One of the few A-listers to sink to has-been status then rise back up to stardom, Travolta began his career as a juvenile TV player. After guest-starring on myriad series, he signed on to
Welcome Back, Kotter in 1975 and became an instant teen idol with his cleft chin, piercing blue eyes and beefy body. The next year he starred as the title character in the TV-movie
The Boy in the Plastic Bubble and embarked on an ill-fated romance with Diana Hyland, the older actress who played his mother; she soon died of cancer. Despite this personal setback, he was on a roll professionally, with an Oscar-nominated turn as a disco dancer in 1977's
Saturday Night Fever and a charismatic performance as a '50s delinquent in the musical
Grease the next year. A series of failures (
Moment by Moment,
Two of a Kind,
Perfect) derailed Travolta's career, and by the early '90s he was a pop-culture punch line. His nuanced performance as a hit man in the hip 1994 hit
Pulp Fiction not only revived his movie career but earned him an Oscar nod and reminded audiences that he could indeed act. Diverse, high-profile roles in a series of films followed. Some were successful (
Get Shorty,
Face/Off), some weren't (
White Man's Burden). But even a megaflop like
Battlefield Earth, which he also produced, couldn't destroy his career. Off screen, Travolta is married to Kelly Preston (who fell for him during his down period when they costarred in
The Experts) and a follower of the controversial religion Scientology.
John Travolta Fast Facts:
- At the height of his Welcome Back, Kotter fame, joined the teeny-bopper fray by recording the pop single "Let Her In," which rose to No. 10 on the Billboard charts.
- As of 2006, has appeared on more Rolling Stone covers (1978, 1980, 1983 and 1985) than any other actor.
- Passed on doing Days of Heaven, American Gigolo and An Officer and a Gentleman. Richard Gere played all three roles.
- Authored a 1997 book called Propeller One-Way Night Coach inspired by his passion for aviation.
- John Travolta Relationships:
- Ann Travolta - Sister
- Diana Hyland - Ex-significant Other
- Ella Bleu Travolta - Daughter
- Ellen Travolta - Sister
- Helen Travolta - Mother
- Jett Travolta - Son
- Joey Travolta - Brother
- Kelly Preston - Wife
- Margaret Travolta - Sister
- Salvatore Travolta - Father
- Sam Travolta - Brother
- John Travolta Awards:
- 2008 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture - Nominee
- 1995 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama - Nominee
- 1978 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy - Nominee
- 1979 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy - Nominee
- 1996 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy - Winner
- 1999 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy - Nominee
- 1979 Golden Globe: Henrietta Award (World Film Favorites) - Winner
- 1977 Oscar: Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role - Nominee
- 1994 Oscar: Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role - Nominee
