Fortas was a celebrated football player in Memphis, his hometown, and a longtime member of the “Memphis Mafia”. From 1958 he was a bodyguard and assistant in the team. He was one of Elvis’ closest friends and confidants, a dependable and loyal employee. Fortas was responsible for making the travel between engagements that Elvis had to go on easy and smooth. At times he kept Elvis company on stage and accompanied him with the tambourine. He can also be seen on the sidelines in the 1968 ‘NBC Special’. In 1987 he wrote the book “Elvis: From Memphis to Hollywood” Alan Fortas died on September 23, 1992 from a long illness with cancer and is buried at the Baron Hirsh Freidhof in Memphis.
