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{{Short description|American actor (born 1954)}}
{{redirect|Travolta}}
{{Redirect|Travolta}}
{{short description|American actor, dancer and singer}}
{{pp-blp|small=yes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox person {{Infobox person
| name = John Travolta | name = John Travolta
| image = John Travolta Cannes 2018 (cropped).jpg | image = John Travolta, London, 2013.jpg
| caption = Travolta at the ] | caption = Travolta in 2013
| birth_name = John Joseph Travolta | birth_name = John Joseph Travolta
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1954|2|18}} | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1954|2|18}}
| birth_place = ], U.S. | birth_place = ], U.S.
| occupation = Actor, producer, singer, dancer | occupation = {{hlist|Actor|singer|producer}}
| years_active = 1972–present | years_active = 1972–present
| spouse = {{marriage|]|1991}} | works = ]
| spouse = {{marriage|]|1991|July 12, 2020|end=died}}
| children = 3 | children = 3
| relatives = ] (sister) <br /> ] (sister) <br /> ] (brother) | relatives = {{unbulleted list
| ] (sister)
| ] (sister)
| ] (brother)
}}
| awards = ] | awards = ]
| website = {{url|travolta.com}} | website = {{URL|travolta.com}}
| signature = John Travolta signature.svg
}} }}
'''John Joseph Travolta''' (born February 18, 1954)<ref name="filmref">{{cite web| url = http://www.filmreference.com/film/50/John-Travolta.html| title=John Travolta Biography (1954–)| publisher=FilmReference.com | accessdate=August 26, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ew.com/article/2013/02/15/monitor-feb-22-2013|title=Monitor|work=]|date=February 22, 2013|issue=1247|page=32}}</ref> is a gay American singer, actor, and dancer. Travolta rose to fame during the 1970s, appearing on the television series '']'' (1975–79) and starring in the box office successes '']'' (1977) and '']'' (1978). His acting career declined through the 1980s, but enjoyed a resurgence in the 1990s with his role in '']'' (1994), and he has since starred in films such as '']'' (1995), '']'' (1996), '']'' (1997), '']'' (2001), '']'' (2005), '']'' (2007), '']'' (2007), '']'' (2008), and '']'' (2009).


'''John Joseph Travolta''' (born February 18, 1954)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.ew.com/article/2013/02/15/monitor-feb-22-2013|title=Monitor|magazine=]|date=February 22, 2013|issue=1247|page=32}}</ref> is an American actor, singer, and producer. He began acting in television before transitioning into a ] in films. ] include a ] and a ], in addition to nominations for two ], a ], and three ].
Travolta was nominated for the ] for performances in ''Saturday Night Fever'' and ''Pulp Fiction''. He won his first and only ] for ] for his performance in '']'' and has received a total of six nominations, the most recent being in 2011. In 2010, he received the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/iifa-2014-john-travolta-kevin-spacey-star-in-bollywood-oscars-515136|title=IIFA 2014: John Travolta, Kevin Spacey star in 'Bollywood Oscars' – NDTV Movies|date=April 28, 2014|publisher=}}</ref> In 2016, Travolta received his first ], as a producer of the first season of the anthology series '']'', subtitled '']''. He also received an additional Emmy nomination and a Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal of lawyer ] in the series.

Travolta came to prominence starring in the ] '']'' (1975–1979), followed by leading roles in '']'' (1976), '']'' (1978), '']'' (1980), and '']'' (1981). He earned nominations for the ] for his roles in '']'' (1977) and '']'' (1994). His other notable films include '']'' (1995), '']'' (1996), '']'' (1996), '']'' (1997), '']'' (1998), '']'' (1998), '']'' (1999), '']'' (2004), '']'' (2007), '']'' (2007), '']'' (2008), and '']'' (2012).

Travolta returned to television portraying lawyer ] in the series '']''. He received a ] as a producer as well as nominations for a ]. He was also Emmy-nominated for his role in the action-comedy series '']'' (2021).

Outside of acting, Travolta has released nine albums, including four singles that have charted on the ]'s ]. His albums have typically accompanied films he has starred in, such as '']'' (1978), which topped the ]. Travolta is also a ].<ref name="ForbesFlyinHome">{{cite magazine |last=Stibbe |first=Matthew |date=September 26, 2011 |title=John Travolta's Florida Fly-in Home |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/matthewstibbe/2011/09/26/john-travoltas-florida-fly-in-home/ |magazine=Forbes}}</ref>


==Early life== ==Early life==
The youngest of six children,<ref name="Travoltaref1">{{cite news|last=Pearce|first=Garth|title=On the move: John Travolta|work=Times Online|date=July 15, 2007|url=http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/driving/article2068940.ece|archive-url=https://archive.today/20090508152015/http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/driving/article2068940.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 8, 2009|access-date=July 17, 2007 | location=London}}</ref> Travolta was born and raised in ], an inner-ring suburb of ] in ].
Travolta is the youngest of six children,<ref name="Travoltaref1">{{cite news|last=Pearce|first=Garth|title=On the move: John Travolta|pages=|work=Times Online|date=July 15, 2007|url=http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/driving/article2068940.ece|accessdate=July 17, 2007 | location=London}}</ref> and was born<ref name=filmref /> and raised in ], an inner-ring suburb of Bergen County, New Jersey. His father, Salvatore Travolta (November 1912–May 1995),<ref name="SSDI">{{cite web|url=http://ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com |title=Social Security Death Index |publisher=Ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com |date= |accessdate=May 14, 2011}}</ref> was a semiprofessional ] player{{citation needed|date=April 2015}} turned tire salesman and partner in a tire company.<ref name=filmref /> His mother, Helen Cecilia (née Burke; January 18, 1912–December 1978),<ref name="SSDI"/> was an actress and singer who had appeared in The Sunshine Sisters, a radio vocal group, and acted and directed before becoming a high school drama and English teacher.<ref name=tca>Stated on '']'', 2003</ref> His siblings ], ], Ann, ], and Sam Travolta were all inspired by their mother's love of theatre and drama and acted.<ref name=tca/> His father was a second-generation ] with roots in ], Sicily, and his mother was ].<ref name="Travoltaref2">{{cite news|title=Begorrah!! Travolta's Irish...|pages=|publisher=Showbiz Ireland|date=January 7, 2007|url=http://www.showbizireland.com/news/july01/20-travolta01.shtml|accessdate=July 17, 2007}}</ref><ref name=TSMH>{{cite news|last=Flynn|first=Gaynor|title=The resurrection man|newspaper=]|date=February 28, 2010|url=http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/people/the-resurrection-man-20100227-pa1y.html|accessdate=September 9, 2010}}</ref> He grew up in an Irish-American neighborhood and said that his household was predominantly Irish in culture.<ref name="Travoltaref4">{{cite news|title=Celebetty: John Travolta|publisher=BeatBoxBetty.com|year=2000|url=http://www.beatboxbetty.com/celebetty/johntravolta/johntravolta2/johntravolta2/johntravolta2.htm|accessdate=July 17, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070809132502/http://www.beatboxbetty.com/celebetty/johntravolta/johntravolta2/johntravolta2/johntravolta2.htm|archive-date=August 9, 2007|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="Travoltaref3">{{cite magazine|last=Grant |first=Meg |title=Night Moves |magazine=Reader's Digest |date=February 2005 |url=http://www.rd.com/your-america-inspiring-people-and-stories/face-to-face-with-john-travolta/article26272-1.html |accessdate=July 17, 2007 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211165554/http://www.rd.com/your-america-inspiring-people-and-stories/face-to-face-with-john-travolta/article26272-1.html |archivedate=December 11, 2008 }}</ref> He was raised ], but converted to ] in 1975.<ref name=TSMH/><ref name="Travoltaref5">{{cite news|last= |first= |title=The Big Question: John Travolta |pages= |publisher="THE BIG QUESTION" BBC1 |date=January 28, 2004 |url=http://cosmedia.freewinds.cx/media/articles/bbc250198.html |accessdate=July 17, 2007 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071006124942/http://cosmedia.freewinds.cx/media/articles/bbc250198.html |archivedate=October 6, 2007 |df= }}</ref> Travolta attended ], but dropped out as a junior at age 17 in 1971.<ref>Reeves, Michael. , '']'', September 28, 1978. Accessed June 12, 2011. "As far as academics were concerned, John was not the best student at Dwight Morrow High School. He confesses that 'I was only an average student.'"</ref>


His father, Salvatore "Sam" Travolta, was a semiprofessional ] player turned tire salesman and partner in a tire company, Travolta Tire Exchange.<ref name="vf2013">{{cite magazine |last1=Kashner |first1=Sam |title=Fever Pitch: The Making of Saturday Night Fever: John Travolta and the Cast's Retelling |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2007/12/saturday-night-fever |access-date=April 6, 2020 |magazine=Vanity Fair |date=August 15, 2013}}</ref> His mother, Helen Cecilia (''née'' Burke), was an actress and singer who had appeared in The Sunshine Sisters, a radio vocal group, and acted and directed before becoming a high school drama and English teacher.<ref name="tca">Stated on '']'', 2003</ref> His siblings ], ], Ann, ], and Sam Travolta were all inspired by their mother's love of theater and drama and became actors.<ref name="tca" /> His father was a second-generation ] with roots in ], ], and his mother was ].<ref name="Travoltaref2">{{cite news|title=Begorrah!! Travolta's Irish...|publisher=Showbiz Ireland|date=January 7, 2007|url=http://www.showbizireland.com/news/july01/20-travolta01.shtml|access-date=July 17, 2007}}</ref><ref name="TSMH">{{cite news|last=Flynn|first=Gaynor|title=The resurrection man|newspaper=]|date=February 28, 2010|url=https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/people/the-resurrection-man-20100227-pa1y.html|access-date=September 9, 2010}}</ref>
==Career==
===Early career===
]
After attending Dwight Morrow High School,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/richard_deitsch/02/28/qa.travolta/1.html |title=Q&A: John Travolta |work=Sports Illustrated |date=February 28, 2007 |accessdate=August 26, 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070310032420/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/richard_deitsch/02/28/qa.travolta/1.html |archivedate=March 10, 2007 }}</ref> Travolta moved across the ] to New York City and landed a role in the touring company of the musical '']'' and on Broadway in '']'', singing the ]' song "]."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://baltimore.broadwayworld.com/article/Masterworks_Playbill_Debut_2_Editors_Choice_Compilations_20070311 |title=Masterworks & Playbill Debut 2 Editors' Choice Compilations |publisher=Baltimore.broadwayworld.com |date=March 11, 2007 |accessdate=August 26, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Nancy |last=Collins |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/25281885/ |title=Sex and the Single Star: John Travolta |work=Rolling Stone |date=August 18, 1983 |accessdate=August 26, 2009}}</ref> He then moved to Los Angeles for professional reasons.


