Hollywood legend George Hamilton recently celebrated his 87th birthday with a visit to his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, coinciding with the annual Elvis Week festivities at Graceland. Hamilton, who marked his birthday on August 12, returned to Memphis to participate in the event, which commemorated the anniversary of Elvis Presley's death.
During his visit, Hamilton, accompanied by his son George Jr., posed for photos at Graceland, sharing moments from his trip on Instagram. He also took part in an onstage interview on August 15, where he shared personal anecdotes about his friendship with Elvis Presley and his manager, Colonel Tom Parker.
Hamilton recalled knowing Colonel Tom Parker, which led to his acquaintance with Presley. His last visit to Graceland was for Presley's funeral in 1977, an event he attended with Parker. He described the scene at the funeral as difficult for Parker, who was trying to maintain composure during the profound loss.
Before his Memphis trip, Hamilton appeared to have celebrated his actual birthday in Manhattan, where George Jr. posted photos and videos of the event. This period of family togetherness comes after a period of public silence in April when Hamilton's elder son, Ashley Hamilton, was hospitalized for an overdose.
Ashley Hamilton, 51, has been open about his struggles with addiction and a battle with a rare mucosal HPV-related cancer. In April, he was reported to be in stable condition and undergoing recovery. Weeks prior to his overdose, Ashley had disclosed his intention to seek assisted suicide at a Swiss clinic, expressing a desire to avoid leaving a difficult legacy for his daughter.
In 2016, during the reality show "Stewarts & Hamiltons," George Hamilton spoke emotionally about his son's addiction, expressing pride in Ashley's sobriety at the time and acknowledging the difficult journey they had navigated. Ashley has spoken in the past about his father's unwavering support throughout his struggles. Most recently, he discussed his ongoing health battles and his consideration of assisted suicide in a March interview.