John Travolta facts: Actor’s age, children, wife, films and family explained

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These are the key details about the iconic American actor and producer, John Travolta:

He grew up in New Jersey with his father Sam Travolta, a semi-professional American football player, and his mother, Helen Cecilia, an actress and singer who became a a high school drama and English teacher.
He grew up in New Jersey with his father Sam Travolta, a semi-professional American football player, and his mother, Helen Cecilia, an actress and singer who became a a high school drama and English teacher. Picture: Alamy

  • John Travolta was born on February 18, 1954. He celebrated his 69th birthday in 2023.

    He grew up in New Jersey with his father Sam Travolta, a semi-professional American football player, and his mother, Helen Cecilia, an actress and singer who became a a high school drama and English teacher.
    He grew up in New Jersey with his father Sam Travolta, a semi-professional American football player, and his mother, Helen Cecilia, an actress and singer who became a a high school drama and English teacher. Picture: Alamy

    He grew up in New Jersey with his father Sam Travolta, a semi-professional American football player, and his mother, Helen Cecilia, an actress and singer who became a a high school drama and English teacher.

  • John Travolta surprises fans as he’s spotted in Norfolk Morrisons and Wetherspoons
  • Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta burst into laughter as the adorable Grease interview turns into mayhem.

    • After being inspired by their mother’s love for the theater, all five of John Travolta’s siblings – Sam, Margaret Ann, Ellen, and Joey – became actors.

  • What are John Travolta’s most famous movies?

    John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John in Grease (1978)
    John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John in Grease (1978). Picture: Alamy

    John Travolta exploded onto the Hollywood scene in the late 1970s with his lead roles in the still-iconic movies, Saturday Night Fever (1977) and Grease (1978).

    The 1990s saw his star in the wildly successful Look Who’s Talking trilogy alongside Kirstie Alley, and Pulp Fiction (1994) which saw the star be nominated for the Best Actor award at the 1995 Oscars, and Get Shorty (1995).

    The 1990s saw him star in the wildly successful Look Who's Talking trilogy alongside Kirsty Alley, and Pulp Fiction in 1994 (pictured).
    The 1990s saw him star in the wildly successful Look Who’s Talking trilogy alongside Kirsty Alley, and Pulp Fiction in 1994 (pictured). Picture: Alamy

    In the 2000s Travolta starred in a variety of movies including Swordfish (2001), Be Cool (2005) and Hairspray (2007) before turning his hand to both acting and producing in 2015.

  • Did Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta ever date? When ‘Grease’ stars revealed what really happened on set
  • Kirstie Alley’s expressions of love: The celebrity ‘fell in love’ with Patrick Swayze and ‘nearly eloped with’ John Travolta.

    • Travolta received his first Primetime Emmy Award as the executive producer of the first season of the TV series American Crime Story: The People v. OJ Simpson (2016), in which he also starred, and Gotti (2018).

  • Is John Travolta married?

    John Travolta was married to ‘the love of his life’, actress Kelly Preston, from 1991 until her death in 2020, after a two-year battle with breast cancer.

    After a whirlwind romance John Travolta and Kelly Preston (pictured) got married on September 5, 1991 and were happily married for almost 29-years.
    After a whirlwind romance John Travolta and Kelly Preston (pictured) got married on September 5, 1991 and were happily married for almost 29-years. Picture: Alamy

    John and Kelly met at a screen test in 1987 for comedy, The Experts, however Kelly was married and it wasn’t until 1990 that they started dating.

    After a whirlwind romance, the pair got married on September 5, 1991, and were happily married for almost 29 years.

  • John Travolta shares tribute to his wife Kelly Preston 10 months after her death
  • John Travolta shares a heart-wrenching dialogue he had with his 10-year-old son following the passing of his wife.

    • After announcing the tragic death of his wife, Travolta stated: “Kelly’s affection and existence will forever be cherished.”

  • Does John Travolta have children?

    John Travolta and Kelly Preston had three children together.

    The couple welcomed their first child Jett, in April 1992 and their second child Ella Bleu in April 2000 (pictured with their son Jett in 1997)
    The couple welcomed their first child Jett, in April 1992 and their second child Ella Bleu in April 2000 (pictured with their son Jett in 1997). Picture: Getty

    The couple welcomed their first child Jett, in April 1992 and their second child Ella Bleu in April 2000.

    The Travolta family experienced tragedy in 2009 when their eldest son, Jett, 16 died after having a seizure while on holiday with his family.

  • John Travolta shares moving tribute to late son Jett on his 29th birthday
  • John Travolta radiates with pride as his daughter Ella launches her new song ‘Dizzy’.

    • In 2010, John and Kelly joyfully greeted their third offspring, a son named Benjamin. Travolta expressed that their precious “miracle” had bestowed upon their home a revitalized essence and sense of direction. Subsequently.

    John and Kelly then welcomed their third child, so Benjamin, in 2010, with Travolta saying at the time that their little "miracle" had "given the house a renewed spirit and purpose." Pictured with daughter Ella Bleu.
    John and Kelly then welcomed their third child, so Benjamin, in 2010, with Travolta saying at the time that their little “miracle” had “given the house a renewed spirit and purpose.” Pictured with daughter Ella Bleu. Picture: Getty

    John Travolta has since expressed that being a father is life’s greatest ‘honour’.