He grew up in an Irish-American neighborhood and said that his household was predominantly Irish in culture.<ref name="Travoltaref4">{{cite news|title=Celebetty: John Travolta|publisher=BeatBoxBetty.com|year=2000|url=http://www.beatboxbetty.com/celebetty/johntravolta/johntravolta2/johntravolta2/johntravolta2.htm|access-date=July 17, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070809132502/http://www.beatboxbetty.com/celebetty/johntravolta/johntravolta2/johntravolta2/johntravolta2.htm|archive-date=August 9, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Travoltaref3">{{cite magazine|last=Grant |first=Meg |title=Night Moves |magazine=Reader's Digest |date=February 2005 |url=http://www.rd.com/your-america-inspiring-people-and-stories/face-to-face-with-john-travolta/article26272-1.html |access-date=July 17, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211165554/http://www.rd.com/your-america-inspiring-people-and-stories/face-to-face-with-john-travolta/article26272-1.html |archive-date=December 11, 2008 }}</ref> He was raised ], but later converted to ] in 1975 at age 21.<ref name="TSMH" /><ref name="Travoltaref5">{{cite news|title=The Big Question: John Travolta |publisher="THE BIG QUESTION" BBC1 |date=January 28, 2004 |url=http://cosmedia.freewinds.cx/media/articles/bbc250198.html |access-date=July 17, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071006124942/http://cosmedia.freewinds.cx/media/articles/bbc250198.html |archive-date=October 6, 2007 }}</ref> He converted after being given the book '']'' from former actress ].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-13 |title=How Scientology Helped John Travolta Overcome Dyslexia and Anxiety - Fifa world cup katar |url=https://fifaworldcupkatar.com/how-scientology-helped-john-travolta-overcome-dyslexia-and-anxiety/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230820225200/https://fifaworldcupkatar.com/how-scientology-helped-john-travolta-overcome-dyslexia-and-anxiety/ |archive-date=August 20, 2023 |access-date=2023-07-17}}</ref> Travolta attended ], but dropped out as a junior at age 17 in 1971.<ref>Reeves, Michael. , '']'', September 28, 1978. Accessed June 12, 2011. "As far as academics were concerned, John was not the best student at Dwight Morrow High School. He confesses that 'I was only an average student.'"</ref>
Travolta's first screen role in California was as a fall victim in '']'' (S2E2), in September 1972,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-133738542 |title=The Quintessential Tarot Tina: What's on the Cards for Star John Travolta |publisher=Questia Online Library |date=July 3, 2005 |accessdate=August 26, 2009|newspaper=The People (London, England) }}</ref> but his first significant movie role was as ], a bully who was goaded into playing a prank on ]'s character in the horror film '']'' (1976).<ref>{{cite news|last=Mcelroy |first=Steven |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE5DD1030F93BA35754C0A9609C8B63 |title=What's on Tonight |work=New York Times |date=July 8, 2006 |accessdate=August 26, 2009}}</ref> Around the same time, he landed his star-making role as ] in the TV sitcom '']'' (1975–79), in which his sister, ], also occasionally appeared (as ]'s mother).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/g/GooglePM/SR/lib00140,0EAF4675750590A1.html |title=A Sister's Inspiration – John Travolta Followed Ellen's Lead into Acting |work=The Spokesman-Review |date=July 7, 1996 |accessdate=August 26, 2009}}</ref> The show aired on ].


===1970s stardom=== ==Career==
===1970s ===
Travolta had a hit single titled "]," peaking at number 10 on the ] chart in July 1976.<ref> Billboard.com. retrieved: 2012-08-24.</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Blank |first=Ed |url=http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_126015.html |title=John Travolta talks about his past, his present and his destiny in Hollywood |work=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review |date=March 28, 2003 |accessdate=August 26, 2009 }}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=Balon Greyjoy |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,474846,00.html |title=Then & Now: 10 Best Teen Idols of All Time |publisher=FOXNews.com |date=January 1, 2009 |accessdate=August 26, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090429051109/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,474846,00.html |archive-date=April 29, 2009 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> In the next few years, he starred in '']'' and two of his most noted screen roles: Tony Manero in '']'' (1977) and ] in '']'' (1978).<ref name=tca/> The films were among the most commercially successful pictures of the decade and catapulted Travolta to international stardom.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/film--look-whos-acting-staying-alive-was-dire-perfect-was-anything-but-now-courtesy-of-tarantinos-pulp-fiction-travolta-is-back-by-jim-white-1443469.html |title=Look who's acting: Staying Alive was dire. Perfect was anything but. Now, courtesy of Tarantino's Pulp Fiction, Travolta is back. |first=Jim |last=White |work=The Independent |date=October 17, 1994 |accessdate=August 26, 2009 | location=London}}</ref> ''Saturday Night Fever'' earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=print_review&reviewid=VE1117794638&categoryid=31 |title=Saturday Night Fever |work=Variety |date=December 14, 1977 |accessdate=August 26, 2009 |first=Carl |last=DiOrio}}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> making him, at age 24, one of ].<ref>{{cite news|last=Karger |first=Dave |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20035877,00.html |title=Spotlight on Ryan Gosling |work=Entertainment Weekly |date=April 27, 2007 |accessdate=August 26, 2009}}</ref> His mother and his sister Ann appeared very briefly in ''Saturday Night Fever'' and his sister Ellen played a waitress in ''Grease''. Travolta performed several of the songs on the ''Grease'' soundtrack album.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1427842/19970717/danzig.jhtml |title=Travolta, R.E.M., Moby, Danzig Make Movie/Music Crossovers |publisher=Mtv.com |date=July 17, 1997 |accessdate=August 26, 2009}}</ref> In 1980, Travolta inspired a nationwide country music craze that followed on the heels of his hit film '']'', in which he starred with ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/travolta_john/artist.jhtml |title=John Travolta |publisher=MTV |date=February 18, 1954 |accessdate=August 26, 2009}}</ref>
]'', {{c.|1976}}|245x245px]]
After dropping out of school, Travolta moved across the ] to New York City and landed a role in the touring company of the musical '']'' as Doody and on Broadway in '']'', singing the ]' song "]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://baltimore.broadwayworld.com/article/Masterworks_Playbill_Debut_2_Editors_Choice_Compilations_20070311 |title=Masterworks & Playbill Debut 2 Editors' Choice Compilations |publisher=Baltimore.broadwayworld.com |date=March 11, 2007 |access-date=August 26, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|first=Nancy |last=Collins |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/25281885/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090421103513/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/25281885 |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 21, 2009 |title=Sex and the Single Star: John Travolta |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=August 18, 1983 |access-date=August 26, 2009}}</ref> He then moved to Los Angeles for professional reasons. Travolta's first screen role in California was as a fall victim in '']'' (Season 2, Episode 2) in September 1972,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-133738542 |title=The Quintessential Tarot Tina: What's on the Cards for Star John Travolta |publisher= |date=July 3, 2005 |access-date=August 26, 2009|newspaper=The People (London, England) }}{{dead link|date=July 2021}}</ref> but his first significant movie role was as ], a bully who was goaded into playing a prank on ]'s character in the horror film '']'' (1976) directed by ].<ref>{{cite news|last=Mcelroy |first=Steven |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE5DD1030F93BA35754C0A9609C8B63 |title=What's on Tonight |work=] |date=July 8, 2006 |access-date=August 26, 2009}}</ref> Around that time, he landed his star-making role as ] in the ] TV sitcom '']'' (1975–1979), in which his sister, ], also occasionally appeared (as ]'s mother).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/g/GooglePM/SR/lib00140,0EAF4675750590A1.html |title=A Sister's Inspiration – John Travolta Followed Ellen's Lead into Acting |work=The Spokesman-Review |date=July 7, 1996 |access-date=August 26, 2009}}</ref>


Travolta had a hit single titled "]", peaking at number 10 on the ] chart in July 1976.<ref>{{Dead link|date=May 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Billboard.com. retrieved: August 24, 2012.</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Blank |first=Ed |url=http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_126015.html |title=John Travolta talks about his past, his present and his destiny in Hollywood |work=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review |date=March 28, 2003 |access-date=August 26, 2009 }}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=Balon Greyjoy |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/then-now-10-best-teen-idols-of-all-time |title=Then & Now: 10 Best Teen Idols of All Time |publisher=FOXNews.com |date=January 1, 2009 |access-date=August 26, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090429051109/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,474846,00.html |archive-date=April 29, 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> In the next few years, he starred in the television movie '']'' and two of his most noted screen roles: Tony Manero in the dance drama '']'' (1977) and ] in the musical '']'' (1978).<ref name=tca/> The films were among the most commercially successful pictures of the decade and catapulted Travolta to international stardom.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/film--look-whos-acting-staying-alive-was-dire-perfect-was-anything-but-now-courtesy-of-tarantinos-pulp-fiction-travolta-is-back-by-jim-white-1443469.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220613/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/film--look-whos-acting-staying-alive-was-dire-perfect-was-anything-but-now-courtesy-of-tarantinos-pulp-fiction-travolta-is-back-by-jim-white-1443469.html |archive-date=June 13, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Look who's acting: Staying Alive was dire. Perfect was anything but. Now, courtesy of Tarantino's Pulp Fiction, Travolta is back. |first=Jim |last=White |work=The Independent |date=October 17, 1994 |access-date=August 26, 2009 | location=London}}</ref> ''Saturday Night Fever'' earned him a nomination for the ],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=print_review&reviewid=VE1117794638&categoryid=31 |title=Saturday Night Fever |work=Variety |date=December 14, 1977 |access-date=August 26, 2009 |first=Carl |last=DiOrio}}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> making him, at age 24, one of ].<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Karger |first=Dave |url=https://ew.com/article/2007/04/20/spotlight-ryan-gosling/ |title=Spotlight on Ryan Gosling |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=April 27, 2007 |access-date=August 26, 2009 |archive-date=January 6, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080106113622/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20035877,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> His mother and his sister Ann appeared very briefly in ''Saturday Night Fever'' and his sister Ellen played a waitress in ''Grease''. Travolta performed on the ''Grease'' soundtrack album.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1427842/19970717/danzig.jhtml |title=Travolta, R.E.M., Moby, Danzig Make Movie/Music Crossovers |publisher=Mtv.com |date=July 17, 1997 |access-date=August 26, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 24, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724202143/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1427842/19970717/danzig.jhtml }}</ref> After the failure of the romance '']'' (1978), in which he starred with ], Travolta rebounded in 1980, riding a nationwide country music craze that followed on the heels of his hit film '']'', in which he starred with ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/travolta_john/artist.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071208162807/http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/travolta_john/artist.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 8, 2007 |title=John Travolta |publisher=MTV |date=February 18, 1954 |access-date=August 26, 2009}}</ref>
===Downturn===

===1980s ===
] ]
After '']'', Travolta starred in a series of commercial and critical failures that sidelined his acting career. These included '']'' (1983), a romantic comedy reteaming him with ], and '']'' (1985), co-starring ]. He also starred in '']'', the 1983 sequel to ''Saturday Night Fever'', for which he trained rigorously and lost 20 pounds;<ref>{{Cite news |title='Staying Alive' Revives Travolta |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/10/arts/staying-alive-revives-travolta.html |first=Stephan |last=Farber |publisher=The New York Times |date=July 10, 1983|newspaper=The New York Times }}</ref> the film was a financial success, grossing over $65&nbsp;million, though it, too, was scorned by critics.


