The award-winning singer Robert Goulet has died of lung disease after the search for a donor lung failed. Legend has it that he caused Elvis Presley to fire a bullet through his own television set, when he was fed up of watching the singer on the box.
However, Goulet maintains that the two of them were good friends and Elvis even gave him a ring. Had Elvis been around to fire another bullet or two, he may have tried again decades later, when Robert Goulet appeared as Priscilla Presley’s love interest Quentin Hapsburg in the 1991 comedy The Naked Gun 2½.
Update from E.I.N.:
The myth of Elvids shooting the TV set was discounted when it was revealed Elvis was annoyed (really annoyed) at Goulet who tried to woo Elvis' girlfriend, Anita Wood, when Elvis was in the Army.
Goulet once claimed he and Elvis were friends. E.I.N. asked Memphis Mafia member Marty Lacker for his view on the friendship. Marty told EIN:
"No, not really. If Goulet came back stage once or twice in Vegas, Elvis was always civil to him as he was with just about everyone who did. He never came back while I was there. Elvis had a dislike for Goulet from the very early years while he was in Germany when Goulet wrote something on the bottom of a letter that Anita Wood had mailed him, as I talk about in the book "ElviscRevelations of the Memphis Mafia" (written with Alanna Nash).
Robert Goulet Has Died
November 01, 2007 | People Source:VariousElvisnites wrote on
November 01, 2007
As a person he was irritating, but as Broadway actor, he was outstanding. Yes RIP. Hope E doesn't kick his a** when he gets there.
Steve V wrote on
November 01, 2007
Met the man several times after Broadway shows. He was a true gentleman and very nice to all the fans that were waiting. And funny! I'm sure he & Elvis got along fine. I can only assume Elvis must have been in a drugged state to shoot a TV set to begin with.
My boy, my boy wrote on
November 02, 2007
I've read somewhere that Elvis started disliking him way back in the fifties while he was in Germany for his service. Apparently Robert kept company of Anita Wood during Elvis's time overseas and that rumours were spreading that Robert was "taking good care of her" so to speak while her boyfriend was not there to do so. Could anyone please confirm ?...THX....BTW, Elvis used to give away rings like candies to almost anybody who crossed his path so Robert's augument for his sincere friendship with Elvis might require a little more substance...RIP nonetheless Mister Goulet !
Mofoca22 wrote on
November 02, 2007
RIP Mr. Goulet im sure elvis as much as he shot the tv out when you were on would be sad that you passed on. hopefully your on tv in the great unknown thrilling elvis again lol
vegaselvisfan wrote on
November 07, 2007
from las vegas: Robert Goulet was always a major star in this town. Please read this beautiful interview. Best regards..... Sue L
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Monday, August 18, 2003 Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal COLUMN: Norm! Goulet's Elvis memories of `sweet young man' and gunplay with TV Robert Goulet says he never took it personally, being a target of one of Elvis' most famous gunplay incidents. The story goes that Elvis, a gun nut, was watching television one night at Graceland and shot out the screen while Goulet was singing. "He did it to a whole bunch of people, Sinatra and Sammy. He didn't like anyone singing. The pills," the legendary baritone recalled on the weekend of the 26th anniversary of Elvis' death. "I heard that when they (Elvis' entourage) would hear gunshots, someone would say, `Get another set.' " The Elvis he met backstage one night at the International (now Hilton) was not the same Elvis who shot out TV sets and lamps in hotels, Goulet said. "I only met him once. He was just a delightfully sweet young man. At one point, I told him, `That's a beautiful ring you have there.' " Elvis insisted Goulet take it. That's the Elvis he prefers to remember, the Elvis "who had so much to offer," Goulet said.