John Travolta
John Joseph Travolta (born February 18, 1954 in Englewood , New Jersey ) is an American actor , singer , dancer , producer and author . Travolta was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for the films Saturday Night Fever and Pulp Fiction .
Life
Travolta was born the youngest of six siblings. He is half Italian (paternal) and half Irish (maternal) descent. Two passions shaped his childhood: airplanes and acting. He got acting lessons from his mother Helen Cecilia-Burke, as she was also an actress. She also taught theater, initially giving him roles in local theater productions. His father Salvatore Travolta worked as a tire dealer. At the age of 16, John dropped out of high school with the consent of his parents and moved to New York (where he initially lived with his sister Margaret) to try his hand at performing there, including in the musical Grease , with which he also went on tour. He also took tap dance lessons from Gene Kelly's brother, which helped him in his later career. He also worked in night clubs and made commercials for television. He moved to Los Angeles in the mid-1970s .
At the age of 21 came his breakthrough as a serious actor after he played the role of Vinnie Barbarino in the TV sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter (1975-1979). Travolta had his first major film role as Billy Nolan in Brian De Palma's horror film Carrie (1976). At the height of the disco wave, he was with Saturday Night Fever ( Saturday Night Fever, 1977) and Grease ( 1978) as one of the biggest stars in Hollywood.
His career stalled after the production of Staying Alive and Perfect , both films were not commercially successful. It was not until 1989 that Travolta achieved a look at who's talking! a new success.
Travolta made his comeback in 1994 with the role of Vincent Vega in Quentin Tarantino's film Pulp Fiction , which earned him an Oscar nomination. He then shot, in addition to commercially successful films such as Snap Shorty and its sequel Be Cool , Face / Off - In the Body of the Enemy and Password: Swordfish, also repeatedly less commercially successful films such as Lucky Numbers . He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award in 1999 for the role of Governor Jack Stanton in the film drama With All Power (1998) .
In 2007, Travolta played the role of an (overweight) woman for the first time in the music and dance film Hairspray , for whose portrayal he had to wear a 15 kilogram fat suit during filming .
In 2016, he took on the role of Robert Shapiro , OJ Simpson's defense attorney, in the anthology series American Crime Story . He also received a Golden Globe nomination for this role .
Travolta was dubbed by Thomas Danneberg until he withdrew from the dubbing business . After Danneberg's withdrawal, Ronald Nitschke took over the synchronization (as of May 2020).
Travolta is also active as a book author: He made his debut with Nachtflug nach LA , the story of eight-year-old Jeff, who would like to fly.
Scientology
Travolta also took on a larger role in the science fiction film Battlefield Earth (2000), which he produced. This film adaptation of a science fiction book by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard is considered one of the worst films of all time and became a commercial flop. Since 1975, alongside Tom Cruise , he has been the most prominent member of the Scientology sect , which is controversial in Germany and observed by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution in several federal states .
Private life
While filming The Boy in the Plastic Bubble (1976), Travolta fell in love with fellow actress Diana Hyland , who died of breast cancer in 1977 at the age of only 41; a year later, Travolta's mother Helen also died of cancer. Both deaths resulted in him not assuming roles for some time. In 1989, while shooting the film The Experts , he met actress Kelly Preston . Both separated after a short time. In 1991, Travolta and Preston reunited and married in September. He has three children with her: two sons (born April 14, 1992; born November 23, 2010) and a daughter (born April 3, 2000). His eldest son, Jett, died on January 2, 2009 at the age of 16 from a seizure in the Bahamas .
After Jett's death, the Travoltas took legal action against a paramedic and his lawyer, a former MP. The two defendants allegedly extorted $ 25 million from the Travolta family. They threatened to publish details of the circumstances of death and to blame Travolta for complicity. In the fall of 2009, the proceedings were broken off immediately before the verdict was announced, after the results of the jury's consultation had been published prematurely. As announced on September 7, 2010, Travolta put the lawsuit against the two alleged blackmailers. The reason given by the family was that they had suffered too much from the strenuous process and therefore wanted to leave it behind.