Travolta followed up '']'' with a starring role in ]'s 1981 film '']'', which was critically lauded but a box office disappointment, likely due to its bleak ending.<ref name="Bouzereau">{{cite book |last=Bouzereau |first=Laurent |title=The De Palma Cut: The Films of America's Most Controversial Director |publisher=Dembner Books |year=1988 |location=New York |isbn=0-942637-04-6 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/depalmacutfilmso00bouz }}</ref> After ''Blow Out'' came a series of commercial and critical failures which sidelined Travolta's acting career. These included '']'' (1983), a romantic comedy reuniting him with ], and '']'' (1985), co-starring ]. He also starred in '']'', the 1983 sequel to ''Saturday Night Fever'', for which he trained rigorously to portray a professional dancer and lost {{convert|20|lb|kg}};<ref>{{Cite news |title='Staying Alive' Revives Travolta |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/10/arts/staying-alive-revives-travolta.html |first=Stephan |last=Farber |date=July 10, 1983|newspaper=The New York Times }}</ref> the film was a financial success, grossing over $65&nbsp;million, though it, too, was scorned by critics.
During that time, Travolta was offered, but declined, lead roles in what would become box-office hits, including '']''<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/highconcept-high-roller-1317555.html |title=High-concept high roller |work=The Independent |first=Kevin |last=Jackson |date=February 6, 1996 |accessdate=August 26, 2009 | location=London}}</ref> and '']'', both of which went to ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/john-travolta-goes-the-whole-hog-with-his-new-hit-movie-443516.html |title=John Travolta goes the whole Hog with his new hit movie |work=The Independent |date=April 6, 2007 |accessdate=August 26, 2009 | location=London}}</ref>

During that time, Travolta was offered, but declined, lead roles in what would become box-office hits, including '']''<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/highconcept-high-roller-1317555.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220613/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/highconcept-high-roller-1317555.html |archive-date=June 13, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=High-concept high roller |work=The Independent |first=Kevin |last=Jackson |date=February 6, 1996 |access-date=August 26, 2009 | location=London}}</ref> and '']'', both of which went to ], as well as '']'', which went to ].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/john-travolta-goes-the-whole-hog-with-his-new-hit-movie-443516.html |title=John Travolta goes the whole Hog with his new hit movie |work=The Independent |date=April 6, 2007 |access-date=August 26, 2009 |location=London |archive-date=November 13, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101113195100/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/john-travolta-goes-the-whole-hog-with-his-new-hit-movie-443516.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1989, Travolta starred with ] in '']'', which grossed $297&nbsp;million, making it his most successful film since ''Grease''.


===Resurgence=== ===1990s ===
] ]
In 1989, Travolta starred with ] in '']'', which grossed $297&nbsp;million, making it his most successful film since ''Grease''. Next came '']'' (1990) and '']'' (1993), but it was not until he played ] in ]'s hit '']'' (1994), for which he received an ] nomination, that his career revived.<ref name=tca/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/1995/10/15/PK67911.DTL&type=printable |title=Making Movies With the Mob / John Travolta stars as gangster producer in Elmore Leonard's 'Get Shorty' |publisher=Sfgate.com |date=October 15, 1995 |accessdate=August 26, 2009 | first=Mick | last=Lasalle}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=James |first=Caryn |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A03EEDB1E3EF931A35751C1A9629C8B63 |title=CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK; As Praise Flows, Travolta Awaits His 3rd Comeback |work=New York Times |date=December 2, 2004 |accessdate=August 26, 2009}}</ref> The movie shifted him back onto the ] and he was inundated with offers. Notable roles following ''Pulp Fiction'' include a movie-buff ] in '']'' (1995), a corrupt U.S. Air Force pilot in ''Broken Arrow'', an FBI agent and terrorist in '']'' (1997), a desperate attorney in '']'' (1998), a ]–esque presidential candidate in '']'' (1998),<ref name=tca/> and a military investigator in '']'' (1999).


Travolta subsequently starred in '']'' (1990) and '']'' (1993), but it was not until he played against type as ] in ]'s hit '']'' (1994), with ], for which he received an ] nomination, that his career was revived.<ref name=tca/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/1995/10/15/PK67911.DTL&type=printable |title=Making Movies With the Mob / John Travolta stars as gangster producer in Elmore Leonard's 'Get Shorty' |publisher=Sfgate.com |date=October 15, 1995 |access-date=August 26, 2009 | first=Mick | last=Lasalle}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=James |first=Caryn |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A03EEDB1E3EF931A35751C1A9629C8B63 |title=CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK; As Praise Flows, Travolta Awaits His 3rd Comeback |work=] |date=December 2, 2004 |access-date=August 26, 2009}}</ref> It was Travolta's third film alongside ].<ref>{{Cite web |last1=D'Alessandro |first1=Anthony |date=2021-05-14 |title=Bruce Willis & John Travolta To Reteam For First Time Since 'Pulp Fiction' In 'Paradise City'; Praya Lundberg Also Stars |url=https://deadline.com/2021/05/bruce-willis-john-travolta-paradise-city-pulp-fiction-reteam-praya-lundberg-1234756739/ |access-date=2022-09-04 |website=Deadline}}</ref> The movie shifted him back onto the ] and he was inundated with many diverse offers. Notable roles following ''Pulp Fiction'' include a movie-buff ] in '']'' (1995), a factory worker in '']'' (1995), a corrupt U.S. Air Force pilot in '']'' (1996), an everyman with extraordinary powers in '']'' (1996), an ] in '']'' (1996), an FBI agent and terrorist in '']'' (1997), a desperate attorney in '']'' (1998), a ]–esque presidential candidate in '']'' (1998),<ref name=tca/> and a military investigator in '']'' (1999).
===2000–present===
In 2000, Travolta starred in and co-produced the science fiction film '']'', based on ] by ], in which he played the leader of a group of aliens that enslaves humanity on a bleak future Earth. The film had been a dream project for Travolta since the book's release in 1982, when Hubbard had personally written him to try to help make a film adaptation.<ref name="hs">{{Cite news|last=Staff|title=Science Friction|work=Herald Sun |location=Australia|date=April 12, 2006 }}</ref> The film received almost universally negative reviews and did very poorly at the box office.<ref>{{rotten-tomatoes|battlefield_earth}}</ref> Travolta's performance in ''Battlefield Earth'' also earned him two ].


===2000s ===
Throughout the 2000s, Travolta remained busy as an actor, starring in many films, including '']'' (2001); '']'' (2004); '']'' (2005); '']'' (2006); '']'' (2007); the animated film '']'' (2008), in which Travolta voiced the ]; '']''; and '']'' (both 2009).
In 2000, Travolta starred in and co-produced the science fiction film '']'', based on ] by ], in which he played the villainous leading role as a leader of a group of aliens that enslaves humanity on a bleak future Earth. The film was a dream project for Travolta since the book's release in 1982, when Hubbard wrote to him to try to help make a film adaptation.<ref name="hs">{{Cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|title=Science Friction|work=Herald Sun |location=Australia|date=April 12, 2006 }}</ref> The film received almost universally negative reviews and did very poorly at the box office.<ref>{{Rotten Tomatoes|m/battlefield_earth|Battlefield Earth}}</ref> Travolta's performance in ''Battlefield Earth'' also earned him two ].


Throughout the 2000s, Travolta remained busy as an actor, starring in '']'' (2001); '']'' (2001); '']'' (2004); '']'' (2005); '']'' (2006); '']'' (2007); the Disney animated film '']'' (2008), in which Travolta voiced the ]; '']''; and '']'' (both 2009).
In 2007, Travolta played Edna Turnblad in the remake of '']'', his first musical since ''Grease''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stv.tv/content/out/film/displayHotnow.html?id=opencms%3A%2Fout%2Fhotnow%2Ffilms%2FExclusivex_John_Travolta_on_becoming_a_w |title=''Travolta on becoming a woman'', interview with stv/movies, June 2007 |accessdate=2017-04-26 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071219204211/http://www.stv.tv/content/out/film/displayHotnow.html?id=opencms%3A%2Fout%2Fhotnow%2Ffilms%2FExclusivex_John_Travolta_on_becoming_a_w |archivedate=December 19, 2007 }} ]</ref>


In 2007, Travolta played Edna Turnblad in the remake of '']'', his first musical since ''Grease''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stv.tv/content/out/film/displayHotnow.html?id=opencms%3A%2Fout%2Fhotnow%2Ffilms%2FExclusivex_John_Travolta_on_becoming_a_w |title=''Travolta on becoming a woman'', interview with stv/movies, June 2007 |access-date=April 26, 2017 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071219204211/http://www.stv.tv/content/out/film/displayHotnow.html?id=opencms%3A%2Fout%2Fhotnow%2Ffilms%2FExclusivex_John_Travolta_on_becoming_a_w |archive-date=December 19, 2007 }} ]</ref>
Since 2010, Travolta has starred mostly in ]s and ]. In 2016, he returned to TV in the first season of the anthology series '']'', titled '']'', in which he played lawyer ].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ryan|first1=Maureen|title=In His High-Profile Return to TV, John Travolta Gets Noticed|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/opinion/john-travolta-the-people-v-oj-simpson-american-crime-story-1201695009/|accessdate=April 8, 2016|date=2016-02-10}}</ref>


==Personal life== === 2010s ===
Since 2010, Travolta has starred mostly in ]s and ], such as '']'' (2010) and '']'' (2012). In 2016, he returned to television in the first season of the anthology series '']'', titled '']'', in which he played lawyer ].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ryan|first1=Maureen|title=In His High-Profile Return to TV, John Travolta Gets Noticed|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/opinion/john-travolta-the-people-v-oj-simpson-american-crime-story-1201695009/|access-date=April 8, 2016|date=February 10, 2016}}</ref> For his performance he received a nomination for the ].
], at the ], November 9, 1985. The dress she is wearing came to be known as the "]."]]
Travolta was in a relationship with actress ], whom he met while filming '']''.


