'Elvis' star Austin Butler credits father for playing major role in success

Austin Butler, actor who is best known for his role as legendary Elvis, has recently opened up about the "fundamental influence" his father had on him as he grew up.

As a kid, Austin recalls how his dad, David, lived in a way that sparked his love for the outdoors and shaped his positive outlook on life.

The actor shared with The Times: "My dad’s a very practical man. His lifestyle has influenced me on a fundamental level. When I was growing up, he would take me to Arizona, where my grandparents lived.

"That variety [my father] showed me by helping me ride a motorbike, ride horses or going to the countryside."

Austin kicked off his career as a teen, making small appearances on shows like Hannah Montana with Miley Cyrus and Zoey 101 with Jamie Lynn Spears. However, it wasn’t long before he made his mark in Hollywood with major roles, including his breakout performance in Elvis.

Back in 2014, Austin faced an incredibly tough loss when his mother, Lori, passed away after battling cancer. He later opened up about how overwhelming the grief was, admitting that he nearly gave up on everything because he had never known pain like that before.