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.

What were the ages of the characters of Grease?

Who was the oldest actor in the movie 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.

How old was the cast of Grease during filming?

Most of the lead stars were in their 20s and 30s while filming Grease with Travolta aged 23 and Newton-John aged 29, despite playing teenagers. However, casting director Joel Thurm has at long last explained why older actors were used, stressing that it was totally intentional.

How old was Cha Cha during Grease?

Some Rydell High School students were in their 30s

Annette Charles, who played bad girl Cha Cha DiGregorio, was 30. Only Lorenzo Lamas, who played Sandy's jock boyfriend Tom, and who had no lines, was an actual teenager.

Grease (1978) Cast Then and Now ★ 2023 [45 Years After] // Olivia Newton-John

Was Cha Cha sick during Grease?

During the Thunder Road sequence in Grease (1978), she was experiencing terrible pain due to a tubular pregnancy, in which the fertilized egg begins growing in the fallopian tube rather than the uterus. This explains why she is frequently seen leaning against the cars.

How old was Riz in Grease?

Stockard Channing, who was 33 when she played Rizzo in the first movie, told Vanity Fair one approach made her "look dirtier" than younger. Whether the project be "Friday Night Lights" or "Beverly Hills, 90210," casting adult actors to play teenagers has been a longstanding Hollywood tradition.

Who turned down the role of Danny in Grease?

Henry Winkler felt 'so dumb' to have turned down the part of Danny Zuko in 'Grease'

Why is the cast of Grease so old?

In a recently published oral history of Grease, Thurm, 80, has admitted the reason why a decision to cast older actors was made. “People might say the cast is too old, but Grease is not a documentary; it's a fantasy,” he told The Guardian. “It's a non-PC fairytale that is better for the cast not being teens.

How old was John when filming Grease?

John Travolta was 23 years old when he filmed the part of 18-year-old Danny Zuko.

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.

How old was Michelle Pfeiffer in Grease 2?

With only a few television roles and small film appearances, Michelle Pfeiffer, then aged 23, was a relatively unknown actress when she attended the casting call audition for the role of Stephanie. Other actresses considered for the part included Lisa Hartman, Kristy McNichol, Andrea McArdle, and singer Pat Benatar.

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 the cast of Grease get along?

The Grease co-stars were still very close up until Olivia's death in August 2022, and even famously reunited in LA in 2002 to sing their classic hit 'You're The One That I Want'. John Travolta was a huge support to Olivia Newton-John as she underwent treatment for breast cancer.

Where is Rydell high in Grease supposed to be?

Is Rydell High School a real school? Not only is Rydell High School fictitious, but the school scenes in Grease were also actually filmed in three different places—Venice High School, Huntington Park High School and John Marshall High School. Of the three schools, Venice High was used for its aesthetics.

What year is Grease set in?

Named after the 1950s United States working-class youth subculture known as greasers, the musical is set in 1959 at the fictional Rydell High School in Northwest Chicago. This fictional high school was based on Taft High School in Chicago, Illinois, and named after rock singer Bobby Rydell.

What actor turned down Grease?

Henry Winkler felt "so dumb" to have turned down the part of Danny Zuko in Grease.

Why is Grease 2 hated?

Grease 2 is often regarded as one of the worst sequels in movie history; it's pointless, a complete copy of the original (minus all the good parts), and the songs are forgettable for the most part.

Was Sandy dead all along in Grease?

He told TMZ that "Whoever made up the theory must have been on acid. Sandy was very much alive." But then, it's rare that the wishes of the creator are taken into account when fans come up with theories, and this one in particular actually does improve the Grease viewing experience, true or not.

Who was first choice for Sandy in Grease?

According to Vanity Fair, the iconic role of doe-eyed Sandy was almost given to late Star Wars actor Carrie Fisher, who died in 2016 at the age of 60.

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.

Was Marie Osmond offered the role of Sandy in Grease?

Osmond became the front-runner but dropped out in protest over Grease's ending and Carr turned to Olivia Newton-John instead. Rather than her be flattered, Newton-John was reluctant to commit because her musical career was going well and her film debut, Toomorrow, had tanked and she didn't want to make another flop.

How old is Frenchy from Grease now?

Didi Conn as Frenchy

She reprised her iconic role in the less-beloved sequel, Grease 2. In 2008, she was named a national celebrity spokesperson for Autism Speaks — her son, Daniel, has autism. Conn, now 71, also appeared in Grease Live! in 2016, playing Frosty Palace's head waitress, Vi.

How old was Channing in Grease?

In 1977, at the age of 33, Channing was cast for the role of high school teenager Betty Rizzo in the hit musical Grease. The film was released in 1978 and her performance earned her the People's Choice Award for Favorite Motion Picture Supporting Actress.

What year was Debbie Gibson in Grease?

Blog: Throwback to 1993 Starring as Sandy in Grease - Debbie Gibson.