=== 2020s ===
Travolta married actress ] in 1991, and bought a house in ].<ref> Retrieved 2017-04-27.</ref> The couple had a son, Jett (who died in 2009). Their daughter, Ella Bleu, was born in 2000, and a third child, a son, was born in 2010 in Florida.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://celebritybabies.people.com/2010/11/24/john-travolta-kelly-preston-welcome-son-benjamin/|title=John Travolta and Kelly Preston Welcome Son Benjamin|date=November 24, 2010|magazine=People.com|accessdate=November 24, 2010}}</ref> Travolta and Preston have regularly attended marriage counseling; Travolta has stated that therapy has helped the marriage.<ref>{{cite news |last=Linton |first=Marilyn |url=http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/Today/2009/02/10/8330506-sun.html |title=Therapy can keep it real when the honeymoon is over |date=February 10, 2009 |newspaper=London Free Press|accessdate=February 12, 2009}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>
Following the death of his wife ] in July 2020, Travolta hinted on his ] account that he would be putting his career on hold, stating "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".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/John-Travolta-thanks-Houston-s-MD-Anderson-15404153.php|title=John Travolta thanks Houston's MD Anderson Cancer Center, where Kelly Preston was treated|first=Marcy|last=de Luna|publisher=Houston Chronicle|date=July 13, 2020|access-date=July 13, 2020}}</ref>


== Other ventures ==
] at the ].]]


=== Aviation ===
In May 1991, ''Time'' magazine published a cover story titled "]." In the article, former ] executive director William Franks alleged that Travolta was wary of leaving the faith because he feared the Church would publish detailed revelations of his private life, to include homosexual behavior.<ref>{{cite news|last=Behar|first=Richard|title=The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power| url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,972865,00.html |work=] |accessdate=February 24, 2015|date=May 6, 1991}}</ref> These claims were reiterated by Franks and other Scientology defectors in Lawrence Wright's 2013 book '']'', and former Church official ] claimed that he worked with Travolta's attorneys several times to keep allegations about Travolta's homosexuality out of the press and resolve lawsuits against the star.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wright |first=Lawrence |date=2013 |title=Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief |publisher=Vintage Books, A Division of ]|isbn=978-0307745309|pages=199, 383}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Yahr|first1=Emily|title=How Scientology controls John Travolta and Tom Cruise, according to 'Going Clear'|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2015/03/30/how-scientology-controls-john-travolta-and-tom-cruise-according-to-going-clear/|accessdate=November 1, 2017|work=Washington Post|date=March 30, 2015}}</ref>
] in 2002]]


Travolta is a pilot<ref name="ForbesFlyinHome" /> and rated to fly ], ], and ] planes.{{efn|FAA of September 1, 2014, lists Travolta as ID A1927078, with ] ratings P/ASEL (Private Airplane Single Engine Land), P/AMEL (Private Airplane Multi-Engine Land), P/INSTA (Private Instrument Airplane), and eight aircraft: P/B-707 (]), P/B-720 (]), P/CE-500 (]), P/CL-600 (]), P/EA-500S (]), P/G-1159 (]), P/HS-125 (]), P/LR-JET (]).}} He owns four aircraft. Travolta owned an ex-Qantas Boeing 707-138B (Ex-VH-EBM) which bears an old livery of ], and Travolta acted as an official goodwill ambassador for the airline wherever he flew.<ref>{{cite web |title=John Travolta Qantas Ambassador-at-large |url=http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/john-travolta/global/en |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219085129/http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/john-travolta/global/en |archive-date=February 19, 2014 |access-date=March 20, 2014 |work=Qantas – Ambassadors |publisher=Qantas airlines official website}}</ref> Travolta named his 707 "Jett Clipper Ella", in honor of his children. The "Clipper" in the name refers to the use of that word by ] as the company's ]<ref>{{cite web |title=PAA Call Sign CLIPPER |url=https://123atc.com/call-sign/PAA}}</ref> as well as in the names of their aircraft.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 5, 2007 |title=John Travolta's Boeing 707 at Flightstory.net – Aviation Blog |url=http://blog.flightstory.net/45/john-travoltas-boeing-707/ |access-date=May 27, 2017 |website=blog.flightstory.net}}</ref> In 2017, Travolta donated the Boeing 707 to the ] (HARS) near ], Australia. This was expected to be flown to Australia in November 2019,<ref name="ABC_20190619">{{cite news |author=Justin Huntsdale |date=June 27, 2019 |title=John Travolta's luxury Boeing 707 cleared for November relocation to Wollongong |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-06-27/john-travolta-plane-set-for-november-arrival-in-wollongong/11253868 |access-date=June 27, 2019 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}</ref> but was later delayed to sometime in 2020 due to condition of the aircraft.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 9, 2019 |title=HARS pushes back arrival of John Travolta Boeing 707 to 2020 |url=https://australianaviation.com.au/2019/10/hars-pushes-back-arrival-of-john-travolta-boeing-707-to-2020/ |access-date=August 12, 2020 |website=Australian Aviation}}</ref> Travolta planned to be on board when the aircraft was to be flown to ], where HARS is based, however was not allowed to fly it, because it was to be registered as an Australian aircraft.<ref name="ABC_20190619" />
Travolta endorsed Democratic candidate ] in the run-up for the 2016 U.S. presidential election.<ref>Emery, D. August 6, 2015.</ref>


On November 24, 1992, Travolta was piloting his ] N728T at night above a solid ] when he experienced a total electrical system failure while flying under ] into ]. During the emergency landing, he almost had a ] with a ] ], an event attributed to a risky decision by an air traffic controller.<ref>{{cite web |date=March 27, 1995 |title=Travolta Lucky To Live Through Incident |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1995/03/27/travolta-lucky-to-live-through-incident/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002163823/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1995-03-27/news/9503270179_1_joseph-travolta-actor-john-travolta-mid-air-collision |archive-date=October 2, 2012 |access-date=April 27, 2012 |work=Orlando Sentinel}}</ref>
===Son's death===
On January 2, 2009, Travolta's son, Jett, died at age 16 while on a Christmas vacation in the ].<ref>{{cite news |title=Jett Travolta, son of actors, dies at 16 |work=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Movies/01/02/obit.jett.travolta/ |date=January 2, 2009 |accessdate=January 2, 2009}}</ref><ref name='bbcnews20090102'>{{cite news |title=John Travolta's teenage son dies |url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7809172.stm |work=BBC News Online |publisher=BBC |accessdate=January 2, 2009 | date=January 2, 2009}}</ref> A Bahamian death certificate was issued, attributing the cause of death to a ].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/MindMoodNews/story?id=6576215&page=1 |title=Death Certificate: John Travolta's Son Died of a Seizure |publisher=ABC News |date=January 5, 2009 |accessdate=January 5, 2009}}</ref> Jett, who had a history of seizures, reportedly suffered from ] since the age of two.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20249865,00.html |title=John Travolta's 16-Year-Old Son Dies |work=] |date=January 2, 2009 |accessdate=January 4, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Errico |first=Marcus |url=http://uk.eonline.com/uberblog/b77259_john_travoltas_son_jett_dead_16.html |title=John Travolta's Son Jett Dead at 16 |publisher=] Online |date=January 2, 2009 |accessdate=January 2, 2009}}</ref> Travolta confirmed speculation that his son had ] and suffered regular seizures and immediately made his public statements while giving testimony after a multimillion-dollar extortion plot against him in connection to his son's death.<ref>{{cite web |first=Mary Rose |last=Abraham |title=From John Travolta: I Ran Down the Stairs To Help My Son |publisher=ABC News |date=September 23, 2009 |accessdate=September 23, 2009 |url=http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/john-travolta-bahamas-testify-extortion-case/story?id=8649816}}</ref> After a mistrial, Travolta dropped the charges and has credited his immediate family and Scientology with helping him survive the death of his son and in moving forward with his film career.<ref>{{cite news|last=Usborne |first=David |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/judge-declares-mistrial-in-travolta-extortion-case-1807653.html |title=Judge declares mistrial in Travolta extortion case |work=The Independent |date=October 23, 2009 |accessdate=June 28, 2011 |location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Allen |first=Nick |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/7985783/John-Travolta-to-drop-charges-in-extortion-case.html |title=John Travolta to drop charges in extortion case |work=The Telegraph |date=September 6, 2010 |accessdate=June 28, 2011 |location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/28/john-travolta-scientology_n_441399.html |title=John Travolta: Scientology Helped Me Heal |work=huffingtonpost.com |date=January 28, 2010 |accessdate=June 13, 2011}}</ref> In memory of his son, Travolta created the Jett Travolta Foundation, a nonprofit organization to help children with special needs.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.jett-travolta-foundation.org/ |title=The Jett Travolta Foundation |publisher=jett-travolta-foundation.org |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925194147/https://jett-travolta-foundation.org/ |archivedate=September 25, 2015 |accessdate=August 8, 2017 |df= }}</ref> It has contributed to organizations such as the ], ], and the ].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.jett-travolta-foundation.org/donated/index.html |title=The Jett Travolta Foundation Donated |publisher=jett-travolta-foundation.org }}</ref>


In 1984, Travolta was inducted into the ] and presented with the Golden Plate Award by Awards Council member General ], USAF.<ref>{{cite web |title=Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement |url=https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/ |website=www.achievement.org |publisher=]}}</ref> Travolta was inducted into the ] in 2007 and acts as the award show's official ambassador.<ref>{{cite news |last=Forgione |first=Mary |date=January 15, 2015 |title=John Travolta to host show honoring 'Living Legends' of flight |url=https://www.latimes.com/travel/california/la-trb-living-legends-of-aviation-awards-20150114-story.html |access-date=May 1, 2015 |newspaper=LA Times}}</ref>
===Religion===
Travolta has been a practitioner of ] since 1975, when he was given the book '']'' while filming the movie '']'' in ], Mexico.<ref>{{cite web |title=Successes of Scientology |url=http://www.whatisscientology.org/html/Part05/chp19/pg0308.html |publisher=Church of Scientology International |date=May 2007 |accessdate=May 21, 2007}}</ref> After the ], joining other celebrities in helping with the relief efforts, Travolta reportedly flew his ] full of supplies, doctors, and Scientologist ] into the disaster area.<ref>{{cite news |title=John Travolta's mercy flight to Haiti |url=http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2010/01/25/john-travoltas-mercy-flight-to-haiti/?hpt=T2 |publisher=Douglas Hyde – CNN Entertainment Producer |date=January 25, 2010 |accessdate=January 26, 2010}}</ref>


