Travolta was married to the lateKelly Prestonfrom 1991 until her death from breast cancer in July of 2020. The actor first shot to fame in the 1950s detective series "77 Sunset Strip," where he played the comb-obsessed nightclub valet, Kookie, decades before Fonzie of "Happy Days" incessantly combed his own signature ducktail. She's stayed out of the spotlight since; her last role was in 1984. Jamie, now 75, played the dorky one of Pink Ladies. "She delivers and she defines Hollywood beauty You can't begrudge them their success. He followed his time on the Great White Way with guest star turns on a number of television shows before joining the cast of the Greasefilm and becoming a series regular on the sitcomTaxi. Conn and Shire also have a 30-year-old adopted son, Daniel Shire, who was diagnosed with autism when he was two. He was married to Olivia Newton Johns older sister, Rona Newton-John, for five years. Get a daily dose of showbiz gossip direct to your inbox. An obituary posted by The Orlando Sentinelrevealed that Arden had also been diagnosed with cancer prior to her death. He is deemed not competent to stand trial for mental health reasons. Offers may be subject to change without notice. In"Grease," she lent a sympathetic ear to a beauty school dropout (played by Didi Conn), who was her co-worker at the Frosty Palace malt shop, and in an interview with The Spokesman Review, Ellen Travolta who played a fellow Frosty Palace waitress in the film said it was "a lot of fun" working with Hollywood legends such as Blondell and Sid Caesar in "Grease.". 'My Cousin Vinny' Cast: Where Are They Now? It became the highest-grossing film of all time. At the end of the movie, he starts dating Paulettes little sister, Dolores. She wassurrounded by her family and friends, according to her husband, who announced her passing on her Facebook page., Easterling did not confirm the cause of her death. The younger Byrnes, thankfully, became sober before hitting age 50 and would go on to live for decades after finding sobriety. Tragically Jeff, who played bad boy Kenickie died at age 60, in 2011, from pneumonia after years battling addiction. In 2012, Travolta reunited with Olivia Newton-John for their holiday albumThis Christmas, and, in 2016, he received his first Emmy nomination for his portrayal of Robert Shapiro in FX'sThe People v. O.J. He went on to have various roles on TV and film over the next decade. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. On May 11, 2011, Conaway was found unconscious and taken to an Encino, California hospital. WebDied April 20, 1994(1994-04-20)(aged 46) Los Angeles, California, U.S. Conn has been married to composer David Shire since 1984. Are Any of the Main Actors From The Ten Commandments Movie Still Alive? Before he donned Danny Zuko's leather jacket, John Travolta was already a bona fide star thanks to his roles as Vinnie Barbarino on Welcome Back, Kotter, Billy Nolan inCarrie (1976), and Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever(1977) for which he received his first Academy Award nomination. After her son David was diagnosed with autism at an early age, she has become an outspoken advocate for autism awareness, and, in 2008, she was named the National Celebrity Spokesperson for Autism Speaks. On Nov. 12, 1990, she died from heart disease. Occupation(s) Actor, dancer Years active 19771993 Dennis Cleveland Stewart(July 29, 1947 April 20, 1994) We are no longer accepting comments on this article. She has two children with her husband, television writer and producer David E. Kelley, and returned to the small screen in 2022 as Betty Ford on Showtime's The First Lady. Travolta has also suffered two agonising tragedies. She underwenta mastectomy and nine months of chemotherapy before going into remission., Newton-John andLattanzi amicably divorced in 1995, and she went on to marry her second husband,businessman John Easterling, more than a decade later in 2008.. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group, Fans of Grease are mourning the loss of the 1978 musical's lead, The actress has been remembered in a series of heartfelt tributes from her former costars and friends after her husband,John Easterling, shared the news of her death on, Newton-Johnwas best known as a singer and already had three Grammys under her belt when she took on the role of sweet and innocent Sandy Olsson in Grease. "I think I'm an original Grease fan, but Grease 2 is camp and there's no hate there," Madison Thompson (Susan) added. The character was the leader of the T-Birds rival gang called the Scorpions. Olivia Newton-John, who shot to superstardom in the 70s and remain a global icon for decades after, passed away on August 8 at the age of 73. Character actress Eve Arden (born Eunice Quedens) famously starred in the 1940s and 1950s radio and TV comedy, "Our Miss Brooks," as English teacher Connie Brooks but in "Grease," she took on a different rank in the high school ecosystem when she played Rydell High's Principal McGee. In addition, she was "hopelessly devoted" to philanthropic works, including a stint as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Environment Program. All rights reserved. She won her fourth Grammy for her 1981 hit single Physical. In 2011,Conway passed away at age 60 due to drug-related pneumonia. After tackling the lead role as strong-headed Stephanie The story of high school sweethearts Danny Zuko (John Travolta) and Sandy Olsson (Olivia Newton-John) is a quintessential tale of teenage devotion set against the musical backdrop of the 1950s. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Another famous character actress, Dody Goodman, played Eve Arden's character's sidekick, wacky high school secretary Blanche Hodel in "Grease" and its sequel. The latest sad news to emerge is the death of actor Edd Byrnes, who played Vince Fontaine in the hit movie musical, who has died unexpectedly aged 87. They divorced in 1995, Just days before her death, Newton-John posted a heartwarming photo of herself with her second husband, John Easterling, whom she had been married to since 2008, The couple was married when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992. His biggest role was certainly in Grease, but the star also kept working in TV and film starring in Happy Days and Taxi before appearing in reality shows covering addiction in the years before his death. She continued to work onstage as well, eventually earning a Tony award for Best Actress in a Play for Peter Nichol'sA Day in the Death of Joe Egg,and nominations for her work inThe House of Blue Leaves and Six Degrees of Separation, Four Baboons Adoring the Sun, The Lion in Winter, Pal Joey (for Best Actress in a Musical), and Other Dessert Cities. In the mid 60s, Warren Casey met Jim Jacobs at the Chicago Stage Guild. Starring Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta as Rydell High School sweethearts Sandy Olsson and Danny Zuko, the film grossed $160 million when it was first released in 1978, according to Vanity Fair. He died of Aids-related complications in 1988, aged 53. Dody Goodman, who shared scenes with Arden in the role of Rydell High School secretary Blanche Hodel, died on June 22, 2008, following a long battle with colon cancer. Vanity Fair also noted back in 2016 that in the decade years since the release of "Grease," the film has grossed close to $400 million worldwide. Your Danny, your John!" She reprised her role four years later in Grease 2. Entertainment Weekly may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Teefy hasn't acted much since the late '90s, except for one appearance in 2017's Hollywood Girl: The Peg Entwistle Story. Since her debut, the actress has had a prolific career. WebA few of the Boy Greasers and Girl Greasers in Grease 2 also were dancers in Grease: Andy Tennant as Arnold ( Artie ), John Robert Garrett as Bubba ( R.G. However, Green's passion is working behind the scenes, as he's worked as a production manager on several animation films, including Mulan (1998), Tarzan (1999), The Lego Movie 2 (2019), DC League of Super-Pets (2022) and more. Web5 Actors From Grease (1978) Who have Sadly Died PassedUs 75.9K subscribers Subscribe 34K views 1 year ago #JohnTravolta #Grease Grease is a 1978 American musical In the wake of the star's passing,FEMAIL has taken a look back at everything she and the rest of the Grease cast have accomplished over the last four decades.. She inspired many cancer survivors all over the world by becoming an activist for cancer awareness and launched her own foundation named Newton-John. Travolta married fellow actor Kelly Preston in 1991, and they welcomed three children together:Jett, Ella Bleu, and Benjamin. Goodman died on June 22, 2008 at the Englewood Hospital and Medical Center in New Jersey, following a long illness, according toThe Hollywood Reporter. I think he's an amalgamation of a couple of them," McDonough explained. Sadly, according to the BBC, Conaway's addiction to prescription drugs may have started with "Grease," as a back injury he suffered while filming the movie spawned a lifelong addiction. Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. However, in the years after the film's 1978 release, whispers of a curse began circulating after so many of the cast, crew and production team were struck down by tragedy. His death was later put down to the star's drug use, amid claims his addiction prevented him from seeking help for the pneumonia until it was too late. Her father, Brinley, died of cancer in the summer of that year. Prosecutors brought the charges of assault and disorderly conduct against him. Friends say Olivia cried every day for almost two years. In the years since the movie came out, Travolta has been nominated for two Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. On Jan. 8, 2020, died of natural causes. The lead stars of Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies made an appearance at Deadlines Contenders Television awards-season event to talk about their experiences on the musical.. Marisa Davila, who plays Jane Facciano in the Paramount+ series, said she might have been a little too young to have watched the 1978 film for the first time, but most of "Yes. The campier and the more Michelle Pfeifferier you get, the better." Credit: Everett Collection; Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images, Credit: CBS via Getty Images; Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images, Credit: CBS via Getty Images; Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic, Credit: CBS via Getty Images; Jean-Paul Aussenard/WireImage, Credit: CBS via Getty Images; Bobby Bank/Getty Images, Credit: CBS via Getty Images; Albert L. Ortega/WireImage, Credit: CBS via Getty Images; Tara Ziemba/Getty Images. In 2011, the former actress was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. Closing out a career that spanned six decades, Caesar died on February 12, 2014 at his Beverly Hills home, at the age of 91 (according to Variety), following a thankfully short period of ailing health. She returned to the profession in the late-'90s and has appeared on television in series like Monk,Veep,andRay Donovan, as well as the feature films Cyrus (2010) with Marisa Tomei and Black Mass(2015) withJohnny Depp. She went on to a voice role on the TV series "Alvin and the Chipmunks," among other shows. Allan was struck down by liver cancer and died in June 1999 at the age of 62. She stayed busy for the rest of the '80s, starring in the film version of the play, as well as parts in Ordinary People (1980)and the horror movieChild's Play (1988). 'Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies' Debuts New Music Video for Cover of Frankie Valli's Iconic Song. She has been married to her second husband, David Shire, since 1982. "I'll just give you a quick little thing. She was 81. Multiple cast members from the classic movie have passed away over the past four decades, including one legendary star who died the year after the film was released. She was 73. Dame Olivia Newton-John passed away peacefully at her ranch in Southern California this morning, surrounded by family and friends. Another actor with a smaller part in the movie Alice Ghostley, who played auto shop teacher Mrs. Murdock, died on Sept. 21, 2007. 4 min read. In 2022, Luft and her sister Liza Minnelli developed a Judy Garland fragrance for what would've been their mother's 100th birthday. She was, surrounded by her family and friends, according to her husband, who announced her passing on her Facebook page., Do not sell or share my personal information. Following the success of the film, she went on to have more pop success with songs such as Physical, and has been touring ever since. WebJeffrey Charles William Michael Conaway [1] (October 5, 1950 May 27, 2011) [1] was an American actor. Grease remains one of the most popular films to have come out during the 1970s, propelling its stars to a whole new level of fame. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. The 71-year-old actress is a stepmother to Shire's son, screenwriter Matthew Shire, whom he shares with his ex-wife, Talia Shire.. I think each of us have a character like that in the beginning and then as the season progresses we kind of wiggle into our own versions, which is exciting.". Her music career hit even more heights after the role, winning another Grammy and achieving huge success with her 1981 single Physical., She starred in a number of other films after the release of Grease such asXanadu and Two of a Kind in which she was reunited with Grease co-star John Travolta but never found the same success on the big screen., Newton-John married her first husband, actor and dancerMatt Lattanzi, in December 1984. In addition to playing fan favorite Kenickie in Grease, John Conaway was also known for his role as Bobby Wheeler inTaxiand security officer Zack Allan inBabylon 5. