and that it was the worst thing she had ever done. She has been burdened by the guilt, particularly since meeting Linda, whom she found admirable. Bo thinks that was a grave error she made in her life.
Bo never thought he would find love again after John passed away. However, life often takes us by surprise. Although she had no intention of getting married when she first met American actor John Corbett in 2002, their relationship developed over time. After dating for 20 years, they were married in 2020 because they had a strong bond and had a lot of laughs.
Bo is happily married to John Corbett now, and despite their decision not to have children, her nontraditional choices in life do not diminish her as a woman. Her strength and determination continue to inspire people everywhere.
Bo’s contentious love tale ultimately teaches us the value of moving on and the repercussions of our choices. Even though she will likely always feel guilty for her previous transgressions, she has once again found love and happiness in her life.
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