John Travolta.

John Joseph Travolta

John Travolta — Actor

Born 18 Feb 1954 Englewood, United States

Citizenship United States

Age 72 yr Today

16 min read

Reading time

3,173

Words

Jun 20, 2026

Published

165

Film credits

3

Books

6

Awards

TL;DR

John Travolta, born February 18, 1954 in Englewood, New Jersey, gained fame as Vinnie Barbarino on Welcome Back, Kotter in 1975. He received his first Oscar nomination for Saturday Night Fever in 1977 and starred in Grease in 1978. After a slump, his career rebounded with Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction in 1994. He won a Golden Globe for Get Shorty in 1995. Travolta has multiple jet pilot licenses and was Qantas Airways Ambassador-at-Large.

Identity & family.

KIN · 8

Names, aliases, and relatives of John Travolta — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Birth Name John Joseph Travolta

PARENTS: Helen Cecilia Travolta Salvatore Travolta
SPOUSES: Kelly Preston
CHILDREN: Ella Bleu Travolta Jett Travolta
SIBLINGS: Joey Travolta Ellen Travolta Margaret Travolta

At a glance.

STATS

John Travolta by the numbers — life, work, and family.

72 Age

165 Film credits

3 Books

6 Awards

1 Marriage

2 Children

Who is John Travolta?

BIOGRAPHY

John Travolta — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

John Joseph Travolta was the youngest of six children born to Helen Cecilia Travolta and Salvatore Travolta in Englewood, New Jersey. His father owned a tire repair shop called Travolta Tires, and his mother, an actress and dancer, enrolled him in a drama school in New York at a young age. He studied voice, dancing, and acting, and decided to become a musical comedy performer. At 16, he landed his first professional job in a summer stock production of Bye Bye Birdie and quit school to move to New York, where he worked steadily in summer stock and television commercials.

Career

Travolta’s breakout came in 1975 when he was cast as Vinnie Barbarino on the sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter. He soon transitioned to film, starring in Brian De Palma’s Carrie in 1976. His role as Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever 1977 earned him an Academy Award nomination and launched the disco craze. The following year, he starred in the musical Grease 1978, which became one of the highest-grossing films of the decade. After a series of hits including Urban Cowboy 1980, his career waned until Quentin Tarantino cast him as Vincent Vega in Pulp Fiction 1994, earning him another Oscar nomination and a BAFTA nomination. He won a Golden Globe for Get Shorty 1995 and earned further acclaim for Primary Colors 1998, Hairspray 2007, and The Taking of Pelham 123 2009. Travolta also voiced the lead in Disney’s animated Bolt 2008, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

Personal life

Travolta met actress Diana Hyland while filming The Boy in the Plastic Bubble 1976; she was 18 years his senior. Hyland died of breast cancer in 1977 at age 41, in his arms. He married Kelly Preston in 1991 in a ceremony later declared illegal; they remarried legally later that year. The couple had three children: son Jett born 1992, daughter Ella Bleu born 2000, and son Benjamin born 2010. Jett died in 2009 at age 16 following a seizure at the family’s Bahamas home. Kelly Preston died of breast cancer in 2020. Travolta owns homes in California, Florida, Maine, and Hawaii, and is an accomplished pilot with 11 jet licenses.

Legacy

John Travolta defined an era with his performances in Saturday Night Fever and Grease, influencing fashion and music in the late 1970s. His career comeback with Pulp Fiction earned him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a Golden Globe, and a Donostia Award. Four of his films — Carrie, Saturday Night Fever, Grease, and Pulp Fiction — have been selected for the National Film Registry. Beyond acting, he is a Qantas Airways Ambassador-at-Large and received the Living Legends Ambassador of Aviation Award in 2007. He is best remembered for his dance in Saturday Night Fever and his role as Vincent Vega in Pulp Fiction.

Filmography.

FILMS · 165

Browse the complete filmography of John Travolta — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.

