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John Travolta and Olivia Newton’s friendship
The Saturday Night Fever actor added at the time that his friend and former costar was doing “great” amid her third battle with breast cancer.
“She looks fantastic! I’m so proud of her,” he said. “I mean, have you ever seen anyone look like that?”
Newton-John was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992. After undergoing a partial mastectomy and reconstruction surgery, she learned her cancer had returned in 2013 and 2018. The actress’ husband, John Easterling, confirmed on August 8, 2022, that the Oscar nominee had died.
“We ask that everyone please respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time. Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer,” a statement read. “Her healing inspiration and pioneering experience with plant medicine continues with the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, dedicated to researching plant medicine and cancer. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be made in her memory to the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund.”
Travolta was one of the first celebrities to pay tribute to his late friend, writing in part via Instagram: “We will see you down the road and we will all be together again. Yours from the first moment I saw you and forever! Your Danny, your John!”
Scroll through for more on Newton-John and Travolta’s friendship:
1 of 9
1978
Grease became the highest-grossing musical ever after it hit theaters.
2 of 9
1983
The duo’s second film together, Two of a Kind, was a fantasy crime film in which Travolta played a failed inventor who robs a bank that Newton-John works at.
3 of 9
2012
The costars reunited for a Christmas-themed music video titled “I Think You Might Like It.”
“We’re driving in a ’55 T-Bird and we’re dressed kind of like we were then. … at the end of the video we are going off in the car like we did in Grease,” she told Extra about the shoot at the time.
4 of 9
201
Travolta praised his friend’s resilience amid her health battle.
“Amazing. Technically seems impossible,” he told Us. “And she’s pulling it off like I’ve never seen anybody [do].”
5 of 9
2019
Newton-John and Travolta got dressed up as their characters for a Meet N’ Grease sing-along event in December 2019.
“It was one of the highlights of our lives to see the joy of people’s unrequited love happening from 40 years of people waiting to be with us,” Travolta told Us in January 2020 of the event. “For whatever reason, like, the bald head suits me, so does that ’50s getup. So either I’m gonna go bald or wear a Danny ’50s hairdo. It suits my appearance.”
He added: “I think we love each other and when you love someone you stay in touch.”
6 of 9
2020
Newton-John supported Travolta when his wife, Kelly Preston, died following her own battle with cancer.
“We are in contact, and I send my love and support as often as I can,” she told Entertainment Tonight after Preston died in July 2020. “She was a very beautiful person, inside and out, and was beautiful to look at. But she had a gentle spirit and I just feel so, so much for John and the children. It’s hard to put into words.”
7 of 9
2021
“I was nervous of course,” she told Us of her first kissing scene with Travolta. “I remember just before that we were sitting on a rock and it’s actually in the movie that these waves broke over us. These rogue waves came in. And I can’t remember if that was before or after that because my hair was perfect. So maybe it was after that. But it was a very special day and it was really a nice way to get to know John a little bit because we hadn’t spent all that much time together. We had some rehearsal time and dance time and stuff, but this was our first acting day. It was lovely. It was special. And I can’t remember exactly everything ‘cause it’s over 40 years ago.”
8 of 9
2022
“My dearest Olivia, you made all of our lives so much better. Your impact was “incredible. I love you so much,” Travolta’s tribute after Newton-John’s death read. “We will see you down the road and we will all be together again. Yours from the first moment I saw you and forever! Your Danny, your John!”
9 of 9
September 2022
“Happy Birthday my Olivia,” the actor wrote alongside a Grease throwback on what would’ve been Newton John’s 74th birthday.
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