John Travolta

John Joseph Travolta was born in Englewood, New Jersey, one of six children of 'Helen Travolta' (qv) (née Helen Cecilia Burke) and Salvatore/Samuel J. Travolta. His father was of Italian descent and his mother was of Irish ancestry. His father owned a tire repair shop called Travolta Tires in Hillsdale, NJ. Travolta started acting appearing in a local production of "Who'll Save the Plowboy?". His mother, herself an actress and dancer, enrolled him in a drama school in New York, where he studied voice, dancing and acting. He decided to combine all three of these skills and become a musical comedy performer. At 16 he landed his first professional job in a summer stock production of the musical "Bye Bye Birdie". He quit school at 16 and moved to New York, and worked regularly in summer stock and on television commercials. When work became scarce in New York, he went to Hollywood and appeared in minor roles in several series. A role in the national touring company of the hit 1950s musical "Grease" brought him back to New York. An opening in the New York production of "Grease" gave him his first Broadway role at age 18. After "Grease", he became a member of the company of the Broadway show "Over Here", which starred 'The Andrews Sisters' (qv). After ten months in "Over Here", he decided to try Hollywood once again. Once back in Hollywood, he had little trouble getting roles in numerous television shows. He was seen on _The Rookies (1972)_ (qv), _Notruf California (1972)_ (qv) and _Medical Center (1969)_ (qv) and also made a movie, _The Devil's Rain (1975)_ (qv), which was shot in New Mexico. The day he returned to Hollywood from New Mexico, he was called to an audition for a new situation comedy series ABC was planning to produce called _Welcome Back, Kotter (1975)_ (qv). He got the part of Vinnie Barbarino and the series went on the air during the 1975 fall season.He starred in a number of monumental films, earning his first Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for his role in the blockbuster _Saturday Night Fever (1977)_ (qv), which launched the disco phenomenon in the 1970s. He went on to star in the big-screen version of the long-running musical _Grease (1978)_ (qv) and the wildly successful _Urban Cowboy (1980)_ (qv), which also influenced trends in popular culture. Additional film credits include the 'Brian De Palma' (qv) thrillers _Carrie (1976)_ (qv) and _Blow Out (1981)_ (qv), as well as 'Amy Heckerling' (qv)'s hit comedy _Look Who's Talking (1989)_ (qv) and 'Nora Ephron' (qv)'s comic hit _Michael (1996)_ (qv). Travolta starred in _Phenomenon (1996)_ (qv) and took an equally distinctive turn as an action star in 'John Woo' (qv)'s top-grossing _Broken Arrow (1996)_ (qv). He also starred in the classic _Face/Off (1997)_ (qv) opposite 'Nicolas Cage' (qv), and _The General's Daughter (1999)_ (qv), co-starring 'Madeleine Stowe' (qv). In 2005, Travolta reprised the role of ultra cool Chili Palmer in the _Get Shorty (1995)_ (qv) sequel _Be Cool (2005)_ (qv). In addition, he starred opposite 'Scarlett Johansson' (qv) in the critically-acclaimed independent feature film _A Love Song for Bobby Long (2004)_ (qv), which was screened at the Venice Film Festival, where both Travolta and the films won rave reviews. In February 2011, John was honored by Europe's leading weekly program magazine HORZU, with the prestigious Golden Camera Award for "Best Actor International" in Berlin, Germany. Other recent feature film credits include box-office hit-comedy "Wild Hogs", the action-thriller _Ladder 49 (2004)_ (qv), the movie version of the successful comic book _The Punisher (2004)_ (qv), the drama _Basic (2003)_ (qv), the psychological thriller _Domestic Disturbance (2001)_ (qv), the hit action picture _Swordfish (2001)_ (qv), the infamous sci-fi movie _Battlefield Earth (2000)_ (qv), based upon the best-selling novel by 'L. Ron Hubbard' (qv), and _Lonely Hearts (2006)_ (qv).Travolta has been honored twice with Academy Award nominations, the latest for his riveting portrayal of a philosophical hit-man in 'Quentin Tarantino' (qv)'s _Pulp Fiction (1994)_ (qv). He also received BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations