Megastar Travolta’s years of torment
ACTOR BATTLES GRIEF
JOHN Travolta has brought pleasure to millions during his amazing movie career – but behind the scenes his life has been devastated by family heartache.
The Hollywood legend recently posted a video online of him with daughter Ella recreating his iconic dance moves from Grease.
But many who watched him dance the steps – 43 years after he did so with co-star Olivia Newton-john – were unaware of Travolta’s tragic life that included the sudden death of his teenage son and losing two partners to cancer.
As a youngster, he dropped out of school in New Jersey and soon found fame in New York, following in his actress mother Helen’s footsteps.
He landed a role in the touring musical Grease and, after appearing on Broadway, was introduced to actress Diana Hyland. While filming The Boy In The Plastic Bubble in 1976, the pair fell in love – despite their 18-year age gap.
Just a year later, Diana died of breast cancer aged 41, having undergone a double mastectomy in previous years.
After a string of unsuccessful relaa
DEVOTED: With wife Kelly, who died last year tionships, John met actress Kelly Preston while they filmed 1989 comedy The Experts.
They married in 1991 and their first son, Jett, was born the following year, with Ella arriving in 2000.
Tragically, Jett’s health issues – including autism and Kawasaki syndrome – led to him suffering a seizure during a family holiday in 2009. He died aged just 16.
John and Kelly said they never believed they would get over such pain, with the movie legend explaining he’d had to lean on his faith in Scientology to get him through.
A year later, second son Ben was born and John continued to work on projects including The People v. OJ Simpson.
In July 2020, John anounced Kelly had died after a two-year breast cancer battle. He wrote: “Kelly’s love and life will always be remembered.”
Just weeks after Kelly’s death, John’s nephew Sam Travolta Jr died aged 52.
Despite the tragedies John, 67, is loving life with Ella, 21, and Ben, 10, and his social media posts prove life in the Travolta household goes on.