John Joseph Travolta is an American actor, dancer and singer. He first became known in the 1970s, after appearing on the television series Welcome Back, Kotter and starring in the box office successes Saturday Night Fever and Grease.

What made John Travolta famous?

John Joseph Travolta (born February 18, 1954) is an American actor. He became prominent during the 1970s, appearing on the television sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter (1975–1979) and starring in the box office successes Carrie (1976), Saturday Night Fever (1977), Grease (1978), and Urban Cowboy (1980).

What was John Travolta's first TV show?

Beginning his stellar career in the 1970s, Travolta first appeared in the 1975 television series Welcome Back, Kotter. His acting career quickly took off as when he starred in Saturday Night Fever (1977) and Grease (1978), shortly after his debut.

How did John Travolta get discovered?

Travolta became a teen idol following the debut of the TV series Welcome Back, Kotter in 1975. In that high-school sitcom he played Vinnie Barbarino, the head of the “sweathogs” (a group of high-school students in a remedial class); the show ran until 1979.

How did John Travolta make his money?

How did John Travolta make his money? Travolta earned the bulk of his wealth from starring in box office hits, including Grease and Urban Cowboy. He also dabbles as a singer, most recently recording a duet with Miley Cyrus.

John Travolta Reveals the Star to Whom He Will Be Indebted for Life

How old was John Travolta in Grease?

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.

Does John Travolta still own a 707?

He earned his private pilot's license at age 22 and today owns several aircraft, including a Boeing 707-138 that was previously part of Qantas Airways' fleet. His home is in Jumbolair Aviation Estates, a fly-in community at north central Florida's private Greystone Airport.

Who taught John Travolta how do you dance?

Raised in Titusville, Florida, Terrio achieved fame as the dance coach and choreographer for John Travolta in the movie Saturday Night Fever (1978).

What movie did John Travolta turned down?

John Travolta, Forrest Gump

But I feel good about some I gave up because other careers were created." All's well that ends well: Travolta reportedly turned down Forrest Gump to star in another iconic 1994 movie, Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction.

Did John Travolta take dancing lessons?

Travolta started acting appearing in a local production of "Who'll Save the Plowboy?". His mother, herself an actress and dancer, enrolled him in a drama school in New York, where he studied voice, dancing and acting. He decided to combine all three of these skills and become a musical comedy performer.

What was John Travolta's first hit movie?

With "Saturday Night Fever" (1977), John Travolta transitioned from TV and pop music personality to full-fledged movie star.

Why did John Travolta's son have a seizure?

In the past he had said Jett suffered from Kawasaki disease, a rare condition in children that involves inflamation of the blood vessels. Some studies suggest up to 25 percent of children with autism also have a seizure disorder, according to Dr.

How did John Travolta get the role in Grease?

As part of a three-picture deal with Stigwood, Travolta was given the lead role after Henry Winkler turned down the role for fear of being typecast as a greaser, having been playing the similar bad-boy greaser Arthur Fonzarelli on Happy Days since 1974. (Winkler would later regret the decision.)

Was John Travolta an Italian?

Travolta's father was a second-generation Italian American and his mother was Irish American; he grew up in an Irish-American neighborhood and has said that his household was predominantly Irish in culture. His family was Roman Catholic. Travolta married actress Kelly Preston in 1991.

Did John Travolta sing in Grease?

The film is also notable for having Danny (played by John Travolta, who had already had top-40 hits before Grease) sing lead on the song, while Kenickie (Jeff Conaway) contributed with a few call-and-response lines.

What happened to John Travolta's acting career?

As successful as Travolta was in the latter half of the 1990s, the 2000s saw his career fall off dramatically thanks to the release of Battlefield Earth. Based on a novel written by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, the bizarre sci-fi flick saw Travolta, a noted Scientologist, in some hilariously bad blue makeup.

Who turned down the role of Forrest Gump?

John Travolta – 'Forrest Gump'

Travolta almost filled Forrest Gump's Nikes in the iconic film before Hanks was slated for the role. Speaking to MTV in 2007, Travolta shared that he did not have any regrets about turning down the part.

Who was supposed to play Forrest Gump?

Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump (1994)

The classic role of Forrest Gump was initially offered to John Travolta. He declined the part and has since openly admitted that passing on the role was one of the biggest mistakes of his career.

Is John Travolta close to his daughter?

John Travolta is a proud girl dad. Since the death of his late wife Kelly Preston in 2020, the Grease alum has been a devoted single father to his daughter, Ella Bleu, 23. The father-daughter duo have forged a tight-knit bond and can be frequently seen traveling, dancing and celebrating milestone occasions together.

Did Sylvester Stallone teach John Travolta to dance?

Under Sylvester Stallone's supervision, John Travolta spent five months doing rigorous training to develop a dancer's physique for this film, losing 20 pounds in the process. This was the last non-"Rocky" film Sylvester Stallone directed until Rambo (2008).

Is John Travolta considered a good dancer?

John Travolta's dancing skills in "Saturday Night Fever" are widely considered to be impressive and influential in popular culture. His performance in the film helped to popularize disco dancing in the late 1970s, and he was praised for his ability to convey emotion and storytelling through his dance moves.

Did Patrick Swayze teach John Travolta to dance?

Patsy Swayze, Patrick Swayze's mother, taught John Travolta how to do the two-step for the movie. John Travolta had a mechanical bull installed in his house two months before production began.

Which airline does John Travolta fly?

Achieved 2 worldwide tours for promoting the airline industry as a Qantas pilot flying every leg of the trip. Also flew with John Glenn with a Boeing 707 over a crowd of 100,000 people at the Dayton Airshow in celebration of the centennial of flying.

Is John Travolta a good pilot?

Travolta has only a private pilot license (PPL). This is the most basic of the 3 pilot's licenses. The PPL allows him to carry passengers but not allowed to fly them for hire. As such, some of his detractors are of the view that he is not one of the best pilots to ever live.

How many airplanes does John Travolta have?

Travolta owns at least seven jets

According to Belfast Telegraph, Travolta has at least seven jets in his collection. His private stable is home to a Bombardier Challenger 601, Boeing 727, Eclipse 500, Dassault Falcon 900, and three Gulfstream jets.