Benjamin Keough: How Son’s Suicide Impacted Lisa Marie Presley and Danny Keough

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 800,000 people die from suicide every year, which works out to be about one person every 40 seconds. It’s among the leading causes of death in the United States and can affect families from different backgrounds, financial statuses, and upbringings.

Mental illness does not discriminate, and even those who appear to have the “perfect life” born into a wealthy, celebrity family could succumb to this tragic outcome.

Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of the infamous Elvis Presley and famous in her own right, along with her ex-husband Danny Keough lost their son Benjamin Storm Keough to suicide on July 12, 2020. He was just 27 years old.

Benjamin Keough, who had an uncanny resemblance to his grandfather, was found dead in Lisa Marie Presley’s home in Calabasas, California.

The L.A. Coroner’s Office confirmed the cause of death was a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Little was known about Benjamin as he kept a low profile. His Instagram account was private, and although he apparently signed a deal with Universal Music, nothing had been released.

He was laid to rest in Graceland, next to his grandfather and other Presley family members. Following his death, a spokesperson told TODAY, “(Lisa Marie Presley) is completely heartbroken, inconsolable, and beyond devastated but trying to stay strong for her 11-year-old twins and her oldest daughter Riley”.

Benjamin Keough Family
Benjamin was survived by his three siblings. He shared the same father, Danny Keogh, with his older sister Riley. His mother, Lisa Marie Presley, and his father, Danny Keough, married in 1988.

It seems as if Benjamin shared his father’s distaste for fame as Danny has successfully remained out of the spotlight.

Danny met Lisa through the Church of Scientology and began playing in Presley’s band. The two managed to keep their relationship private until after their wedding.

Even their wedding, which took place on October 3rd, 1988, at the Celebrity Center International of the Church of Scientology, had only nine attendees. At the time of their marriage, Lisa was just 20 years old, and Danny was 23.

Benjamin’s father, Danny, has roots in the Church of Scientology. Following his parent’s divorce, Danny’s mother (Benjamin’s paternal grandmother) remarried a prominent Scientologist named Alan Hollander.

The two of them went on to co-found a private Scientology academy where Danny went to school.

Just six days after they announced their nuptials, Lisa Marie announced that she and Danny were expecting their first child. In May 1989, Lisa’s eldest daughter Riley (born Danielle) was born.

Riley was three years older than Benjamin and had a successful acting career. She’s had roles in major films, including The Runaways, Mad Max: Fury Road, and The Girlfriend Experience, with rave reviews and was even nominated for a Golden Globe.

When asked about their father, Riley told The Guardian, “ I grew up very privileged with my mother, but my dad didn’t live like that. And I think experiencing both sides has been helpful. My father had mattresses on the floor of his apartments. He lived in cabins and trailer parks. He just didn’t have much money.”

Benjamin was born in 1993. He was just under a year old when his mother filed for divorce from Danny. From the very beginning, Benjamin had several father-life figures in his life. Although a musician, Lise Marie Presley has received more media attention for her rocky love life than her music.

Only 20 days after his parents divorced, Benjamin’s mother married Michael Jackson when he was still a baby.

This caused a media frenzy, as many believed this union to be arranged, giving Michael Jackson more credibility following accusations of him molesting a minor.

Despite allegations, the pair insisted they were in love. Presley continued to defend Jackson through these allegations as well. The two were married for less than two years and divorced in 1996.

At the time, Presley remained pretty quiet about it; however, years later, in an interview with Oprah, she revealed that Jackson had chosen drugs and fame over her.

A few years later, in 2002, Lisa Marie Presley married Nicholas Cage. This marriage was even shorter, lasting just 107 days before the two divorced.