John Travolta Original

About This Project

John Joseph Travolta (November 18, 1954 – ) became one of the biggest actors on television during the 1970s for his role as Vinnie Barbarino in Welcome Back, Kotter! (1975-1979), but then suffered through a decade long slump before enjoying his resurgence in Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction (1992). John was born and raised in Englewood, New Jersey, the son of an actress and dancer mother, who enrolled him in drama school where he learned acting, dance and voice lessons. By the age of 16, John dropped out of high school and began working in summer stock productions of Bye Bye Birdie, before heading off to Hollywood to try his hand at acting for a living. His good looks and charm landed him numerous bit parts on television shows like Emergency! (1972), The Rookies (1973) and Medical Center (1974). Travolta also landed a role with a touring company performing Grease, which brought him back to New York City. Grease gave him his first Broadway performance and he then took a critically acclaimed role in the musical Over Here, opposite The Andrew Sisters. John returned to Hollywood where he was quickly cast in his crowning role as Vinnie Barbarino in Welcome Back, Kotter! also starring Gabe Kaplan and numerous new-comers. From 1975 to 1979, Barbarino was one of the most popular characters on any television sitcom and doors opened wide for the budding actor. In 1977, Travolta was vaulted into international stardom for his portrayal of Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever(1977). Not only did Travolta become a star with the huge box-office success of Saturday Night Fever, but he helped launch the disco music scene of the late 1970s. He was nominated for his first Academy Award as Best Actor for this role. It was also around this time that he released the Billboard Top Ten hit single “Let Her In”. John quickly followed Saturday Night Fever with his second hit, the successful film adaptation, Grease (1978) playing the lead role as Danny Zuko, opposite English/Australian recording artist Olivia Newton-John. Grease has since become a cult classic, both on Broadway and film.

Unfortunately for Travolta, John’s career would take a severe downturn in the 1980s. In 1980, John again helped popularize the country music trend with his role in Urban Cowboy (1980), opposite Debra Winger and Scott Glenn. But, a handful of poor film choices like Staying Alive (1983) – reprising his role as Tony Manero, Two of a Kind (1983) – reteaming with Olivia Newton-John and Perfect(1985), opposite Jamie Lee Curtis. He did enjoy success with Look Who’s Talking(1989) with Kirstie Alley, which also led to sequels Look Who’s Talking Too (1990) and Look Who’s Talking Now (1993). In 1994, Quentin Tarantino cast John Travolta in the life-changing role of philosophical hit man, Vincent Vega, in Pulp Fiction(1994), working side-by-side with fellow hit man, Jules Winnfield, played by Samuel L. Jackson. This was another defining role for Travolta as he was once again nomination for a Best Actor Oscar and Golden Globe. Once again, doors opened wide for the veteran actor, leading to his Golden Globe winning role as Chili Palmer in Get Shorty (1995) and box-office hits Broken Arrow (1996), Phenomenon (1996), Michael (1996), Face/Off (1997), Primary Colors (1998) A Civil Action (1998) and The General’s Daughter (1999). He has had a few hits since the 1990s, but has also suffered through a few box-office flops like Battlefield Earth(2000), based on the philosophy of L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Church of Scientology. He was nominated for a Golden Globe for his role in Hairspray(2008), playing the heavy-set mother of an aspiring, yet overweight teenage actress.

John Travolta converted to Scientology in 1975 and has since become one of the faces of the controversial religion along with fellow actor Tom Cruise. He is an accomplished pilot who has flown several humanitarian missions which includes delivering food and medical supplies to New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and then again to Haiti in 2008 following the devastating earthquake that rocked the country. In 1991, he married actress Kelly Preston and they have had three children. In 2009, tragedy struck the Travolta-Preston family when eldest son Jett died from a seizure in the Bahamas during the family’s Christmas vacation. The couple has since founded the Jett Travolta Foundation, which helps assists children with educational needs.