for this highly-acclaimed role and was named Best Actor by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, among other distinguished awards. Travolta garnered further praise as a Mafioso-turned-movie producer in the comedy sensation _Get Shorty (1995)_ (qv), winning the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy. In 1998, Travolta was honored by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts with the Britanna Award: and in that same year he received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Chicago Film Festival. Travolta also won the prestigious 'Alan J. Pakula' (qv) Award from the US Broadcast Critics Association for his performance in _A Civil Action (1998)_ (qv), based on the best-selling book and directed by 'Steven Zaillian' (qv). He was nominated again for a Golden Globe for his performance in _Primary Colors (1998)_ (qv), directed by 'Mike Nichols' (qv) and co-starring 'Emma Thompson' (qv) and 'Billy Bob Thornton' (qv), and in 2008, he received his sixth Golden Globe nomination for his role as "Edna Turnblad" in the big-screen, box-office hit, _Hairspray (2007)_ (qv). As a result of this performance, the Chicago Film Critics and the Santa Barbara Film Festival decided to recognize Travolta with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his role.In addition, Travolta starred opposite 'Denzel Washington' (qv) in 'Tony Scott' (qv)'s remake _The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009)_ (qv), and he provided the voice of the lead character in Walt Disney Pictures' animated hit _Bolt (2008)_ (qv), which was nominated for a 2009 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film and a Golden Globe for Best Animated Film, in addition to Best Song for John and 'Miley Cyrus' (qv)' duet titled, "I Thought I Lost You".Next, Travolta starred in Walt Disney Pictures' _Old Dogs (2009)_ (qv), along with 'Robin Williams' (qv), 'Kelly Preston' (qv) and 'Ella Bleu Travolta' (qv), followed by the action thriller _From Paris with Love (2010)_ (qv), starring opposite 'Jonathan Rhys Meyers' (qv). In 2012, John starred alongside 'Taylor Kitsch' (qv), 'Blake Lively' (qv), 'Aaron Taylor-Johnson' (qv), 'Benicio Del Toro' (qv), 'Salma Hayek' (qv), 'Emile Hirsch' (qv) and 'Demián Bichir' (qv) in 'Oliver Stone' (qv)'s, _Savages (2012)_ (qv). The film was based on 'Don Winslow' (qv)'s best-selling crime novel that was named one of The New York Times' Top 10 Books of 2010. John was most recently seen in _Killing Season (2013)_ (qv), co-starring 'Robert De Niro' (qv), and directed by 'Mark Steven Johnson' (qv). John recently completed production on the Boston-based film, _The Forger (2014)_ (qv), alongside Academy Award winner 'Christopher Plummer' (qv) and Critic's Choice nominee 'Tye Sheridan' (qv). John plays a second-generation petty thief who arranges to get out of prison to spend time with his ailing son (Sheridan) by taking on a job with his father (Plummer) to pay back the syndicate that arranged his release. John has received 2 prestigious aviation awards: in 2003, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Foundation Award for Excellence for his efforts to promote commercial flying, and, in 2007, The Living Legends Ambassador of Aviation award.John holds 11 jet licenses: 747, 707, Gulfstream II, Lear 24, Hawker 1251A, Eclipse Jet, Vampire Jet, Canadair CL-141 Jet, Soko Jet, Citation ISP and Challenger. Travolta is the Qantas Airways Global Goodwill "Ambassador-at-Large" and piloted the original Qantas 707 during "Spirit of Friendship" global tour in July/August 2002. John is also a business aircraft brand ambassador for Learjet, Challenger and Global jets for the world's leading business aircraft manufacturer, Bombardier. John flew the 707 to New Orleans after the 2005 hurricane disaster bringing food and medical supplies, and in 2010, again flew the 707, this time to Haiti after the earthquake, carrying supplies, doctors and volunteers.John, along with his late wife, actress 'Kelly Preston' (qv) (1962-2020), were very involved in their charity, The 'Jett Travolta' (qv) Foundation, which raises money for children with educational needs.::Kim Mills and Samantha Mast @ Rogers & Cowan