On this day, seventy-four years ago, Olivia Newton-John, who played the lively love interest of fellow Hollywood star, John Travolta, was born.
The “Grease” star, who lived an extraordinary life, would have celebrated her birthday today if she were alive. Sadly, Newton-John passed away last month after more than three decades of fighting cancer.
Her husband, John Easterling, shared the heartbreaking news of her death. The widower uploaded a throwback image of the former onscreen goddess dressed in a white outfit.
As expected, Newton-John, an ever-cheerful soul who never allowed her illness to define her, wore an infectious smile across her face in the photo.
The accompanying message scripted by her husband hinted that she died peacefully on her California Ranch, surrounded by loved ones, including family and friends.
Easterling glorified his wife’s attitude towards life and how cheerful she remained optimistic while trying to impact the world in her way. He wrote:
“Olivia has been a symbol of triumph and hope for over 30 years, sharing her journey with breast cancer. Her healing inspiration and pioneering experience with plant medicine continue with Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, dedicated to researching plant medicine and cancer.”
Additionally, Easterling asked the public to respect the family’s privacy as they grieved. Over fifty thousand fans sent condolences via the comment section, and many agreed the deceased was a rare gem.
This was not far from the truth, as Newton-John contributed immensely to her community. She wore many hats on her head.
Remarkably, apart from being an actress, she was a cancer advocate who funded research, and a singer, with four Grammys to her name.
Newton-John also possessed a charming personality. The actress who starred as the innocent Sandy Olsson, in love with Danny Zuko — Travolta, remained close to her co-star until her death.
Following her death, Travolta, who also stayed true to their friendship, shared a soul-stirring post. It featured a much younger Newton-John, decked in a jeans top, wearing a daring look. Travolta quipped:
“My dearest Olivia, you made our lives so much better. Your impact was incredible. I love you so much. Yours from the first moment I saw you and forever! Your Danny, your John!”
Travolta and Newton-John’s closeness is not surprising as the pair have been inseparable since they acted in the classic film.
They continued to build their relationship, supporting each other through good and bad times. Theirs was a friendship made in heaven, not subdued by time or tragedies.
The Genesis of a Lifetime Friendship
Newton-John was aware that Travolta was an actor, she had seen him in television series, so when he was hand-picked for his Danny role, she understood that he was a perfect choice.
Neither tragedy, having different lives, nor their successes stopped them from being friends for forty years. Newton-John maintained, “in tough times, John always reaches out to me.”
Apart from being a great actor with the ability to convey his character, Newton-John admitted that he had a striking handsomeness that matched the Danny they needed, as he was “handsome, rugged, too cool-for-school.”
The first time they met, instant chemistry came to life. Travolta had greeted her, and they strolled into a room with people who also noticed their undeniable connection at first sight.
She confessed that they were very close, adding that “yes, we liked each other”, in fact, the then 23-year-old actor could not deny his infatuation for his 29-year-old co-star.
However, they never dated, even if their fans wanted them to imitate their onscreen personalities. Instead, they created a perfect friendship with each party full of support for the other.
They also spent time in each other’s company, understanding their lifestyles and becoming acquainted with their families.
In 1991, Travolta married Kelly Preston, with whom he shares two kids, Ella Blue and Benjamin. Their eldest son, Jett, died in 2009. Similarly, Newton-John, who was previously married and had a daughter, started another family in 2008 when she married Easterling.
These two have had to deal with tragedies. For Travolta, it was losing his son, and for his longtime friend, her cancer diagnosis, which came in 1992.
Neither tragedy, which is having different lives, nor their successes stopped them from being friends for forty years. Newton-John maintained, “in tough times, John always reaches out to me.”
Travolta also reacted the same way concerning their friendship. He expressed that their bond has been unbreakable throughout the years. He said:
“I’ve been through her having a child, getting divorced, losing her sister… She’s worthy of a good friendship.”
As mentioned earlier, their bond was designed for a lifetime. They carried on with their closeness from their youth to their seventies.
Olivia Newton-John’s Last Birthday with Travolta
Last year, ExtraTV caught up with the “Grease” star, and she had a heart-to-heart talk with the interviewer, sharing her experience as a 73-year-old.
Newton-John talked about the classic hit film “Grease” and gushed that people still talk about the musical despite the years gone by.
The singer, who had just turned 73 appeared to be full of life as she responded to the interviewer’s happy birthday wish with “thank you, I made another year, I’m very happy.”
When asked if Travolta reached out to her on her day, the actress confessed that her longtime friend sent her beloved bottle of wine and wrote to her.
He had also joined her family for a private dinner before the birthday. Amid the joy of seeing another year, Newton-John was sensitive to her friend’s plight.
She commended Travolta, who had just lost his wife, explaining that he is a strong person whose faith would get him through it.
Impressively, Travolta’s ordeal did not restrict him from being a good friend or making her happy. And after her death, he still shared the warmest words, signifying his loyalty to an everlasting friendship.