close
close

How Riley Keough told his mother Lisa Marie Presley about his brother Benjamin's suicide death

How Riley Keough told his mother Lisa Marie Presley about his brother Benjamin's suicide death

Riley Keough described the heartbreaking moment she had to tell her mother Lisa Marie Presley that her brother Benjamin Keough had died by suicide in 2020.

“My mother was sleeping in her hotel room,” Riley, 35, wrote in her new book, “From Here to the Great Unknown,” which was released Tuesday.

“I ran to her suite and started knocking on the door,” the actress continued. “When I knocked on her door, I already knew clearly that it would be a gift if I was still with her after what was about to happen. I couldn’t imagine her living without my brother.”

Riley Keough revealed how she told her mother Lisa Marie Presley that her brother Benjamin died by suicide in 2020. lisampresley/Instagram
The “Daisy Jones & the Six” star reflected on the heartbreaking moment in her book, “From Here to the Great Unknown,” released Oct. 8. Copetti/Photofab/Shutterstock
“My mother was sleeping in her hotel room. I ran to her suite and started knocking on the door,” Riley wrote in the book. Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

The “Daisy Jones & the Six” star recalled that her late brother hosted a party at their mother's home in Calabasas, California, while Presley stayed at a hotel due to mold in the house.

Benjamin “went upstairs” around 3:30 a.m. to “get a beer,” Riley shared, noting that it took partygoers “almost an hour” to realize he had “disappeared.”

It wasn't until around 5:30 a.m. on that serious day that Riley received a call and knew something “serious” had happened. Her mother's assistant then told her that Benjamin had died by suicide at the age of 27, and she quickly ran to her mother to tell her the terrible news.

“When I knocked on her door, I already knew clearly that it would be a gift if I was still with her after what was about to happen. “I couldn’t imagine her living without my brother,” Riley added. Getty Images
Riley said Benjamin was hosting a party at her mother's house in Calabasas, California, when he went upstairs to have a beer. Lance Murphey/EPA/Shutterstock

After informing her parents, Danny Keough, of Benjamin's untimely death, Riley and Presley went to the house together.

“What did you do, Benjamin?” Presley told her daughter when she first saw her son's body, adding that she remained in a “state of shock” for two weeks afterward.

Riley also revealed that Presley kept Benjamin's body in the house for two months after his death.

The actress said partygoers didn't notice Benjamin's disappearance for almost an hour. MediaPunch/Shutterstock
Around 5:30 a.m., Riley received a call informing her that Benjamin had died. Copetti/Photofab/Shutterstock

“We had to keep the room at 55 degrees – before we buried him at Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee,” she shared.

In the years following the loss of her son, her mother's health began to “deteriorate,” Riley wrote.

“Despite all that love she still had within her and despite all her struggles in life, we could all see it,” Riley wrote. “We all knew my mother would die of a broken heart.”

Riley revealed in the book that her mother kept Benjamin's body in the house for two months after his death. Christopher Peterson/SplashNews.com
She said her mother's health “deteriorated” after the loss of her son. Getty Images for ELLE

In January 2023, Danny Riley called to tell her that Presley had suffered cardiac arrest, and she immediately boarded a plane to be by her side.

Shortly thereafter, he informed Riley of Presley's death via text message.

“She died a few minutes ago, darling. I didn't want to tell you via text message. But I'm worried about it getting in the papers,” Riley recalled her father texting.

“I love you so much that I'm really sorry to have to tell you like that. I don’t want you to be surprised when you get off the plane.”

Lisa Marie Presley died in January 2023. FilmMagic
She was buried next to Benjamin at Graceland. Riley Keough/Instagram

Priscilla Presley confirmed that her daughter died on January 12, 2023 after suffering cardiac arrest. She was 54 years old.

“It is with a heavy heart that I share the devastating news that my beautiful daughter Lisa Marie has left us,” Priscilla said in a statement at the time. “She was the most passionate, strong and loving woman I have ever known.”

Elvis Presley's only daughter was buried next to her beloved son Benjamin at Graceland on January 22, 2023.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *