# Red West
**Red West** (Robert Gene West; March 8, 1936 – July 18, 2017) was an American actor, stuntman, and songwriter best known as a childhood friend, driver, and bodyguard of [Elvis Presley](https://www.edgepedia.org/elvis-presley) and a founding member of Presley's inner circle, the "Memphis Mafia".[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/red-west) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0922307) He also wrote hit songs recorded by Presley and other artists and built a decades-long film and television career of his own, capped by a lead role in the independent film *Goodbye Solo* (2008).[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/red-west)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Robert Gene "Red" West[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0922307) |
| Born | March 8, 1936, Memphis, Tennessee (one obituary gives November 20, 1936, Bolivar, Tennessee)[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/red-west) • [3](https://www.legacy.com/legacy/notable-deaths/red-west) |
| Died | July 18, 2017, age 81, in Memphis, after an aortic aneurysm[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/red-west) • [4](https://en.battlestarwiki.org/Red_West) |
| Presley roles | Driver (1955–56) and bodyguard (from 1960); co-wrote "Separate Ways", "If Every Day Was Like Christmas", and "If You Talk in Your Sleep"[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/red-west) |
| Elvis films | Appeared in 16 of Presley's films in the 1960s per IMDb; the Television Academy obituary states 18[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0922307) • [1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/red-west) |
| The book | Co-wrote *Elvis: What Happened?* with Sonny West and David Hebler, published in 1977 two weeks before Presley's death[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0922307) |
| Signature acting roles | Sgt. Andy Micklin on *Black Sheep Squadron*; Red Webster in *Road House* (1989); William in *Goodbye Solo* (2008)[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/red-west) • [5](https://archive.commercialappeal.com/entertainment/at-73-in-lead-at-last-elvis-pal-red-west-an-overnight-success-ep-394272121-324260711.html?page=1) |
| Active years | Acting career ran until 2015; final on-screen appearance on the TV series *Nashville*[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0922307) • [3](https://www.legacy.com/legacy/notable-deaths/red-west) |
## Early life and friendship with Elvis Presley
West grew up in Memphis and met Presley at Humes High School, where he was a year behind him; obituaries describe him as protecting Presley from bullies, which prefigured his later role as Presley's bodyguard.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0922307) • [6](https://musicrow.com/2017/07/lifenotes-elvis-presley-associate-red-west-passes/) He played football for the Memphis Tigers high school team, boxed in the [Golden Gloves](https://www.edgepedia.org/golden-gloves), and played center for the Jones County Junior College Bobcats.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0922307)
From 1955 to 1956 West drove Presley and band members [Scotty Moore](https://www.edgepedia.org/scotty-moore), Bill Black, and later D.J. Fontana to live appearances across Southern cities.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0922307) He then served in the [United States Marine Corps](https://www.edgepedia.org/united-states-marine-corps) from 1956 to late 1958, stationed in [Norfolk, Virginia](https://www.edgepedia.org/norfolk-virginia), which allowed him to keep in contact with Presley.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0922307) After Presley's discharge from the Army in 1960, West became one of his bodyguards and remained in the entourage for roughly 20 years as driver, confidante, and protector.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0922307) • [3](https://www.legacy.com/legacy/notable-deaths/red-west)
## The Memphis Mafia and the 1976 firing
The press dubbed Presley's entourage of buddies, bodyguards, and hangers-on the "Memphis Mafia" in 1962.[6](https://musicrow.com/2017/07/lifenotes-elvis-presley-associate-red-west-passes/) West was one of its founding members and, by most accounts, knew Presley longer than nearly anyone else in the circle.[7](https://www.history-of-rock.com/memphis_mafia.htm) During the 1970s he, his cousin Sonny West, and Dave Hebler served as Presley's bodyguards, handling his transportation and keeping unwanted or potentially dangerous fans away.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0922307)
**The firing.** On July 13, 1976, Presley's father, Vernon Presley, fired all three bodyguards, criticizing what he described as their heavy-handed tactics.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0922307) Accounts differ on the motive: Vernon framed it as a cost-cutting measure, while West increasingly pressed Presley about his drug use.[6](https://musicrow.com/2017/07/lifenotes-elvis-presley-associate-red-west-passes/) • [7](https://www.history-of-rock.com/memphis_mafia.htm) The three men then collaborated on *Elvis: What Happened?*, a book about their years as Presley's bodyguards that detailed the singer's dependency on drugs. It was published in 1977, just two weeks before Presley's death; the three were criticized for the disclosure, and West said he wrote it hoping Presley would recognize his dangerous addiction.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0922307) • [3](https://www.legacy.com/legacy/notable-deaths/red-west) When Presley died shortly afterward, West's concerns about the drug problem were seen by some as vindicated.[4](https://en.battlestarwiki.org/Red_West)
## Songwriting
West co-wrote several of Presley's songs, including "Separate Ways", "If Every Day Was Like Christmas", and "If You Talk in Your Sleep".[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/red-west) "Separate Ways", written by Red West and Richard Mainegra in the early 1970s, became a hit in 1972 and won a BMI Award.[3](https://www.legacy.com/legacy/notable-deaths/red-west) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0922307) • [10](https://www.elvisthemusic.com/track/separate-ways-2/) His songs were also recorded by [Pat Boone](https://www.edgepedia.org/pat-boone), Ricky Nelson, and [Johnny Rivers](https://www.edgepedia.org/johnny-rivers).[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/red-west) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0922307) His co-written "I'm a Fool" was recorded by Rick Nelson and by Dino, Desi & Billy, for whom it became a 1965 hit.[6](https://musicrow.com/2017/07/lifenotes-elvis-presley-associate-red-west-passes/)