TV

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

2015
TV

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962
TV

Saturday Night Live

1975
TV

Top of the Pops

1964
Movie

Pulp Fiction

1994
TV

The Mike Douglas Show

1961
TV

Golden Globe Awards

1944
TV

Great Performances

1971
TV

Emergency!

1972
TV

America's Got Talent

2006
TV

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

2003
TV

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

2003
TV

El Hormiguero

2006
TV

LIVE with Kelly and Mark

1988

Could not load more credits.

Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 6

Every award, honor, and recognition received by John Travolta — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

Donostia Award
IAS Freedom Medal
star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
David di Donatello for Best Foreign Actor
New Jersey Hall of Fame

Bibliography.

BOOKS · 3

John Travolta's bibliography — every authored, edited, and co-written book, ranked by edition count.

Amazon

Bolt

by John Powell et al.
Amazon

Grease Is Still the Word

by Olivia Newton-John et al.
Amazon

Propeller One-way Night Coach

by John Travolta

Notable quotes.

QUOTES · 14

A wall of memorable lines from John Travolta — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.

I Have Fame on the Level of a Marilyn Monroe or an Elvis Presley, but Part of the Reason I Didn’t Go the Way They Did Was Because of My Beliefs. People Make Judgments About Scientology, but Often They Don’t Know What They’re Talking About.
When They Asked Me to Be Edna Turnblad I Said, Gee, 32 Years as a Leading Man Why Me? What Makes You Think I’d Be the Perfect Woman?.
As You Get Older, You Have to Force Yourself to Have New Dreams. for Instance, I’ve Been Flying for 37 Years but Now Teaching Others to Fly Is Interesting for Me. Sometimes, You Have to Find New Angles on Life to Keep You Interested, Like Sharing Successes and Inspiring and Helping Others. You Have to Go Out of Your Way to Activate Your Dreams and Keep Them Going in This Third Chapter of Your Life.
My Best Quality? the Transparency in My Eyes. I Only Have to Think a Thought and It’s Seen.
I Don’t Think I’m Very Cool as a Person. I’m Just Better Than Anyone Else at Acting Cool.
One’s Own Life Is Not as Colourful as a Character That’s Created in a Movie Because They Go Through a Million Colours in a Short Period of Time. in One’s Own Life, It May Take Four Years to Go Through Those Colours.
My Mother Was an Acting Teacher. She Taught More of the Existentialist Style, Which Was That Acting Is Believing That You’re in the Moment with the Other Actor, and I Like That. I’m More Comfortable Portraying What I’m Feeling at the Moment and Not Knowing What I’m Going to Do Next.
The Role in the Hanks Film Called Splash Was Written for Me. but Then We Wouldn’t Have Tom Hanks, so Let’s Have Tom Hanks.
Green Mile, I Probably Should Have Said Yes To, and an Officer and a Gentleman. but I Gave Richard Gere and Tom Hanks a Career! What You Turn Down Can Be a Gift to Someone Else. There Is Enough to Go Around.
I Don’t Want to Create Controversy; I Just Have an Opinion on Things, and There Is Nothing Wrong with Stating Your Opinion If You Are Asked. Everyone Wants That Right, and Because You Are Famous Doesn’t Mean You Have Less of a Right.
I Love Fun Movies That Also Have Something to Say. They Tend to Stay with Me, Always.
Sports, Entertainment and Aviation Are Three of the Most Exciting Professions in the World; You Are Dealing with the Same Magnitude.
Scientology Is One of the Least Homophobic Religions. It’s Not Very Interested in the Body at All.
I Have to Believe There’s Some Other Life Force Out There. I Don’t Know in What Form. but We Can’t Have All These Galaxies and Universes Without Something Going On.

Did you know?

