Behind the cameras: John Travolta’s 70 years of drama, tragedy and revelations

A life of successes and memorable roles. John Travolta’s 70th birthday this Sunday, the 18th, symbolizes an exceptional journey through the lights of fame and global recognition.

Throughout his career, Travolta has faced ups and downs, both personally and professionally. These experiences have shaped her trajectory in unique ways, contributing to the conundrum surrounding her public figure.

For your birthday, Estadao tells some lesser-known stories of John Travolta. From controversies to defining moments, these narratives illuminate how his career and contributions to popular culture were defined. The journey behind the myth reveals the man behind the icon, illuminating the nuances that make up Travolta’s legend and his eternal impact on the collective imagination.

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Family tragedies and personal overcomings

Over the years, John Travolta’s life has been marked by moments of profound sadness and loss, charting a path full of personal challenges that transcend his successful film career. His first major loss was to Diana Hyland in 1977, his girlfriend and co-star The boy in the domedied of breast cancer.

Years later, Travolta would have to deal with the pain of losing a son. In 2009, her eldest son, Jett, tragically died after an attack during a family trip to the Bahamas. Jett, who faced health problems from an early age, including Kawasaki syndrome and conditions associated with the autism spectrum, was just 16 years old.

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“Jett was the most wonderful son any parent could ask for and brightened the life of everyone he met,” John Travolta and Kelly Preston (along with daughter Ella Bleu, then 8) said in a note on their website two days later the death of the boy. “We are devastated that our time with him was so short. We will treasure the time we spent with him for the rest of our lives.”

In addition to Jett and Ella, now 23, Travolta and Kelly are parents to their youngest, 13-year-old Benjamin. To People, Travolta described Benjamin as a “miracle” who brought a new spirit and purpose to the family.

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In 2020, Travolta and his family suffered another significant loss with the death of Kelly Preston, his wife of nearly three decades. Preston, who battled breast cancer for two years, was a beloved and respected figure, both in her private life and in her acting career.

Added to these family losses is the death of two dear friends and collaborators of Travolta: Kirstie Alley and Olivia Newton-John. Alley, who starred alongside Travolta in Look who’s talking, who died in 2022, also from cancer. Olivia Newton-John, Travolta’s unforgettable partner in Grasso: In the times of Brilhantinashe also lost her battle with breast cancer in 2022. Both deaths left Travolta and fans around the world in mourning, remembering the iconic collaborations and deep friendship they shared.

Different interests and talents

In addition to his recognized success as an actor, John Travolta is an avid aviator and licensed pilot. Second Daily email, his aviation journey began at age 15, with Travolta earning his pilot’s license at age 22. His dedication to flying is evident in the impressive collection of aircraft he owns, including models such as the Boeing 707 and the Bombardier Challenger 601, and in the fact that he has been an ambassador for the airline Qantas since 2002.

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This passion, however, did not come without danger. In 1992, Travolta faced a near-death experience while flying with his family from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Rockland, Maine. A total electrical failure on the corporate jet he was piloting left the plane without instruments, putting the lives of everyone on board at risk.

Travolta described this terrifying moment as a direct confrontation with the possibility of death. However, she managed to make a safe emergency landing, an experience that would later inspire his involvement in the film. The pastor.

Curiosities behind the scenes

Throughout his stellar career, John Travolta immersed himself in a wide range of roles that not only defined eras but also enriched the tapestry of cinema. From the beginning, with the participation of him in Carrie (1976), Travolta already showed a keen interest in working with visionary directors such as Brian De Palma, predicting that the project “would be interesting and attract a lot of attention”.

Global recognition has arrived Grasso: In the times of Brilhantina (1978), where Travolta not only solidified his image as a pop icon, but also embraced the sex symbol label with a mixture of appreciation and detachment. “I like to be seen as a sex symbol, but I can’t take it too seriously,” she told the BBC.

#OTD 1978: John Travolta appeared on Nationwide to talk about his early career, being a sex symbol and his infamous Saturday Night Fever walk. pic.twitter.com/YRs0vvNR5h

— BBC Archive (@BBCArchive) March 22, 2022

Collaboration with Quentin Tarantino on Pulp Fiction – Time for violence (1994) marked another high point in his career, demonstrating his capacity for reinvention. Travolta said her decision to participate in the film was influenced by a meeting with Tarantino, where the director’s vision and innovative script spoke directly to her artistic sensibilities. This first meeting proved crucial, also for the opportunity to work with an emerging director after his success Rent dogs (1992), but also for the creative alignment between actor and director.

Travolta recalls that Tarantino presented him with two ideas during their meeting: a vampire project, which he would later become A drink in hell (1996) e pulp Fiction. Travolta’s response was characterized by a characteristic frankness, for which he expressed his preference pulp Fictiondirectly telling Tarantino, “Well, it’s simple, Quentin. I’m just not a vampire,” he said, according to the Vanity Fair.

Admitting his initial expectations, Travolta did not foresee the resounding success the film would achieve. He imagined that the film would follow a similar path to that of Rent dogs, attracting a more niche audience and arthouse cinema lovers. The surprise came when pulp Fiction not only did it capture the attention of mainstream audiences, but it also established itself as a cultural phenomenon, defying Travolta’s expectations and redefining the conventions of modern cinema.

In Hairspray – In search of fame (2007), John Travolta’s transformation into Edna Turnblad not only challenged the actor with an unusual role, but also presented him with physical challenges, such as dancing in high heels. Travolta shared insights into this experience, highlighting the process of adapting to dancing shoes. He recalled the insistence on changing the thin heels originally proposed for more dance-friendly shoes that offered better support and more comfort for the performance.

Additionally, Travolta addressed public perception regarding the nature of his character in the film. At the time, the actor faced criticism from gay rights activists who called for a boycott of his new film, in which he reprises his role as Edna Turnblad, originally played by Divine in John Waters’ 1988 comedy. Washington Lamaargued that Travolta, due to his belief in Scientology – often seen as homophobic – “had no right” to play an iconic gay role.

However, Travolta defended his role and his faith in a newspaper interview The Guardian. “There is nothing gay in this film. I don’t play a gay man. Scientology is not homophobic in any way. In fact, it is one of the most tolerant religions. Everyone is accepted,” she said.

Source: Terra