Elliott Gould Reflects on Telling Elvis Presley to 'Shut Up' Over Questions About Barbra Streisand Split

Gould's encounter with Elvis occurred during the height of his fame in the 1970s, where Elvis expressed interest in Gould's split from Streisand; the meeting led Gould to advise Elvis to break free from the controlling influence of his father and manager.

Elliott Gould, the renowned actor, had an interaction with Elvis Presley in the 1970s during which Presley inquired about Gould's separation from Barbra Streisand. Gould's response to Elvis's inquiry was to tell him to 'shut up'.
Presley's interest in Gould's split from Streisand may not have been merely personal, as Presley had seriously considered working with Streisand on her 1976 remake of 'A Star Is Born'. His manager's demand for top billing and high salary prevented the collaboration.
During their encounter, Gould highlighted the strong influence of Presley's father and manager, Colonel Tom Parker, on Presley's life. Gould advised Presley to escape their control, calling him a 'cash cow' to them, and encouraged him to embrace his freedom as an individual.
Elliot Gould and Barbra Streisand were married in 1963 and split in 1971. They share a son, Jason Gould, born in 1966. Despite the dissolution of their marriage, Gould regards Streisand as family and maintains that they have a 'special and unique relationship'.
Gould's advice to Presley unfortunately went unheeded, as Presley died in 1977 at the age of 42, without substantially breaking free from his controlling entourage.