Priscilla Presley's Real Name: Priscilla Ann Wagner (Beaulieu)
Priscilla Presley → Priscilla Ann Wagner
Quick answer: Priscilla Presley's birth name was Priscilla Ann Wagner. After her stepfather adopted her she was known as Priscilla Ann Beaulieu; she later took the married surname Presley.
Real name and early life
Britannica and major biographies record birth as Priscilla Ann Wagner on May 24, 1945, in Brooklyn, New York. Her biological father, James Wagner, died when she was young; her mother, Anna, married U.S. Air Force officer Joseph Paul Beaulieu, who adopted Priscilla, and her surname became Beaulieu. She spent much of her childhood on military postings, including in West Germany, where she met Elvis Presley as a teenager. They married in 1967; she is widely known as Priscilla Presley. The Library of Congress authority file is under Presley, Priscilla, 1945-.
Quick facts
- Real name: Priscilla Ann Wagner (later Beaulieu; married Presley)
- Known as: Priscilla Presley
- Born: May 24, 1945, in Brooklyn, New York
- Known for: Actor, businessperson; former wife of Elvis Presley
- Notable work: Dallas; Elvis Presley estate stewardship; memoir Elvis and Me
- Sources checked: Britannica, Library of Congress Name Authority
Career highlights
After her divorce from Elvis Presley (filed 1972; finalized 1973), she built an acting and business career, including a long-running role as Jenna Wade on the soap Dallas. She helped develop Graceland as a public attraction and has remained a central figure in managing aspects of the Elvis Presley legacy and brand. Her memoir Elvis and Me (1985) was adapted for television; later screen projects and public appearances keep the Presley surname she has used for decades.
Name notes
Searchers often ask whether Beaulieu or Wagner is "real." Both are historically accurate at different times: Wagner at birth, Beaulieu after adoption, Presley after marriage. Britannica and Biography-class sources document the Wagner-to-Beaulieu sequence; LOC catalogs her under Presley, Priscilla. Do not invent additional middle names beyond Ann.
FAQ
What is Priscilla Presley's real name?
She was born Priscilla Ann Wagner, later Priscilla Ann Beaulieu, and is known as Priscilla Presley.
When and where was she born?
May 24, 1945, in Brooklyn, New York.
Why Beaulieu?
Her stepfather Joseph Paul Beaulieu adopted her after her mother's remarriage.
Was Presley her birth surname?
No—it is her married name from Elvis Presley.
Is she only known as Elvis's wife?
No—she also acted (*Dallas*) and helped develop Graceland's public legacy.