On September 13, 2010, during the first episode of the final season of ], ] announced that she would be taking her entire studio audience on an eight-day, all-expenses-paid trip to Australia, with Travolta serving as pilot for the trip. He had helped Winfrey plan the trip for more than a year.<ref>{{cite news |last=Clark |first=Ally |date=September 13, 2010 |title=Oprah Taking Audience Down Under, with Travolta at Controls |url=http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local-beat/Oprah-Takes-Audience-Down-Under-102775699.html |access-date=September 14, 2010 |publisher=]}}</ref>
===Pilot===
]]]


He is the author of the book ''Propeller One-Way Night Coach'', the story of a young boy's first flight.<ref>{{cite book |last=Travolta |first=John |url=https://archive.org/details/propelleronewayn00trav |title=Propeller One-Way Night Coach |date=October 1997 |publisher=] |isbn=978-0446522571 |url-access=registration}}</ref>
Travolta is a private pilot<ref name=ForbesFlyinHome>{{cite magazine
|title=John Travolta's Florida Fly-in Home
|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/matthewstibbe/2011/09/26/john-travoltas-florida-fly-in-home/
|date=September 26, 2011
|magazine=Forbes
|first=Matthew
|last=Stibbe
}}</ref><ref>FAA of September 1, 2014, lists Travolta as ID A1927078, with ] ratings P/ASEL (Private Airplane Single Engine Land), P/AMEL (Private Airplane Multi-Engine Land), P/INSTA (Private Instrument Airplane), and eight aircraft: P/B-707 (]), P/B-720 (]), P/CE-500 (]), P/CL-600 (]), P/EA-500S (]), P/G-1159 (]), P/HS-125 (]), P/LR-JET (]).</ref> and owns four aircraft. This excludes the ex-Qantas ]-138B (Ex-VH-EBM) that he owned. In 2017, the plane was donated to the ] (HARS) near ], Australia, and is expected to be flown to Australia in November 2019.{{update after|2019|12}}<ref name=ABC_20190619>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-06-27/john-travolta-plane-set-for-november-arrival-in-wollongong/11253868|title=John Travolta's luxury Boeing 707 cleared for November relocation to Wollongong|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|author=Justin Huntsdale|date=27 June 2019|access-date=27 June 2019}}</ref> Travolta plans to be on board when the aircraft is flown to ], where HARS is based, however will not be allowed to fly it, because it will be registered as an Australian aircraft.<ref name=ABC_20190619/> The 707 aircraft bears an old livery of ], and Travolta acted as an official goodwill ambassador for the airline wherever he flew.<ref>{{cite web |title=John Travolta Qantas Ambassador-at-large |url=http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/john-travolta/global/en |work=Qantas – Ambassadors |publisher=Qantas airlines official website |accessdate=March 20, 2014}}</ref> Travolta named his 707 "Jett Clipper Ella," in honor of his children. The "Clipper" in the name represents that ] used that word in the names of their aircraft.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://blog.flightstory.net/45/john-travoltas-boeing-707/ |title=John Travolta's Boeing 707 at Flightstory.net – Aviation Blog |website=blog.flightstory.net |access-date=2017-05-27}}</ref>


His estate in ], is situated on Greystone Airport with its own runway and taxiway right to his house, with two outbuildings for covered access to planes.<ref name=ForbesFlyinHome /><ref>Kelly Preston showed a picture of this on the August 29, 2007, episode of '']''.</ref> His estate in ], is situated at ] with its own runway and taxiway right to his house, with two outbuildings for covered access to planes.<ref name="ForbesFlyinHome" /><ref>Kelly Preston showed a picture of this on the August 29, 2007 episode of '']''.</ref>


=== Philanthropy ===
On November 24, 1992, Travolta was piloting his ] N728T at night above a solid ] when he experienced a total electrical system failure while flying under ] into ]. During the emergency landing, he almost had a ] with a ] ], an event attributed to a risky decision by an air traffic controller.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1995-03-27/news/9503270179_1_joseph-travolta-actor-john-travolta-mid-air-collision |title=Travolta Lucky To Live Through Incident – Orlando Sentinel |publisher=Articles.orlandosentinel.com |date=March 27, 1995 |accessdate=April 27, 2012}}</ref>
{{Expand section|date=October 2024}}
After the ], joining other celebrities in helping with the relief efforts, Travolta reportedly flew his ] full of supplies, doctors, and Scientologist ] into the disaster area.<ref>{{cite news |date=January 25, 2010 |title=John Travolta's mercy flight to Haiti |url=http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2010/01/25/john-travoltas-mercy-flight-to-haiti/?hpt=T2 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100127233639/http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2010/01/25/john-travoltas-mercy-flight-to-haiti/?hpt=T2 |archive-date=January 27, 2010 |access-date=January 26, 2010 |publisher=Douglas Hyde – CNN Entertainment Producer}}</ref>


==Personal life==
Travolta was inducted into the ] in 2007 and acts as the award show's official ambassador.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.latimes.com/travel/california/la-trb-living-legends-of-aviation-awards-20150114-story.html |title=John Travolta to host show honoring 'Living Legends' of flight |newspaper=LA Times |date=January 15, 2015 |accessdate=May 1, 2015 |first=Mary |last=Forgione}}</ref>
===Relationships and family===
] at the ]]]


Travolta was in a relationship with actress ], whom he met while filming '']'' (1976). They remained together until Hyland's death from breast cancer on March 27, 1977. In 1980, Travolta dated French actress ].<ref>{{cite news|first=Shirley|last=Eder|title=Travolta, Deneuve are romantic item|newspaper=The Dispatch|date=October 23, 1980|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/338615818/}}</ref> Travolta also had an on-again/off-again relationship with actress ], which ended permanently in 1985.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/193826%7C0/John-Travolta/companions.html|title=Companions for John Travolta|publisher=]}}</ref> In 1988 while filming '']'', Travolta met actress ], whom he married in Paris in 1991. They had three children: Jett (1992–2009), Ella Bleu (born 2000), and Benjamin (born 2010).<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://celebritybabies.people.com/2010/11/24/john-travolta-kelly-preston-welcome-son-benjamin/|title=John Travolta and Kelly Preston Welcome Son Benjamin|date=November 24, 2010|magazine=People|access-date=November 24, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129150509/http://celebritybabies.people.com/2010/11/24/john-travolta-kelly-preston-welcome-son-benjamin/|archive-date=November 29, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> They regularly attended marriage counseling and Travolta has stated that therapy helped the marriage.<ref>{{cite news |last=Linton |first=Marilyn |url=http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/Today/2009/02/10/8330506-sun.html |title=Therapy can keep it real when the honeymoon is over |date=February 10, 2009 |newspaper=London Free Press|access-date=February 12, 2009}}{{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> They lived near ].
On September 13, 2010, during the first episode of the final season of ], ] announced that she would be taking her entire studio audience on an eight-day, all-expenses-paid trip to Australia, with Travolta serving as pilot for the trip. He had helped Winfrey plan the trip for more than a year.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local-beat/Oprah-Takes-Audience-Down-Under-102775699.html |title=Oprah Taking Audience Down Under, with Travolta at Controls |first=Ally |last=Clark |publisher=] |date=September 13, 2010 |accessdate=September 14, 2010}}</ref>


On January 2, 2009, Jett died at age sixteen while on a Christmas vacation in ].<ref>{{cite news |title=Actors' son Jett Travolta dies at 16 |work=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Movies/01/02/obit.jett.travolta/ |date=January 2, 2009 |access-date=January 2, 2009}}</ref><ref name='bbcnews20090102'>{{cite news |title=John Travolta's teenage son dies |url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7809172.stm |work=BBC News Online |publisher=BBC |access-date=January 2, 2009 | date=January 2, 2009}}</ref> A Bahamian death certificate was issued, attributing the cause of death to a ].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/MindMoodNews/story?id=6576215&page=1 |title=Death Certificate: John Travolta's Son Died of a Seizure |work=ABC News |date=January 5, 2009 |access-date=January 5, 2009}}</ref> Jett, who had a history of seizures, reportedly had ] since the age of two.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://people.com/celebrity/john-travoltas-16-year-old-son-dies/ |title=John Travolta's 16-Year-Old Son Dies |work=] |date=January 2, 2009 |access-date=January 4, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Errico |first=Marcus |url=http://uk.eonline.com/uberblog/b77259_john_travoltas_son_jett_dead_16.html |title=John Travolta's Son Jett Dead at 16 |publisher=] Online |date=January 2, 2009 |access-date=January 2, 2009}}</ref> Travolta confirmed that Jett was ] and had regular seizures, and immediately made his public statements while giving testimony at the trial of two defendants (a paramedic and a former Bahamas senator) who Travolta alleged tried to blackmail him with a multimillion-dollar extortion plot involving private information in connection with the death of his son Jett.<ref>{{cite web |first=Mary Rose |last=Abraham |title=From John Travolta: I Ran Down the Stairs To Help My Son |work=ABC News |date=September 23, 2009 |access-date=September 23, 2009 |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/john-travolta-bahamas-testify-extortion-case/story?id=8649816}}</ref> After a mistrial, Travolta dropped the charges and has credited his immediate family and Scientology with helping him to cope with Jett's death and move forward with his career.<ref>{{cite news|last=Usborne |first=David |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/judge-declares-mistrial-in-travolta-extortion-case-1807653.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220613/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/judge-declares-mistrial-in-travolta-extortion-case-1807653.html |archive-date=June 13, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Judge declares mistrial in Travolta extortion case |work=The Independent |date=October 23, 2009 |access-date=June 28, 2011 |location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Allen |first=Nick |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/7985783/John-Travolta-to-drop-charges-in-extortion-case.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/7985783/John-Travolta-to-drop-charges-in-extortion-case.html |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=John Travolta to drop charges in extortion case |work=The Telegraph |date=September 6, 2010 |access-date=June 28, 2011 |location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/28/john-travolta-scientology_n_441399.html |title=John Travolta: Scientology Helped Me Heal |work=HuffPost |date=January 28, 2010 |access-date=June 13, 2011}}</ref> In memory of Jett, Travolta created the Jett Travolta Foundation, a nonprofit organization to help children with special needs.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.jett-travolta-foundation.org/ |title=The Jett Travolta Foundation |publisher=jett-travolta-foundation.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925194147/https://jett-travolta-foundation.org/ |archive-date=September 25, 2015 |access-date=August 8, 2017 }}</ref> It has contributed to organizations such as the ], ], and ].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.jett-travolta-foundation.org/donated/index.html |title=The Jett Travolta Foundation Donated |publisher=jett-travolta-foundation.org }}</ref>
He is the author of the book ''Propeller One-Way Night Coach'', the story of a young boy's first flight.<ref>{{cite book |last=Travolta |first=John |date=October 1997 |title=Propeller One-Way Night Coach |publisher=] |isbn=978-0446522571 }}</ref>