FACTS · 49

Little-known facts about John Travolta — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

He spent nine months learning disco dance moves for Saturday Night Fever in 1977.
Travolta turned down leading roles in Splash, Apollo 13, and Forrest Gump, all of which went to Tom Hanks.
Princess Diana asked him to dance at a White House party in 1985.
He speaks French fluently.
While filming The Boy in the Plastic Bubble in 1976, he fell in love with Diana Hyland, who died of breast cancer in his arms in 1977. His wife Kelly Preston also died of breast cancer in 2020.
Michael Madsen’s unavailability for Pulp Fiction led to Travolta being cast as Vincent Vega, reviving his career after a slump.
His favorite director to work with was Sylvester Stallone, for Staying Alive in 1983.
He married Kelly Preston twice; the first ceremony in 1991 was declared illegal, so they remarried later that year.
Travolta’s 16-year-old son Jett died after a seizure at the family’s Bahamas retreat on January 2, 2009.
Despite being of Italian descent on his father’s side, he grew up immersed in his mother’s Irish culture.
He owns homes in Santa Barbara, California; Ocala, Florida; Maine; and Hawaii. His main residence in Ocala has an airstrip for his planes.
He owns a Boeing 707-138 originally built for Qantas and has flown it on goodwill tours. He trained as a 747-400 first officer.
For his 60th birthday in 2014, a special singalong of Grease was held at the Million Dollar Theater in Los Angeles with video tributes from Olivia Newton-John.
During filming of Blow Out in 1981, he suffered insomnia and learned to play the violin to calm his nerves.
He owns a 20-room château on an island in Maine’s Penobscot Bay that can accommodate up to 50 guests.
He lost 20 pounds for his role in Saturday Night Fever.
He appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone four times, the most for any actor through 1994.
He frequently eats at Denny’s in the middle of the night, a habit he maintained during Lucky Numbers in 2000.
He once landed a Gulfstream IIB at Washington National Airport with complete electrical failure under night, IMC, icing conditions.
Richard Gere owes much of his film career to Travolta, who turned down Days of Heaven, American Gigolo, An Officer and a Gentleman, and Chicago.
He opted to go to American Airlines jet pilot school instead of accepting the lead in An Officer and a Gentleman.
He did yoga and boxing to lose his love handles for Swordfish in 2001.
He was the youngest of six children and was nicknamed Bone because he was long and lean.
He was considered for the role of Lester Burnham in American Beauty, but Kevin Spacey was cast instead.
At the 2014 Academy Awards, he introduced Idina Menzel as Adele Dazeem, later apologizing with flowers.
His performance as Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever was ranked number 73 on Premiere magazine’s 100 Greatest Performances of All Time in 2006.
He was named one of the Most Valuable Actors of All Time, with films grossing a total of $4.3 billion.
In April 2007, he made an emergency landing in his Boeing 707 at Shannon Airport due to engine problems, then continued on a commercial flight.
Four of his films — Carrie, Saturday Night Fever, Grease, and Pulp Fiction — have been selected for the National Film Registry.
He drew inspiration from James Cagney, Al Pacino, and Robert De Niro.
Nearly every film he appears in includes a dance scene.
He turned down the lead in Forrest Gump, a decision he later admitted was a mistake.
He served as Master of Ceremonies at the Centennial of Flight Celebration in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina in December 2003.
He read for the Tom Hanks role in Splash but was discouraged by his agent from doing the film.
Ten of his films have grossed over $100 million in the US, including Grease, Saturday Night Fever, Pulp Fiction, and Face/Off.
He owns a home in Ocala, Florida, because of his wife Kelly Preston’s love of horses.
Michael Jackson’s song Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ was originally written for Travolta.
His third child, son Benjamin, was born on November 23, 2010.
He was offered the role of Melvin Udall in As Good as It Gets, which went to Jack Nicholson.
On Saturday Night Live in 1994, he parodied his Welcome Back, Kotter character Vinnie Barbarino.
He was set to star in The Double directed by Roman Polanski in 1996, but the film collapsed after a script dispute.
He was a guest at Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes’ wedding in Italy.
After starting on TV, his film career took off with Saturday Night Fever and Grease, which adjusted for inflation remain his highest-grossing films.
Three of his films appear in Empire magazine’s 150 Greatest Movies of All Time: Blow Out 139, Carrie 86, and Pulp Fiction 9.
He turned down repeated offers to play Billy Flynn in Chicago, a role that won Richard Gere a Golden Globe.
He was told to gain 30 pounds for his role in Primary Colors.
His characters reference Al Pacino films in Saturday Night Fever, Get Shorty, and Swordfish.
He and Kelly Preston had a son, Jett Travolta, from January 13, 1992 to January 2, 2009.
He presented the Oscar for Best Actor at the 55th Academy Awards in 1983 to Ben Kingsley for Gandhi.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 43

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about John Travolta.

