John Travolta is a certified triple-threat: He can act, sing, and dance.
As he told NPR’sTerry Grossin 2003, he found “a joy in acting.”
But before Travolta became Hollywood royalty, he was just a kid from New Jersey with a dream.
As a child, he also got quite a bit of practice for his future career.
His very first was an Off-Broadway show called “Rain,” in 1972.
He played the supporting role of Doody in those early days.
In a video forYahoo!
He made his official Broadway debut in “Over Here!”
in 1974.Concord Theatricalsshows that Travolta was a member of the original cast of the show.
Travolta played Vinnie Barbarino, a troublemaking high school student.
“I remember feeling like I had a whole new career,” Travolta toldYahoo!
“I loved my time on ‘Kotter.'”
Luckily, he took the role anyway, and starred in the show for four years.
He was already a rising superstar when “Grease” premiered.
Themovie grossedover $394 million, and is still one of the highest-grossing musicals of all time.
While he’s a celebrated actor, he’s also definitely found success in the music industry.
1 hit, and we still hear it getting radio play, even all these years later.
Some of us still listen to the radio.)
But Travolta actually released a single in 1976, well before he became Danny Zuko.
10 (although Stereogum didn’t give it a very good review).
According toABC News, Travolta joined the Church of Scientology in 1975.
Travolta’s spoken out numerous times about his faith helping him through tough times.
He went on to note that Scientology had helped him through many of the hardest moments in his life.
He’s sort of the last movie star in a lot of ways."
And to think he might have believed he’d peaked in the ’70s!
Travolta answered in the affirmative, but only if said friends didn’t already have planes of their own.
Simple Flyingreports that Travolta owns seven jets, along with other, smaller types of planes.
And where does the actor-slash-flight enthusiast keep his collection?
Years later, the love was still going strong.
I love you forever and completely."
Travolta played Edna Turnblad, mother to main character Tracy Turnblad.
He explained to The New York Times, “Playing a woman attracted me.
Playing a drag queen did not.
I didn’t want any winking or camping …
It had to be something I could go all the way with, disappear in.”
Seems like he succeeded in his goal of disappearing into the character!
“It’s the worst thing that’s ever happened in my life,” Travoltasaid.
“The truth is, I didn’t know if I was going to make it.”
Jett had a history of seizures, and had also been diagnosed with autism and Kawasaki syndrome.
Travolta honors his oldest son each year on his birthday.
I love you."
Travolta credits his faith in the Church of Scientology with helping him deal with his grief.
“The church never left our sides,” he told Us Weekly.
“I don’t know if I would have made it through without their support.”
In addition, their daughter, Ella Bleu,decided to follow in her famous parents’ footsteps.
She appeared alongside her momanddad in 2009’s"Old Dogs"when she was a kid.
“It helped so much having my dad there,” she toldPeople.
“It was so comforting and he’s the best mentor ever.”
“I said, ‘Well it’s a very different thing.’
“I realized that it’s about viewpoint in life,” he said.
“That’s what allows you to settle down about something” (viaSurvivorNet).
But before that, Travolta was no stranger to controversy.
But Travolta himself was accused of sexual battery and sued by two men in 2012, perCNN.
Travolta’s legal team rejected the claims.
Travolta spoke about the allegations with theDaily Beast, noting, “This is every celebrity’s Achilles heel.
It’s just about people wanting money.
It happens on many levels.
I let all the media stuff go a long time ago because I can’t control it.”
But not everything has changed.
Travolta also continues to play perhaps his most important role: that of supportive dad.
John Travolta having a musical daughter?
Somehow, we’re not surprised.