Travolta's hobby has been aviation since 1989. Although he only has a private pilot license , he may have. a. Type ratings for the aircraft types Boeing 707 and Boeing 747 completed. Travolta owns five aircraft, including a Boeing 707-138B . He is allowed to fly this himself, but due to the flight hours completed so far on this type, he can only fly this with the status of copilot accompanied by a pilot in command who is qualified for this type . The machine is named after his children: "Jett Clipper Ella". His house in Ocala (Florida) has its own runway including a gate at Greystone Airport ( FAA LID : 17FL).
His older brother Joey Travolta is also in the film business, u. a. as an actor and director.
On July 13, 2020, John Travolta announced via Instagram that his wife Kelly Preston had died of breast cancer the day before at the age of 57 .
Filmography
- 1972: Emergency Call California ( Emergency ! , TV series)
- 1972: Owen Marshall - Defense Attorney ( Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law , TV series)
- 1973: California Cops - New to the Service ( The Rookies , TV series)
- 1974: Medical Center (TV series)
- 1975: The Tenth Stage ( The Tenth Level , television film)
- 1975: At Night When Corpses Cry (The Devil's Rain)
- 1975–1979: Welcome Back, Kotter (TV series)
- 1976: Carrie - Satan's youngest daughter (Carrie)
- 1976: The Boy in the Plastic Bubble (TV movie)
- 1977: Saturday Night Fever
- 1978: Grease
- 1978: From moment to moment (moment by moment)
- 1980: Urban Cowboy
- 1981: Blow Out - Death erases all traces
- 1983: Staying Alive
- 1983: Two of a Kind (Two of a Kind)
- 1985: Perfect
- 1987: Basements (section: The Mute Servant / The Room, TV movie)
- 1989: The Experts
- 1989: Look who's talking! (Look Who's Talking)
- 1990: Look Who's Talking 2 (Look Who's Talking Two)
- 1991: Street violence (Chains of Gold)
- 1991: Dangerous Friendship (Eyes of an Angel)
- 1991: Shout
- 1993: Look Who's Talking Now (Look Who's Talking Now)
- 1994: Pulp Fiction
- 1995: Street of Vengeance (White Man's Burden)
- 1995: Get Shorty (Get Shorty)
- 1996: Operation: Broken Arrow (Broken Arrow)
- 1996: Phenomenon - The impossible comes true (Phenomenon)
- 1996: Michael
- 1997: Alles aus Liebe - Call it Love (She's So Lovely)
- 1997: In the body of the enemy (Face / Off)
- 1997: Mad City
- 1998: With all might (Primary Colors)
- 1998: The Thin Red Line (The Thin Red Line)
- 1998: Civil Procedure (A Civil Action)
- 1999: Defenseless - The General's Daughter
- 2000: Battlefield Earth (Battlefield Earth: A Saga of the Year 3000)
- 2000: Lucky Numbers
- 2001: Password: Swordfish (Swordfish)
- 2001: Deadly Trust (Domestic Disturbance)
- 2002: Austin Powers in Goldmember (Austin Powers in Goldmember)
- 2003: Basic - Behind every lie a truth (Basic)
- 2004: The Punisher
- 2004: Lovesong for Bobby Long
- 2004: On Fire (Ladder 49)
- 2005: Be Cool - Everyone is looking for the next big hit (Be Cool)
- 2006: Lonely Hearts Killers (Lonely Hearts)
- 2007: Born to be Wild (Wild Hogs)
- 2007: Hairspray
- 2008: Bolt - a dog for all cases (Bolt)
- 2009: The Taking of Pelham 123 (The Taking of Pelham 123)
- 2009: Old Dogs - Daddy or Deal (Old Dogs)
- 2010: From Paris with Love
- 2012: Savages
- 2013: Killing Season
- 2014: The Order - It's never too late for one last coup! (The Forger)
- 2015: Criminal Activities
- 2015: Der Sturm - Life on the Line (Life on the Line)