When was John Travolta born?

John Travolta was born on February 18, 1954. He was the youngest of six children born to Helen and Salvatore Travolta in Englewood, New Jersey.
Where was John Travolta born?

He was born in Englewood, New Jersey, USA. His father owned a tire repair shop and his mother was an actress and dancer.
How old is John Travolta?

As of 2025, John Travolta is 71 years old. He was born on February 18, 1954.
What is John Travolta's real name?

His full birth name is John Joseph Travolta. He was named after his father Salvatore’s Italian and Irish heritage.
What does John Travolta do for a living?

John Travolta is an actor, producer, and writer. He is best known for his film roles in Saturday Night Fever, Grease, and Pulp Fiction.
What nationality is John Travolta?

John Travolta is an American. He holds United States citizenship and was born in Englewood, New Jersey.
What languages does John Travolta speak?

His native language is English. He also speaks French fluently.
Who are John Travolta's parents?

His parents are Helen Cecilia Travolta, an actress and dancer, and Salvatore Travolta, a tire shop owner. His father was of Italian descent and his mother was of Irish ancestry.
Who is John Travolta married to?

John Travolta was married to actress Kelly Preston from 1991 until her death in 2020. They had three children together: Jett, Ella Bleu, and Benjamin.
Does John Travolta have children?

Yes, he has three children: son Jett Travolta 1992-2009, daughter Ella Bleu Travolta born 2000, and son Benjamin Travolta born 2010. Jett died from a seizure in 2009.
Does John Travolta have any siblings?

Yes, he has five siblings: brothers Joey Travolta and Sam Travolta, and sisters Ellen Travolta, Ann Travolta, and Margaret Travolta. He is the youngest of six.
Where did John Travolta go to school?

He attended Dwight Morrow High School in Englewood, New Jersey. He left school at age 16 to pursue acting.
What awards has John Travolta won?

He has won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for Get Shorty, a Donostia Award, an IAS Freedom Medal, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a David di Donatello for Best Foreign Actor, and is a member of the New Jersey Hall of Fame.
How many awards has John Travolta won?

He has won six major awards including a Golden Globe and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He has also received numerous other honors throughout his career.
What is John Travolta best known for?

He is best known for his iconic roles in Saturday Night Fever 1977, Grease 1978, and Pulp Fiction 1994. He also played Vinnie Barbarino on the TV series Welcome Back, Kotter.
What is John Travolta's Instagram?

His Instagram handle is @johntravolta. He frequently posts about his family, films, and aviation.
How tall is John Travolta?

John Travolta is 6 feet 2 inches tall, or 1.88 meters. His height has been an asset in his roles, especially in dance scenes.
Is John Travolta married?

He was married to actress Kelly Preston from September 12, 1991 until her death on July 12, 2020. They were married twice due to a legal issue with the first ceremony.
Does John Travolta have siblings?

Yes, he has five siblings: Ellen Travolta, Ann Travolta, Joey Travolta, Margaret Travolta, and Sam Travolta. He is the youngest child.
How many award nominations has John Travolta received?

He has received 117 award nominations throughout his career, including two Academy Award nominations and six Golden Globe nominations.
What is John Travolta's height?

John Travolta stands 6 feet 2 inches tall, which is about 1.88 meters. His height is often mentioned in his film and television appearances.
What role did John Travolta play in Pulp Fiction?

He played Vincent Vega, a philosophical hitman, in Quentin Tarantino’s 1994 film Pulp Fiction. The role earned him an Academy Award nomination and revived his career.
Did John Travolta turn down Forrest Gump?

