John Travolta, who starred as Danny Zuko in Grease, famously stood out as younger than much of the rest of Grease's principal cast during filming in summer 1977 at age 23.

How old were the cast members of Grease when they filmed?

Stockard Channing, who portrayed headstrong Pink Lady Betty Rizzo, was 33 when she was hired. The late Olivia Newton-John was 29 when she played Sandy Olsson, the film's female lead. Most of the supporting cast members were also in their 30s or late 20s during shooting.

Who was the youngest cast member in Grease?

Kelly Ward (Putzie)

Kelly Ward brought the youngest member of the T-Birds, Putzie, to life in a role specifically created for the film. Grease wasn't his first time working with costar John Travolta, as the two worked together on 1976's made-for-television movie The Boy in the Plastic Bubble.

Why were the actors in Grease so old?

"People might say the cast is too old, but Grease is not a documentary; it's a fantasy," Joel Thurm told The Guardian. "It is a non-PC fairytale that is better for the cast not being teens. The only thing that was important was that the cast all looked about the same age as each other, which they did."

How old was Rizzo in Grease in real life?

After being raised by wolves, Lucan strikes out on his own in search of his identity. In 1977, at the age of 33, Channing was cast for the role of high school teenager Betty Rizzo in the hit musical Grease.

Grease (1978) Cast THEN AND NOW 2023, All cast died tragically!

Who was the oldest cast member in Grease?

The late Olivia Newton-John, who costarred as Sandy, was 29 at the time Grease was filmed; Stockard Channing, who played Rizzo, was the principal cast's oldest member at 33 during filming, according to a 2016 Vanity Fair article about the production.

What happened to the actress who played Rizzo in Grease?

All things considered, Stockard Channing is definitely a success story. After playing Rizzo in Grease, Channing played First Lady Abbey Bartlet in The West Wing for seven years, as well as racking up TV credits in Batman Beyond, Out Of Practice and, recently, The Good Wife.

What actor turned down Grease?

Henry Winkler says fears of being typecast prompted him to turn down the lead role in 1978's "Grease." "I was dumb," Winkler told People magazine in this week's issue. "I spent so much energy, so much time … I spent so many sleepless nights thinking, 'How do I not get typecast?

Who turned down the movie Grease?

Henry Winkler Opens Up About Rejecting Grease: 'I Spent Most of My Adult Life Being Frightened' (Exclusive) Andrea Mandell is the Senior Editor of Entertainment Projects at PEOPLE Magazine. She joined the brand in 2022 and helps lead special projects, film coverage, festivals, awards and more.

How old was Putzie in Grease?

The 17- or 18-year-old Putzie famously hits Kenickie in the head with his car door ahead of the T-Birds' drag race with the Scorpions. Putzie is a bit clumsier and less cool than the other T-Birds.

Who turned down the role of Danny in Grease?

Hollywood star Henry Winkler revealed on Thursday the surprising reason he turned down John Travolta's star-making role as Danny Zuko in Grease. The comedian, 77, told Kyle and Jackie O that he declined the role of the cheeky greaser because it felt too similar to his iconic Happy Days character The Fonz.

Who turned down Sandy in Grease?

John Travolta's 'Grease' co-star Olivia Newton-John almost turned down Sandy, casting director claims.

Where was Grease filmed?

Grease was shot in various locations across the Los Angeles area, from the lively South Bay to the charming Silverlake neighborhood. Much of the production was filmed on-site, including exterior shots of Rydell High, taken at Venice High School, Huntington Park High School, and John Marshall High School.

Did any of the Grease cast date in real life?

Decades after they shot the film, Newton-John said "Grease" benefited from the fact that the actors never got together in real life. "I think it kept the tension there and the chemistry.

How old was Cha Cha in Grease?

Leo's girlfriend, Charlene "Cha-Cha" DiGregorio, is also 17 or 18 in the movie. Cha-Cha is a student at a different school in town, St. Bernadette's.

Did John Travolta sing in Grease?

Originally Answered: Does John Travolta sing in the movie Grease? Yes, he did sing all of his own parts. He also sang again with Olivia Newton-John in a reunion in 2002.

Who was originally meant to play Sandy in Grease?

Casting Sandy would prove trickier. Director Randal Kleiser saw rushes from a new film his old college buddy George Lucas was making, titled Star Wars, to see if its female lead, Carrie Fisher, could be a fit. She wasn't. Marie Osmond (left) and Carrie Fisher (right) were both considered for Olivia Newton-John's Sandy.

Who was originally supposed to play Danny in Grease?

As part of a three-picture deal with Stigwood, Travolta was given the lead role after Henry Winkler (then starring as Arthur Fonzarelli on Paramount's TV series Happy Days) turned down the role for fear of being typecast as a greaser. (Winkler would later regret the decision.)

What are the movie mistakes in Grease?

Why did Elvis not play in Grease?

10 secrets about Grease you probably never knew

However, he turned down the offer from producers. It had been a while since Elvis had done films, and perhaps if he wasn't the main star then Colonel Tom Parker wouldn't be keen.

How did John Travolta get the role in Grease?

At the time, Travolta had a three-movie deal with Grease producer, Robert Stigwood — who had also cast him in Saturday Night Fever — and when Winkler bailed, he was eagerly waiting in the wings. (Winkler later confessed that he regretted that choice: "I went home and had an orange juice.

Why did Michelle Pfeiffer do Grease 2?

Other actresses considered for the part included Lisa Hartman, Kristy McNichol, Andrea McArdle, and singer Pat Benatar. Pfeiffer was a wild card choice, but according to Birch, she won the part because she "has a quirky quality you don't expect." She later commented on being cast: That was really weird for me.

Did Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta date?

Did Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta date in real life? Despite numerous rumours to the contrary – and some steamy pictures of the pair kissing at a party in 1978 (below) – there has been no romance between the two stars.

Why did Stockard Channing change her name?

Susan Stockard of Park Avenue hadn't planned on being an actress until studying American history at Radcliffe, where she first smelled the greasepaint. At Harvard, she became hooked. Joining Theatre Company of Boston, she combined her maiden name with her married name to become Stockard Channing.

Was Helen Travolta in Grease?

Ellen Travolta was born on October 6, 1939 in Englewood, New Jersey, USA. She is an actress, known for Grease (1978), Joanie Loves Chachi (1982), and Charles in Charge (1984). She was previously married to. She is one of John Travolta's siblings and has had her own respectable career.