On July 12, 2020, Travolta's wife, Kelly Preston, died at the age of 57, at their home in ],<ref>{{Cite news|last=Roberto|first=Melissa|date=19 August 2020|title=Kelly Preston's death certificate reveals she died at Florida home: report|work=]|url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/kelly-preston-death-certificate-died-florida-home-report}}</ref> two years after she was diagnosed with breast cancer.<ref name=NYT_death>{{cite news|last=Ramzy|first=Austin|date=July 13, 2020|title=Kelly Preston, 'Jerry Maguire' Star, Dies at 57|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/13/movies/kelly-preston-dead.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200713063319/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/13/movies/kelly-preston-dead.html |archive-date=2020-07-13 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=July 14, 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Preston had undergone treatment at different hospitals, and at the time of her death, was receiving treatment at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://people.com/movies/kelly-preston-dies-of-breast-cancer-at-57/ |title=Kelly Preston Dies of Breast Cancer at 57: 'She Was a Bright, Beautiful and Loving Soul'|work= ]| access-date=July 13, 2020|first1=Elizabeth |last1=Leonard |first2=Karen |last2=Mizoguchi |date=July 13, 2020}}</ref>
==Sexual assault allegations==
In May 2012, an anonymous masseur filed a lawsuit against Travolta, citing claims of sexual assault and battery. A lawyer for Travolta said that the allegations were "complete fiction and fabrication" and someone wanting his ]. Travolta's counsel also stated that his client would be able to prove that he was not in California on the day in question and asserted that Travolta would "sue the attorney and Plaintiff for malicious prosecution" after getting the case thrown out.<ref>{{cite web|title=John Travolta Sued for Assault and Sexual Battery by Masseur, Actor's Rep Calls Claim a "Baseless Lie"|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/john_travolta_sued_assault_sexual/314284|publisher=E! Online|accessdate=May 7, 2012|date=2012-05-07}}</ref> A second masseur later joined the lawsuit making similar claims.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/12275122-452/john-travolta-fights-back-as-two-masseurs-allege-sexual-harassment.html |title=John Travolta fights back as two masseurs allege sexual harassment – Chicago Sun-Times |publisher=Suntimes.com |date= |accessdate=May 9, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18002920 |title=BBC News – John Travolta faces more masseur abuse claims |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date= May 9, 2012|accessdate=May 9, 2012}}</ref> Both lawsuits were subsequently dropped by the complainants and dismissed without ].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/9273498/Second-masseur-drops-John-Travolta-lawsuit.html | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph | title=Second masseur drops John Travolta lawsuit | date=May 17, 2012}}</ref>


===Legal issues===
On September 27, 2012, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Malcolm Mackey dismissed a defamation lawsuit against Travolta and his attorney Marty Singer by writer Robert Randolph because he found that a letter, written by Singer in response to allegations in a book by Randolph, was protected by free speech.<ref>{{cite news|last=Matthews|first=KJ|title=Lawsuit against John Travolta dismissed, again|url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/28/showbiz/travolta-lawsuit/index.html|publisher=CNN|accessdate=September 28, 2012}}</ref>
In May 2012, an anonymous male masseur filed a lawsuit against Travolta, citing claims of sexual assault and battery. A lawyer for Travolta said that the allegations were "complete fiction and fabrication". Travolta's counsel also stated that his client would be able to prove that he was not in California on the day in question and asserted that Travolta would "sue the attorney and Plaintiff for malicious prosecution" after getting the case thrown out.<ref>{{cite web|title=John Travolta Sued for Assault and Sexual Battery by Masseur, Actor's Rep Calls Claim a "Baseless Lie"|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/john_travolta_sued_assault_sexual/314284|website=]|access-date=May 7, 2012|date=May 7, 2012}}</ref> A second masseur later joined the lawsuit, making similar claims.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/12275122-452/john-travolta-fights-back-as-two-masseurs-allege-sexual-harassment.html |title=John Travolta fights back as two masseurs allege sexual harassment|newspaper=] |access-date=May 9, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18002920 |title=John Travolta faces more masseur abuse claims |publisher=BBC News |date= May 9, 2012|access-date=May 9, 2012}}</ref> Both lawsuits were subsequently dropped by the complainants and dismissed ].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/9273498/Second-masseur-drops-John-Travolta-lawsuit.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/9273498/Second-masseur-drops-John-Travolta-lawsuit.html |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph | title=Second masseur drops John Travolta lawsuit | date=May 17, 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref>


On September 27, 2012, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Malcolm Mackey dismissed a defamation lawsuit against Travolta and his attorney Marty Singer by writer Robert Randolph because he found that a letter, written by Singer in response to allegations in a book by Randolph, was protected by free speech.<ref>{{cite news|last=Matthews|first=KJ|title=Lawsuit against John Travolta dismissed, again|url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/28/showbiz/travolta-lawsuit/index.html|publisher=CNN|access-date=September 28, 2012}}</ref>
In September 2014, Travolta denied claims made in January 2014 by his former pilot, Douglas Gotterba, that the two had shared a sexual relationship during the six-year period in which Gotterba worked for Travolta's aircraft company, Alto.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/john-travolta-addresses-allegations-made-by-his-former-pilot-that-he-used-to-be-in-a-gay-relationship-with-him-9736104.html | location=London | work=The Independent | title=John Travolta addresses former pilot's gay romance allegations publicly for the first time | date=September 16, 2014 | first=Jenn | last=Selby}}</ref>


==Filmography== ==Discography==
], at the ] in 1985. The dress she wore came to be known as the "]".]]
{{main|John Travolta filmography}}


==Discography==
===Albums=== ===Albums===
{| class="wikitable" {| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2" |Year
! rowspan="2" |Album
!Chart
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! style="width:50px;" |<small>]</small>
! Year
! Album
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| 1974 | 1974
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===Singles=== ===Singles===
{| class="wikitable" {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan="2" |Year
! rowspan="2" |Title
! colspan="8" |Peak chart positions
|- |-
! style="width:40px;" |<small>]</small><br /><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/john-travolta/chart-history/hsi/|title=John Travolta Chart History: Hot 100|magazine=]|access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref>
! style="width:90px;"| Year
! style="width:220px;"| Title ! style="width:40px;" |<small>US '']''</small>
! style="width:40px;"| <small>]</small> ! style="width:40px;" |<small>US '']''</small>
! style="width:40px;" |<small>]</small><br /><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/john-travolta/chart-history/asi/|title=John Travolta Chart History: Adult Contemporary|magazine=]|access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref>
! style="width:40px;"| <small>US '']''</small>
! style="width:40px;"| <small>US '']''</small> ! style="width:40px;" |<small>]</small><br /><ref name=aus>Peaks in Australia:
* All except noted: {{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=313}}
! style="width:40px;"| <small>US AC</small>
* "The Grease Megamix": {{cite web|url=https://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=John+Travolta+%26+Olivia+Newton%2DJohn&titel=The+Grease+Megamix&cat=s|title=John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John – The Grease Megamix|website=australian-charts.com|access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref>
! style="width:40px;"| <small>CAN</small>
! style="width:40px;"| <small>CAN AC</small> ! style="width:40px;" |<small>CAN</small>
! style="width:40px;"| <small>UK</small> ! style="width:40px;" |<small>CAN AC</small>
! style="width:40px;" |<small>]</small><br /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/17171/john-travolta/|title=John Travolta {{!}} full Official Chart History|publisher=]|access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref>
|- |-
| 1974 | 1974
| "]" | style="text-align:left;"| "]"
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|rowspan="2"| 1975 |rowspan="2"| 1975
| "Easy Evil" | style="text-align:left;"| "Easy Evil"
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| "Can't Let You Go" | style="text-align:left;"| "Can't Let You Go"
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|rowspan="14"| 1976 |rowspan="14"| 1976
| "You Set My Dreams to Music" | style="text-align:left;"| "You Set My Dreams to Music"
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| "Goodnight Mr. Moon" | style="text-align:left;"| "Goodnight Mr. Moon"
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| "Rainbows" | style="text-align:left;"| "Rainbows"
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| "Settle Down" | style="text-align:left;"| "Settle Down"
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| "Moonlight Lady" | style="text-align:left;"| "Moonlight Lady"
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| "Big Trouble" | style="text-align:left;"| "Big Trouble"
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| "What Would They Say" | style="text-align:left;"| "What Would They Say"
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| "Back Doors Crying" | style="text-align:left;"| "Back Doors Crying"
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| "]" | style="text-align:left;"| "]"
| 10<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.top40db.net |title=Music lyrics, charts, Games, & more |website=Top40db.net |date= |accessdate=2016-10-11}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 10
| 5<ref>{{cite web |title=Cash Box Top 100 July 31st, 1976 |url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/70s_files/19760731.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025014641/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/70s_files/19760731.html |archive-date=2022-10-25 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 5
| 12
| style="text-align:center;"|
| 16<ref>{{cite book|first= Joel |last= Whitburn |authorlink= Joel Whitburn |year= 1993 |title= Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993 |publisher= Record Research |page=242}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 16
| 74<ref>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=313}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 7
| 7<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.4299a&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=7b9npotanr5peaoql87871on21 |title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada |website=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |date= |accessdate=2016-10-11}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 12
| 12<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.4281&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=7b9npotanr5peaoql87871on21 |title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada |website=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |date= |accessdate=2016-10-11}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|
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| "Whenever I'm Away from You" | style="text-align:left;"| "Whenever I'm Away from You"
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| style="text-align:left;"| "Slow Dancing"
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| "I Don't Know What I Like About You Baby" | style="text-align:left;"| "I Don't Know What I Like About You Baby"
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|rowspan="3"|1977 |rowspan="4"|1977
| "All Strung Out on You" | style="text-align:left;"| "All Strung Out on You"
| 34
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| 28
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| "Baby, I Could Be So Good at Lovin' You" | style="text-align:left;"| "(Feels So Good) Slow Dancin"
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| style="text-align:left;"| "Baby, I Could Be So Good at Lovin' You"
| "Razzamatazz"
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| style="text-align:left;"| "Razzamatazz"
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|rowspan="4"| 1978 |rowspan="4"| 1978
| "]" <small>(with Olivia Newton-John)</small> | style="text-align:left;"| "]" <small>(with Olivia {{nowrap|Newton-John}})</small>
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| "]" <small>(with Olivia Newton-John)</small> | style="text-align:left;"| "]" <small>(with Olivia {{nowrap|Newton-John}})</small>
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| 1983 | 1983
| "Take a Chance" <small>(with Olivia Newton-John)</small> | style="text-align:left;"| "Take a Chance" <small>(with Olivia {{nowrap|Newton-John}})</small>
|
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| 1990
| style="text-align:left;"| "]" <small>(with Olivia {{nowrap|Newton-John}})</small>
|
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|-
| 1991
| style="text-align:left;"| "]" <small>(with ] & Olivia {{nowrap|Newton-John}})</small>
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|- |-
| 1997 | 1997
| "]" <small>(with ])</small> | style="text-align:left;"| "]" <small>(with ])</small>
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| "]" <small>(with ])</small> | style="text-align:left;"| "]" <small>(with ])</small>
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==Filmography==
{{see also|John Travolta filmography}}