Yes, he turned down the leading role in Forrest Gump 1994, which later went to Tom Hanks. He has admitted this was a mistake.
What pilot licenses does John Travolta hold?

He holds 11 jet licenses, including for the Boeing 747, 707, Gulfstream II, Lear 24, and Eclipse Jet. He is qualified as a first officer on the 747-400.
How did John Travolta meet Kelly Preston?

He met Kelly Preston while filming the movie The Experts in 1989. They married in 1991 and were together until her death in 2020.
What is the Jett Travolta Foundation?

The Jett Travolta Foundation was established by John and his late wife Kelly Preston to raise money for children with educational needs. It is named after their son Jett.
What happened at the 2014 Oscars with Idina Menzel?

While introducing Idina Menzel, John Travolta mispronounced her name as Adele Dazeem. He later apologized and sent her a bouquet of flowers.
What is John Travolta's connection to Qantas?

He is the Qantas Airways Global Goodwill Ambassador-at-Large. He piloted the original Qantas 707 on a Spirit of Friendship tour in 2002 and was trained as a 747-400 first officer.
How many films of John Travolta are in the National Film Registry?

Four of his films have been selected: Carrie 1976, Saturday Night Fever 1977, Grease 1978, and Pulp Fiction 1994.
Did John Travolta serve in the military?

No, there is no record of John Travolta serving in the military. He pursued acting from a young age.
What is John Travolta's net worth?

His net worth is not specified in the source, but he has earned substantial income from his film career and aviation ventures. Ten of his films have grossed over $100 million in the US.
What is John Travolta's favorite movie of his own?

According to the source, he stated that his favorite director to work with was Sylvester Stallone for Staying Alive 1983, but no specific favorite movie is mentioned.
What is John Travolta's most famous dance?

His most famous dance is the disco routine from Saturday Night Fever 1977, which he spent nine months learning. The film launched the disco craze.
How did John Travolta's son Jett die?

Jett Travolta died on January 2, 2009 at age 16 from a seizure at the family’s Bahamas holiday retreat. He was found by a caretaker.
Does John Travolta own a private jet?

Yes, he owns a Boeing 707-138 registered as N707JT, originally built for Qantas. He also owns Gulfstream jets, a Learjet, and other aircraft.
What is John Travolta's educational background?

He attended Dwight Morrow High School but left at age 16 to pursue acting. He later studied voice, dancing, and acting at a drama school in New York.
What was John Travolta's first professional acting job?

His first professional job was at age 16 in a summer stock production of the musical Bye Bye Birdie. He then moved to New York and worked in summer stock and commercials.
How many Golden Globe nominations has John Travolta received?

He has received six Golden Globe nominations. He won one for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy for Get Shorty in 1995.
Did John Travolta win an Oscar?

No, but he has been nominated twice: for Best Actor for Saturday Night Fever 1977 and Pulp Fiction 1994.
What is John Travolta's role in Hairspray?

He played Edna Turnblad in the 2007 film Hairspray. The role earned him his sixth Golden Globe nomination and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Chicago Film Festival and Santa Barbara Film Festival.
What is the name of John Travolta's daughter?

His daughter is Ella Bleu Travolta, born on April 3, 2000. She has appeared in films like Old Dogs with her father.
What is John Travolta's religious affiliation?

The source does not mention his religious affiliation, but he has been associated with the Church of Scientology in popular culture. However, this is not confirmed in the provided source.
What charity work does John Travolta do?

He and his late wife Kelly Preston founded the Jett Travolta Foundation, which supports children with educational needs. He also flew supplies to disaster zones like New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and Haiti after the 2010 earthquake.

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Audited & updated by

Emma has 8 years of editorial experience and a very clear idea of what a good biography looks like. At Famousy, she runs the editorial operation and decides what meets the bar and what doesn't. She's the kind of editor who remembers the profiles she pushed back on more clearly than the ones she approved. That's not a complaint. That's exactly why the site reads the way it does.

Published on June 20, 2026

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