- 2016: Rage - Days of Retribution (I Am Wrath)
- 2016: In a Valley of Violence
- 2016: American Crime Story (TV series, 10 episodes)
- 2018: Gotti
- 2018: Speed Kills
- 2019: Trading Paint
- 2019: The Poison Rose
- 2019: The Fanatic
Discography
Albums
year | title |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DE | AT | CH | UK | US | |||
1976 | John Travolta | - | - | - | - |
US39 (22 weeks) US |
|
1977 | Can't Let You Go | - | - | - | - |
US66 (9 weeks) US |
|
1978 | Grease |
DE1 × 5
(52 weeks)DE |
AT1
gold
(52 weeks)AT |
CH-
gold
CH
|
UK1 × 8
(47 weeks)UK |
US1 × 8
(77 weeks)US |
|
Sandy | - | - | - |
UK40
gold
(6 weeks)UK |
- | ||
1979 | Travolta Fever | - | - | - | - |
US161 (7 weeks) US |
|
1983 | Two of a kind | - | - | - | - |
US26th
platinum
(12 weeks)US |
|
2012 | This Christmas | - | - | - | - |
US81 (5 weeks) US |
with Olivia Newton-John
|
gray hatching : no chart data available for this year
More albums
- 1978: Travolta
- 1996: John Travolta Sings
Compilations
- 1979: Super John Travolta
- 1982: La grande storia del rock 47
- 1991: You Set My Dreams to Music (Best Of)
- 1993: gold
- 1995: Let Her In
- 1996: The Best of John Travolta
- 1996: Greased Lightnin '
- 1997: 20 greatest hits
- 1999: Slow Dancing
- 1999: Essential
- 2001: You Set My Dreams to Music
- 2002: Saturday Night Fiction
- 2003: The Collection
- 2005: Cult Fiction
- 2005: The Hit Years
- 2008: Forever Gold
Singles
year | Title album |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DE | AT | CH | UK | US | |||
1976 | Let Her In John Travolta |
- | - | - | - |
US10 (19 weeks) US |
|
Whenever I'm Away from You Can't Let You Go |
- | - | - | - |
US38 (6 weeks) US |
||
1977 | All Strung Out on You Can't Let You Go |
- | - | - | - |
US34 (8 weeks) US |
First published: 1974
|
1978 |
You're the One That I Want Grease OST |
DE1
gold
(35 weeks)DE |
AT2 (28 weeks) AT |
CH1 (22 weeks) CH |
UK1
platinum
(35 weeks)UK |
US1
platinum
(24 weeks)US |
with Olivia Newton-John
|
Summer Nights Grease OST |
DE4 (18 weeks) DE |
AT1 (12 weeks) AT |
CH7 (8 weeks) CH |
UK1
platinum
(19 weeks)UK |
US5
gold
(16 weeks)US |
with Olivia Newton-John
|
|
Greased Lightning Grease OST |
- | - | - |
UK11
silver
(9 weeks)UK |
US47 (8 weeks) US |
||
Sandy Grease EAST |
DE26 (13 weeks) DE |
AT24 (4 weeks) AT |
- |
UK2
gold
(15 weeks)UK |
- | ||
1990 | Grease Megamix |
DE42 (8 weeks) DE |
AT26 (7 weeks) AT |
- |
UK3 (10 weeks) UK |
- |
with Olivia Newton-John
|
1991 | Grease - Dream Mix |
- | - | - |
UK47 (2 weeks) UK |
- |
with Frankie Valli and Olivia Newton-John
|
1998 | You're the One That I Want (Martian Remix) | - |
AT26 (12 weeks) AT |
CH34 (2 weeks) CH |
- | - |
with Olivia Newton-John
|
More singles
- 1977: Big Trouble
- 1977: (Feel so Good) Slow Dancing
- 1977: Easy Evil
- 1978: Razzamatazz
- 1978: Dejala Entrar (Let Her In) (EP)
- 1978: The Official John Travolta Fan Club (Travolta's personal message)
- 1979: A Girl Like You
- 1983: Take A Chance (with Olivia Newton-John)
- 1998: Grease (The Remix EP)
- 1998: Summer Nights [Martian Remix] (with Olivia Newton-John)
- 1998: Grease Is Still the Word (Radio PressKit) (EP)
Awards (selection)
Awards
- 1996: Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Comedy / Musical for Snaps Shorty
- 2001: Golden Raspberry as Worst Producer for Battlefield Earth
- 2001: Golden Raspberry for Worst Actor for Battlefield Earth and Lucky Numbers