## Acting and stunt career
West's screen career began through the Presley connection: he appeared in small, usually bit or supporting parts in Presley's films in the 1960s, including *Blue Hawaii* (1961), *Viva Las Vegas* (1964), and *Live a Little, Love a Little* (1968).[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/red-west) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0922307) A friendship with the actor Nick Adams led to stunt work on Adams's western series *The Rebel* in 1959–61, and West went on to regular stunt work in film and television.[4](https://en.battlestarwiki.org/Red_West) • [6](https://musicrow.com/2017/07/lifenotes-elvis-presley-associate-red-west-passes/) He appeared in three [Robert Conrad](https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-conrad) television series, performing stunts regularly on *The Wild Wild West* and holding a regular role as Sergeant Andy Micklin on *Black Sheep Squadron* (1976).[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/red-west) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0922307)
**Guest roles and features.** Over the following decades he appeared on *Bonanza*, *Maverick*, *Get Smart*, *Mission: Impossible*, *Mannix*, *The Six Million Dollar Man*, *Battlestar Galactica*, *Quincy M.E.*, *Knight Rider*, *The Twilight Zone*, *The A-Team*, *Rectify*, and *Nashville*.[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/red-west) Film credits include *Walking Tall* (1973), *Road House* (1989), in which he played auto parts store owner Red Webster opposite [Patrick Swayze](https://www.edgepedia.org/patrick-swayze), *Natural Born Killers* (1994), *The Rainmaker* (1997), *Glory Road* (2006), and *[Safe Haven](https://www.edgepedia.org/safe-haven-film)* (2013).[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/red-west) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0922307) His last on-screen role came in 2015 on *Nashville*, two years before his death.[3](https://www.legacy.com/legacy/notable-deaths/red-west) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0922307)
## Goodbye Solo
In 2008, at age 72, West took the first lead role of his career as William, a world-weary elderly man who hires a Senegalese taxi driver (Souleymane Sy Savane) in [Winston-Salem, North Carolina](https://www.edgepedia.org/winston-salem-north-carolina), for a one-way trip to a cliff overlook in [Ramin Bahrani](https://www.edgepedia.org/ramin-bahrani)'s independent film *Goodbye Solo*.[5](https://archive.commercialappeal.com/entertainment/at-73-in-lead-at-last-elvis-pal-red-west-an-overnight-success-ep-394272121-324260711.html?page=1) • [8](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/oct/09/goodbye-solo-review) The film received positive reviews; Roger Ebert wrote that West "isn't playing himself, but he evokes his character so fully that he might as well be", adding that "West's face is a map of hard living".[9](https://www.foundagrave.com/grave/red-west/)
## Death
West died on July 18, 2017, at age 81 at Baptist Hospital in Memphis, after an abdominal aortic aneurysm that his wife, Pat, described to *The Commercial Appeal*.[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/red-west) • [4](https://en.battlestarwiki.org/Red_West) • [3](https://www.legacy.com/legacy/notable-deaths/red-west) His death came less than two months after that of his cousin and fellow [Memphis Mafia](https://www.edgepedia.org/memphis-mafia) member Sonny West, who died in May 2017.[9](https://www.foundagrave.com/grave/red-west/) He was survived by his wife of 56 years, Pat, who had been one of Presley's secretaries, and sons John and Brent.[6](https://musicrow.com/2017/07/lifenotes-elvis-presley-associate-red-west-passes/)
## References
1. [Red West, Television Academy](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/red-west)
2. [Red West, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0922307)
3. [Red West Obituary, Legacy.com](https://www.legacy.com/legacy/notable-deaths/red-west)
4. [Red West, Battlestar Wiki](https://en.battlestarwiki.org/Red_West)
5. [At 73, in lead at last, Elvis pal Red West an 'overnight success', The Commercial Appeal](https://archive.commercialappeal.com/entertainment/at-73-in-lead-at-last-elvis-pal-red-west-an-overnight-success-ep-394272121-324260711.html?page=1)
6. [Lifenotes: Elvis Presley Associate Red West Passes, MusicRow.com](https://musicrow.com/2017/07/lifenotes-elvis-presley-associate-red-west-passes/)
7. [The Memphis Mafia, history-of-rock.com](https://www.history-of-rock.com/memphis_mafia.htm)
8. [Goodbye Solo review, The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/oct/09/goodbye-solo-review)
9. [Red West, Found a Grave](https://www.foundagrave.com/grave/red-west/)
10. [elvisthemusic.com](https://www.elvisthemusic.com/track/separate-ways-2/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Film actors and performers › Stunt performers, action doubles, and film combat specialists*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license