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. After Grease, Barry, now 72, went on to appear in several TV movies and a strong of American TV series, ranging from an arms dealer to "Professor Tinkerputt" in the hit children's show Barney's Imagination Island. Charles was just 63 when she died on August 3, 2011 (via The Hollywood Reporter). 1 on the charts. She has continued to fight the disease and recently told the Mirror that she's full of energy and credits her use of cannabis oil with helping her manage her symptoms. Caulfield has been married to actress Juliet Mills since 1980, and has appeared on shows like Pam & Tommy and American Horror Story. We will cherish the time we had with him for the rest of our lives.. Making a splash: A deep dive into the live-action Little Mermaid with a new generation's Ariel. Doody was the goofy, fun-loving boyfriend of Frenchy. "Yeah. Frenchy's troublemaking boyfriend Doody was portrayed by Barry Pearl, who performed in the first national tour ofGreaseprior to joining the cast of the film. The most He also reprised his role as "Craterface" Balmudo in the 1982 film "Grease 2," and his last acting credit on IMDb is listed in 1991 with a role on the TV series "Parker Lewis Can't Lose." As always you can unsubscribe at any time. I love you so much. Police confirm how Kamil Milczarczyk died after fatal street attack, An inquest has opened into the death of Kamil following an assault in Hull city centre which sparked a murder investigation, Hull City set to receive welcome boost ahead of Middlesbrough trip, The Tigers travel to Teesside looking to extend their five-game unbeaten run, DWP changes Home Warm Discount rules so thousands no longer qualify, The new updated rules will affect those claiming disability benefits, Primary school admissions September 2023: Parents find out where their children have been allocated a place, The biggest majority of parents and carers have received a first-choice school place for their child in Hull and the East Riding, Yorkshire Tea announces new 'interesting' beverage that people are excited to try, The tea company has developed a "cold fizzy drink" for summer sipping, Hessle Road sex shop is the only one allowed in 500m radius as licence renewed, Councillors approved an application for The Private Shop's licence to be extended, Tragedy of pensioner who died just weeks after traumatic break-in, The last few weeks of the elderly victim's life were dominated by worry and upset following the burglary, Cyclist seriously injured in 'hit and run' at Hull crossing, Police are appealing for the driver to come forward, Two boys arrested after devastating ram raid on Cottingham off-licence, The incident happened in the early hours of Saturday and police are continuing their investigations. After appearing in both Grease and Grease 2, Calhoun made occasional appearances such as hosting Saturday Night Live. Grab your T-bird jacket and let's find out. Also, like Didi Conn, Barry returned to the franchise for Grease: Live, this time playing the role of Mr. Stan Weaver. I love Grease 2 so much. The Grease cast now - deaths, addiction, tragedy and just After beating the disease for a second time, she was told in 2017 that the cancerhad metastasized and spread to her bones. She went on to record 15 more studio albums, achieving a career total of 26, and selling over 100 million units worldwide. She was 93 years old at the time of her death. It also put her on top of the charts with songs from the films soundtrack, including her duet with John Travolta, Youre The One That I Want. 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' Cast: Where Are They Now? She also considered the film as a "bad gig" at the time because she was forced to work out in the sun so much while waiting for her turn to shoot scenes. Grease was producer Allans greatest triumph. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." She won her fourth, After beating the disease for a second time, she was told in 2017 that the cancer. In the 1980s, the actor embarked on a healthy lifestyle journey that would ultimately help him live a very long life. Her cause of death was reported as heart disease. However, she was also a Tony-winning stage performer (perBroadway World), who would later go on to a recurring role on 'Designing Women," which scored her an Emmy nod, per Emmys.com. Robin Trocki, who came to "Glee" with no acting experience, played Jean Sylvester in five episodes throughout Seasons 1 and 2. She died of complications in 2011 aged 63 - just three months after her co-star Jeff Conaway. 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