- 2001: Golden Raspberry as the worst screen pair (along with every other person on the screen) for Battlefield Earth
- 2011: Golden Camera for Best International Actor
- 2020: Golden Raspberry for Worst Actor for The Fanatic and Trading Paint
Nominations
- 1978: Oscar for Best Actor for Saturday Night Only
- 1978: Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Comedy / Musical for Saturday Night Only
- 1984: Golden Raspberry as Worst Actor for Staying Alive and Two of the Same Kind
- 1986: Golden Raspberry as worst actor for Perfect
- 1990: Golden Raspberry for Worst Actor of the Decade
- 1992: Golden Raspberry as Worst Supporting Actor for Shout
- 1995: Oscar for Best Actor for Pulp Fiction
- 1995: Golden Globe for Best Actor - Drama for Pulp Fiction
- 1999: Golden Globe for Best Actor - Comedy / Musical for With All Power
- 2002: Golden Raspberry for Worst Actor for Deadly Trust and Password: Swordfish
- 2010: Golden Raspberry for Worst Actor for Old Dogs - Daddy or Deal
- 2010: Golden Raspberry for Worst Actor of the Decade
- 2017: Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor - Series, Miniseries, or TV Movie for American Crime Story
- 2019: Golden Raspberry as worst actor for Gotti
- 2019: Golden Raspberry as worst screen couple (together with Kelly Preston) for Gotti
- 2020: Golden Raspberry Worst Screen Couple (and any script it adopts)
literature
- Nigel Andrews : Travolta: The Life. Bloomsbury, New York 1998.
- Brigitte Tast (Ed.): John Travolta. Kulleraugen, Hildesheim 1978.
- John Travolta: Night flight to LA orange-press, Freiburg 2002, ISBN 3-936086-00-1 .
Web links
- official homepage
- John Travolta in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- John Travolta at Allmusic (English)
- John Travolta at Discogs (English)
- Always good for a pirouette - epd film portrait by Birgit Glombitza 9/2009
- Biography on film-zeit.de
- Literature by and about John Travolta in the catalog of the German National Library
swell
- ↑ German synchronous index | Actor | John Travolta. Retrieved May 5, 2020 .
- ^ John Travolta TV Movie
- ↑ Scientology: Ex-member talks about Tom Cruise and John Travolta When Scientology has its say, many think of Tom Cruise or John Travolta. A dropout now tells private things about the life of the stars of the "Church".
- ↑ http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20294135,00.html , accessed August 15, 2009
- ↑ John Travolta - the cult actor and Scientology advocate turns 65
- ↑ John Travolta - Return to Hollywood | ARTE. Retrieved August 1, 2018 .
- ↑ Son Jett dies after an attack
- ↑ http://www.news.de/medien/855072302/rueckzieher-vor-gericht/1/ accessed on September 7, 2010, news.de ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically saved as marked defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ a b Chart sources: Singles Albums Billboard 200 / Soundtrack Grease Album Billboard 200
- ↑ a b gold / platinum databases: DE UK US
- ↑ Soundtrack "Grease"
- ↑ Soundtrack "Grease" in the Austrian hit parade on AustrianCharts.at
- ↑ Soundtrack "Grease" in the Official UK Charts (English)
personal data | |
---|---|
SURNAME | Travolta, John |
ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Travolta, John Joseph (full name) |
BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American actor, dancer, producer, and writer |
DATE OF BIRTH | February 18, 1954 |
PLACE OF BIRTH | Englewood , New Jersey, USA |