‘Jerry Maguire’ actress dies of breast cancer
LOS ANGELES — Kelly Preston, who played dramatic and comic foil to actors ranging from Tom Cruise in “Jerry Maguire” to Arnold Schwarzenegger in “Twins,” died Sunday, husband John Travolta said. She was 57
Travolta said in an Instagram post that his wife of 28 years died after a twoyear battle with breast cancer.
“It is with a very heavy heart that I inform you that my beautiful wife Kelly has lost her twoyear battle with breast cancer,” Travolta said. “She fought a courageous fight with the love and support of so many.”
The couple had three children together.
Born Kelly Kamalelehua Smith on Oct. 13, 1962, in Honolulu, Preston had a lengthy acting career in movies and television beginning in the 1980s, including the 1985 teen comedy “Mischief,” 1986’s “Space Camp” and her breakthrough, 1988’s “Twins.” Preston played Marnie, the woman who marries Schwarzenegger’s character.
Preston was first married to actor Kevin Gage. They divorced in 1987.
The year after, Preston met Travolta while shooting the 1989 film “The Experts.” They meet on the dance floor after Travolta asks, “Does anyone here know how to dance.” Preston responds: “I know how to dance.”
They were married in 1991 at a midnight ceremony in Paris while expecting their first son, Jett.
Preston gave one of her most wellreceived performances in “Jerry Maguire” as the exfiancee of Cruise’s sports agent who dumps him early in the movie. The Daily News called her “icily effective.”
In January 2009, Jett Travolta, 16, died after a seizure at the family’s vacation home in the Bahamas.
In addition to Jett and Ella
Bleu, who was born in 2000, the couple had son Benjamin in 2010. Ella wrote on Instagram Sunday: “I have never met anyone as courageous, strong, beautiful and loving as you.”
The couple last starred together in the 2018 film “Gotti,” with Travolta playing John Gotti and Preston playing the crime boss’s wife, Victoria.
“Kelly’s love and life will always be remembered,” Travolta said on Instagram. “I will be taking some time to be there for my children who have lost their mother, so forgive me in advance if you don’t hear from us for a while. But please know that I will feel your outpouring of love.”