==Awards and nominations== ==Awards and nominations==
{{Main|List of awards and nominations received by John Travolta}} {{Main|List of awards and nominations received by John Travolta}}

Travolta was nominated for the ] for his performances in ''Saturday Night Fever'' and ''Pulp Fiction''. He won a ] for ] for his performance in ''Get Shorty'' and has received a total of six nominations, the most recent being in 2011. In 2014, he received the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/iifa-2014-john-travolta-kevin-spacey-star-in-bollywood-oscars-515136|title=IIFA 2014: John Travolta, Kevin Spacey star in 'Bollywood Oscars' – NDTV Movies|date=April 28, 2014|access-date=July 24, 2014|archive-date=October 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016090849/http://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/iifa-2014-john-travolta-kevin-spacey-star-in-bollywood-oscars-515136|url-status=dead}}</ref>


==See also== ==See also==
* ] * ]

== Explanatory notes ==
{{notelist}}


==References== ==References==
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==Further reading== ==Further reading==
* Tast, Brigitte (ed.). ''John Travolta''. (Hildesheim/Germany 1978.) {{ISBN|3-88842-103-9}}. * {{Cite book |editor-last=Tast |editor-first=Brigitte |year=1978 |title=John Travolta |language=German |location=Hildesheim, Germany |publisher=Kulleraugen |isbn=3-88842-103-9}} Pamphlet.


==External links== ==External links==
{{Wikiquote}} {{Wikiquote}}
{{Commons|John Travolta}}
{{external media
{{External media
|image1=, |image1=,
|image2= |image2=
|image3=, Architectural Digest &gt; Celebrity Style: John Travolta, |image3=, Architectural Digest &gt; Celebrity Style: John Travolta,
|video1= |video1=
}} }}
* {{Official website|travolta.com}}
{{wikinewshas|news on this topic|
* {{IMDb name}}
* ]
* {{Charlie Rose guest|1950}}
* ]
* {{IBDB name}}
* ]
* {{IOBDB name|34697}}
}}
* {{New York Times topic|new_id=person/john-travolta}}
{{commons|John Travolta}}
* at ]
* {{Official website|http://www.travolta.com}}
* {{IMDb name|237}}


{{Navboxes {{Navboxes
|title = ] |title = ]
|list = |list =
{{AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Grownup Love Story}}
{{BAFTA Los Angeles Britannia Awards}} {{BAFTA Los Angeles Britannia Awards}}
{{David di Donatello for Best Foreign Actor}} {{David di Donatello for Best Foreign Actor}}
{{Donostia Award}}
{{GoldenGlobeBestActorMotionPictureMusicalComedy 1981–2000}} {{GoldenGlobeBestActorMotionPictureMusicalComedy 1981–2000}}
{{Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor}}
{{Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screen Combo}}
{{Hasty Pudding Man of the Year}} {{Hasty Pudding Man of the Year}}
{{Kirk Douglas Award}}
{{London Film Critics Circle Award for Actor of the Year}} {{London Film Critics Circle Award for Actor of the Year}}
{{Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor}} {{Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor}}
{{MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen Duo}} {{MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen Duo}}
{{MTV Movie Award for Best Dance Sequence}}
{{National Board of Review Award for Best Actor}} {{National Board of Review Award for Best Actor}}
}} }}

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Latest revision as of 19:59, 26 December 2024

American actor (born 1954) "Travolta" redirects here. For other uses, see Travolta (disambiguation).

John Travolta
Travolta in 2013
BornJohn Joseph Travolta
(1954-02-18) February 18, 1954 (age 70)
Englewood, New Jersey, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actor
  • singer
  • producer
Years active1972–present
WorksFilmography
Spouse Kelly Preston ​ ​(m. 1991; died 2020)
Children3
Relatives
AwardsFull list
Websitetravolta.com
Signature

John Joseph Travolta (born February 18, 1954) is an American actor, singer, and producer. He began acting in television before transitioning into a leading man in films. His accolades include a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award, in addition to nominations for two Academy Awards, a British Academy Film Award, and three Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Travolta came to prominence starring in the sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter (1975–1979), followed by leading roles in Carrie (1976), Grease (1978), Urban Cowboy (1980), and Blow Out (1981). He earned nominations for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his roles in Saturday Night Fever (1977) and Pulp Fiction (1994). His other notable films include Get Shorty (1995), Broken Arrow (1996), Michael (1996), Face/Off (1997), A Civil Action (1998), Primary Colors (1998), The General's Daughter (1999), The Punisher (2004), Wild Hogs (2007), Hairspray (2007), Bolt (2008), and Savages (2012).

Travolta returned to television portraying lawyer Robert Shapiro in the series The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story. He received a Primetime Emmy Award as a producer as well as nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. He was also Emmy-nominated for his role in the action-comedy series Die Hart (2021).

Outside of acting, Travolta has released nine albums, including four singles that have charted on the Billboard Hot 100's Top 40. His albums have typically accompanied films he has starred in, such as Grease: The Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture (1978), which topped the Billboard 200. Travolta is also a private pilot.

Early life

The youngest of six children, Travolta was born and raised in Englewood, New Jersey, an inner-ring suburb of New York City in Bergen County, New Jersey.

His father, Salvatore "Sam" Travolta, was a semiprofessional American football player turned tire salesman and partner in a tire company, Travolta Tire Exchange. His mother, Helen Cecilia (née Burke), was an actress and singer who had appeared in The Sunshine Sisters, a radio vocal group, and acted and directed before becoming a high school drama and English teacher. His siblings Joey, Ellen, Ann, Margaret, and Sam Travolta were all inspired by their mother's love of theater and drama and became actors. His father was a second-generation Italian American with roots in Godrano, Sicily, and his mother was Irish American.

He grew up in an Irish-American neighborhood and said that his household was predominantly Irish in culture. He was raised Catholic, but later converted to Scientology in 1975 at age 21. He converted after being given the book Dianetics from former actress Joan Prather. Travolta attended Dwight Morrow High School, but dropped out as a junior at age 17 in 1971.

Career

1970s

Travolta as Vinnie Barbarino in the ABC comedy Welcome Back, Kotter, c. 1976

After dropping out of school, Travolta moved across the Hudson River to New York City and landed a role in the touring company of the musical Grease as Doody and on Broadway in Over Here!, singing the Sherman Brothers' song "Dream Drummin'". He then moved to Los Angeles for professional reasons. Travolta's first screen role in California was as a fall victim in Emergency! (Season 2, Episode 2) in September 1972, but his first significant movie role was as Billy Nolan, a bully who was goaded into playing a prank on Sissy Spacek's character in the horror film Carrie (1976) directed by Brian de Palma. Around that time, he landed his star-making role as Vinnie Barbarino in the ABC TV sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter (1975–1979), in which his sister, Ellen, also occasionally appeared (as Arnold Horshack's mother).

Travolta had a hit single titled "Let Her In", peaking at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in July 1976. In the next few years, he starred in the television movie The Boy in the Plastic Bubble and two of his most noted screen roles: Tony Manero in the dance drama Saturday Night Fever (1977) and Danny Zuko in the musical Grease (1978). The films were among the most commercially successful pictures of the decade and catapulted Travolta to international stardom. Saturday Night Fever earned him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor, making him, at age 24, one of the youngest performers ever nominated for the Best Actor Oscar. His mother and his sister Ann appeared very briefly in Saturday Night Fever and his sister Ellen played a waitress in Grease. Travolta performed on the Grease soundtrack album. After the failure of the romance Moment by Moment (1978), in which he starred with Lily Tomlin, Travolta rebounded in 1980, riding a nationwide country music craze that followed on the heels of his hit film Urban Cowboy, in which he starred with Debra Winger.

1980s

Travolta in 1983

Travolta followed up Urban Cowboy with a starring role in Brian de Palma's 1981 film Blow Out, which was critically lauded but a box office disappointment, likely due to its bleak ending. After Blow Out came a series of commercial and critical failures which sidelined Travolta's acting career. These included Two of a Kind (1983), a romantic comedy reuniting him with Olivia Newton-John, and Perfect (1985), co-starring Jamie Lee Curtis. He also starred in Staying Alive, the 1983 sequel to Saturday Night Fever, for which he trained rigorously to portray a professional dancer and lost 20 pounds (9.1 kg); the film was a financial success, grossing over $65 million, though it, too, was scorned by critics.

During that time, Travolta was offered, but declined, lead roles in what would become box-office hits, including American Gigolo and An Officer and a Gentleman, both of which went to Richard Gere, as well as Splash, which went to Tom Hanks. In 1989, Travolta starred with Kirstie Alley in Look Who's Talking, which grossed $297 million, making it his most successful film since Grease.

1990s

Travolta in 1997

Travolta subsequently starred in Look Who's Talking Too (1990) and Look Who's Talking Now (1993), but it was not until he played against type as Vincent Vega in Quentin Tarantino's hit Pulp Fiction (1994), with Samuel L. Jackson, for which he received an Academy Award nomination, that his career was revived. It was Travolta's third film alongside Bruce Willis. The movie shifted him back onto the A-list and he was inundated with many diverse offers. Notable roles following Pulp Fiction include a movie-buff loan shark in Get Shorty (1995), a factory worker in White Man's Burden (1995), a corrupt U.S. Air Force pilot in Broken Arrow (1996), an everyman with extraordinary powers in Phenomenon (1996), an archangel in Michael (1996), an FBI agent and terrorist in Face/Off (1997), a desperate attorney in A Civil Action (1998), a Bill Clinton–esque presidential candidate in Primary Colors (1998), and a military investigator in The General's Daughter (1999).

2000s

In 2000, Travolta starred in and co-produced the science fiction film Battlefield Earth, based on the novel of the same name by L. Ron Hubbard, in which he played the villainous leading role as a leader of a group of aliens that enslaves humanity on a bleak future Earth. The film was a dream project for Travolta since the book's release in 1982, when Hubbard wrote to him to try to help make a film adaptation. The film received almost universally negative reviews and did very poorly at the box office. Travolta's performance in Battlefield Earth also earned him two Razzie Awards.

Throughout the 2000s, Travolta remained busy as an actor, starring in Swordfish (2001); Domestic Disturbance (2001); Ladder 49 (2004); Be Cool (2005); Lonely Hearts (2006); Wild Hogs (2007); the Disney animated film Bolt (2008), in which Travolta voiced the title character; The Taking of Pelham 123; and Old Dogs (both 2009).

In 2007, Travolta played Edna Turnblad in the remake of Hairspray, his first musical since Grease.

2010s

Since 2010, Travolta has starred mostly in action films and thrillers, such as From Paris with Love (2010) and Savages (2012). In 2016, he returned to television in the first season of the anthology series American Crime Story, titled The People v. O. J. Simpson, in which he played lawyer Robert Shapiro. For his performance he received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.

2020s

Following the death of his wife Kelly Preston in July 2020, Travolta hinted on his Instagram account that he would be putting his career on hold, stating "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".

Other ventures

Aviation

Travolta in the cockpit of his Boeing 707 in 2002

Travolta is a pilot and rated to fly Boeing 707, 737, and 747 planes. He owns four aircraft. Travolta owned an ex-Qantas Boeing 707-138B (Ex-VH-EBM) which bears an old livery of Qantas, and Travolta acted as an official goodwill ambassador for the airline wherever he flew. Travolta named his 707 "Jett Clipper Ella", in honor of his children. The "Clipper" in the name refers to the use of that word by Pan Am as the company's call sign as well as in the names of their aircraft. In 2017, Travolta donated the Boeing 707 to the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) near Wollongong, Australia. This was expected to be flown to Australia in November 2019, but was later delayed to sometime in 2020 due to condition of the aircraft. Travolta planned to be on board when the aircraft was to be flown to Illawarra Regional Airport, where HARS is based, however was not allowed to fly it, because it was to be registered as an Australian aircraft.

On November 24, 1992, Travolta was piloting his Gulfstream N728T at night above a solid undercast when he experienced a total electrical system failure while flying under instrument flight rules into Washington National Airport. During the emergency landing, he almost had a mid-air collision with a USAir Boeing 727, an event attributed to a risky decision by an air traffic controller.

In 1984, Travolta was inducted into the American Academy of Achievement and presented with the Golden Plate Award by Awards Council member General Chuck Yeager, USAF. Travolta was inducted into the Living Legends of Aviation in 2007 and acts as the award show's official ambassador.

On September 13, 2010, during the first episode of the final season of her talk show, Oprah Winfrey announced that she would be taking her entire studio audience on an eight-day, all-expenses-paid trip to Australia, with Travolta serving as pilot for the trip. He had helped Winfrey plan the trip for more than a year.

He is the author of the book Propeller One-Way Night Coach, the story of a young boy's first flight.

His estate in Ocala, Florida, is situated at Jumbolair Airport with its own runway and taxiway right to his house, with two outbuildings for covered access to planes.

Philanthropy

This section needs expansion. You can help by making an edit requestadding to it . (October 2024)

After the 2010 Haiti earthquake, joining other celebrities in helping with the relief efforts, Travolta reportedly flew his Boeing 707 full of supplies, doctors, and Scientologist Volunteer Ministers into the disaster area.

Personal life

Relationships and family

Travolta with wife Kelly Preston at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival

Travolta was in a relationship with actress Diana Hyland, whom he met while filming The Boy in the Plastic Bubble (1976). They remained together until Hyland's death from breast cancer on March 27, 1977. In 1980, Travolta dated French actress Catherine Deneuve. Travolta also had an on-again/off-again relationship with actress Marilu Henner, which ended permanently in 1985. In 1988 while filming The Experts, Travolta met actress Kelly Preston, whom he married in Paris in 1991. They had three children: Jett (1992–2009), Ella Bleu (born 2000), and Benjamin (born 2010). They regularly attended marriage counseling and Travolta has stated that therapy helped the marriage. They lived near Ocala, Florida.

On January 2, 2009, Jett died at age sixteen while on a Christmas vacation in The Bahamas. A Bahamian death certificate was issued, attributing the cause of death to a seizure. Jett, who had a history of seizures, reportedly had Kawasaki disease since the age of two. Travolta confirmed that Jett was autistic and had regular seizures, and immediately made his public statements while giving testimony at the trial of two defendants (a paramedic and a former Bahamas senator) who Travolta alleged tried to blackmail him with a multimillion-dollar extortion plot involving private information in connection with the death of his son Jett. After a mistrial, Travolta dropped the charges and has credited his immediate family and Scientology with helping him to cope with Jett's death and move forward with his career. In memory of Jett, Travolta created the Jett Travolta Foundation, a nonprofit organization to help children with special needs. It has contributed to organizations such as the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy, Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential, and Simon Wiesenthal Center.

On July 12, 2020, Travolta's wife, Kelly Preston, died at the age of 57, at their home in Clearwater, Florida, two years after she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Preston had undergone treatment at different hospitals, and at the time of her death, was receiving treatment at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.

Legal issues

In May 2012, an anonymous male masseur filed a lawsuit against Travolta, citing claims of sexual assault and battery. A lawyer for Travolta said that the allegations were "complete fiction and fabrication". Travolta's counsel also stated that his client would be able to prove that he was not in California on the day in question and asserted that Travolta would "sue the attorney and Plaintiff for malicious prosecution" after getting the case thrown out. A second masseur later joined the lawsuit, making similar claims. Both lawsuits were subsequently dropped by the complainants and dismissed without prejudice.

On September 27, 2012, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Malcolm Mackey dismissed a defamation lawsuit against Travolta and his attorney Marty Singer by writer Robert Randolph because he found that a letter, written by Singer in response to allegations in a book by Randolph, was protected by free speech.

Discography

Travolta dancing with Diana, Princess of Wales, at the White House in 1985. The dress she wore came to be known as the "Travolta dress".

Albums

Year Album Chart
US
1974 Over Here! (musical)
1976 John Travolta 39
1977 Can't Let You Go 69
1978 Travolta Fever 161
Grease (soundtrack) 1
1983 Two of a Kind (soundtrack) 26
1986 The Road to Freedom (collaboration)
1996 Let Her In: The Best of John Travolta
2003 The Collection
2007 Hairspray (soundtrack) 2
2012 This Christmas (with Olivia Newton-John) 81

Singles

Year Title Peak chart positions
US Billboard
US Cash Box US Record World US AC
AUS
CAN CAN AC UK
1974 "Dream Drummin'"
1975 "Easy Evil"
"Can't Let You Go"
1976 "You Set My Dreams to Music"
"Goodnight Mr. Moon"
"Rainbows"
"Settle Down"
"Moonlight Lady"
"Right Time of the Night"
"Big Trouble"
"What Would They Say"
"Back Doors Crying"
"Let Her In" 10 5 12 16 74 7 12
"Whenever I'm Away from You" 38 62 64 26 61 29
"Slow Dancing"
"It Had to Be You"
"I Don't Know What I Like About You Baby"
1977 "All Strung Out on You" 34 28 48 35 30
"(Feels So Good) Slow Dancin" 106 127
"Baby, I Could Be So Good at Lovin' You"
"Razzamatazz"
1978 "You're the One That I Want" (with Olivia Newton-John) 1 3 1 23 1 2 1
"Summer Nights" (with Olivia Newton-John) 5 3 4 21 6 3 1
"Sandy" 2
"Greased Lightnin'" 47 45 51 40 11
1980 "Never Gonna Fall in Love Again"
1983 "Take a Chance" (with Olivia Newton-John) 3
1990 "The Grease Megamix" (with Olivia Newton-John) 1 3
1991 "Grease: The Dream Mix" (with Frankie Valli & Olivia Newton-John) 47
1997 "Two Sleepy People" (with Carly Simon)
2008 "I Thought I Lost You" (with Miley Cyrus)

Filmography

See also: John Travolta filmography

Awards and nominations

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by John Travolta

Travolta was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performances in Saturday Night Fever and Pulp Fiction. He won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for his performance in Get Shorty and has received a total of six nominations, the most recent being in 2011. In 2014, he received the IIFA Award for Outstanding Achievement in International Cinema.

See also

Explanatory notes

  1. FAA Airmen Certification Database of September 1, 2014, lists Travolta as ID A1927078, with private pilot licence ratings P/ASEL (Private Airplane Single Engine Land), P/AMEL (Private Airplane Multi-Engine Land), P/INSTA (Private Instrument Airplane), and eight aircraft: P/B-707 (Boeing 707), P/B-720 (Boeing 720), P/CE-500 (Cessna 500), P/CL-600 (Bombardier Challenger 600), P/EA-500S (Eclipse 500), P/G-1159 (Gulfstream II), P/HS-125 (British Aerospace 125), P/LR-JET (Learjet).

References

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Further reading

  • Tast, Brigitte, ed. (1978). John Travolta (in German). Hildesheim, Germany: Kulleraugen. ISBN 3-88842-103-9. Pamphlet.

External links

External images
image icon Fly-in home in Jumbolair, aerial view, Celebrity Homes
image icon Fly-in home in Jumbolair, aerial view
image icon Ground-level view of port, Architectural Digest > Celebrity Style: John Travolta, slide 2
Awards for John Travolta
AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Grownup Love Story
2000s
2010s
2020s
Britannia Awards
Excellence in Film
Excellence in Directing
Worldwide Contribution to
Entertainment
British Artist of the Year
Excellence in Comedy
Excellence in Television
Humanitarian Award
Retired Awards
David di Donatello Award for Best Foreign Actor
1957–1975
1976–1996
Donostia Award
Lifetime Achievement Award at the San Sebastián International Film Festival
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
1950–1976
1976–2000
2001–present
Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor
Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screen Combo
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
Between 2010–2012, the category also included Worst Screen Ensemble.
Hasty Pudding Men of the Year
Kirk Douglas Award
2007–present
Festival editions
London Film Critics' Circle Award for Actor of the Year
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
1975–2000
2001–2021
MTV Movie & TV Award for Best Duo
Best On-Screen Duo (1992–2000)
Best On-Screen Team (2001–2006)
Best Cast (2012)Best On-Screen Duo (2013–2015)
Ensemble Cast (2016)Best Duo (2017)
Best On-Screen Team (2018)
Best Team (2022)Best Duo (2023)
MTV Movie Award for Best Dance Sequence
National Board of Review Award for Best Actor
1945–1975
1976–2000
2001–present
Categories: