Hollywood actor Travolta John needs no introduction. After all, on his account dozens of bright roles. Films featuring this actor are known and loved in many countries of the world. What is the secret of his popularity? You will learn about this by reading the article from beginning to end.
Childhood and family
Travolta John was born on February 18, 1954 in the town of Inglewood (USA). He became the sixth child in the family. His parents have nothing to do with the world of cinema. Father (Salvatore Travolta) is a semi-professional footballer, and mom Helen is a drama teacher. From an early age, they instilled in all their children a love of music and acting. On weekends, Papa built a small stage so that Helen could stage home performances. I must say that a similar approach to education was very effective. After all, three of the six children of the Travolta family became professional actors. In addition to John, this profession was chosen by brother Joey and sister Ellen.
Study and work
If you think that Travolta John dreamed of an acting career since childhood, then you are greatly mistaken. Like many American boys, he wanted to become a pilot. Near the house where the Travolta family lived, there was a military base. Therefore, as a child, John could watch for hours taking off and landing planes.
In adolescence, the preferences and passions of our hero have changed a lot. What then did John Travolta dream about? Photos depicting aircraft and military equipment no longer represented him as much interest as before. John wanted world fame and big bucks. To do this, he began to work his way into show business.
When the guy turned 16 years old, he went to conquer New York. Our hero did not sit idle, but worked hard and achieved his goal. In addition to mastering acting, John took dance lessons from the famous choreographer Fred Kelly. A flexible and long-legged guy grabbed everything literally on the fly. A few months after the start of classes, Travolta already performed in theaters and clubs. In one of these institutions, a talented guy was noticed by professional producers. John began to receive offers of cooperation.
First steps to the cinema
At first, Travolta took part only in theatrical productions. But soon he was offered a small role in the series "Welcome back, Cotter!" In 1975, he made his debut in big cinema. The audience appreciated the game of a young and attractive actor.
Popularity
In 1977, the next picture was released with the participation of Travolta - "Saturday Night Fever." And again success. Agreeing to star in the musical "Briolin" (1978), John further strengthened his mega-popularity. After the release of this film, it began to be called the symbol of the disco era.
Viewers were looking forward to seeing new films with John Travolta. But he himself, intoxicated by fame and popularity, began to weed out the proposals of producers and screenwriters. The actor could star in such cult films as “Officer and Gentleman” and “American Gigolo”. However, he refused. As a result, Richard Gere was appointed lead actor. He received both fame and a substantial fee.
Travolta came to his senses in time and began to agree to shoot in various films. But almost all of them were unsuccessful. The next few years, the actor sat without work, all forgotten and abandoned. Unlike other movie stars, John was worthy of a creative crisis. He is not addicted to drugs and alcohol. The actor knew that one day he would be called again to act in films. That is exactly what happened.
In the late 80s, John received a proposal to shoot in the film "Who would say." He got a small role. But the actor, forgotten by all, was glad about this. The development of his film career continued. And soon the whole world knew who John Travolta was. “Pulp Fiction” is the name of the film, which made it recognizable and beloved by the audience. Our hero tried on the role of a gangster and brilliantly coped with the tasks set by the director. A pair of actors John Travolta - Uma Thurman his incendiary dance won the audience. Later, a twist performed by them will be called the most popular dance movie number of the XX century. How flexible and agile John Travolta was! The dance turned out simply magnificent, without a single blot and flaw.
John Travolta: filmography
Between 1994 and 2010, Travolta's piggy bank was replenished with dozens of film works. From producers and directors there was literally no end. Listing all the films in which John starred will take a lot of time. Therefore, we highlight his most vivid and memorable images:
- 1975 - “The Devil's Rain” (the role of Danny);
- 1980 - "City Cowboy" (the role of Bad Davis);
- 1989 "Experts" (the role of Travis);
- 1995 - “Get the Shorty” (the role of Chile Palmer);
- 1998 - “The Thin Red Line” (the role of General Quintard);
- 2002 - “The Phantom Menace” (the role of Frank Morrison);
- 2009 - “So-so vacation” (the role of Charlie);
- 2012 - “Especially Dangerous” (the role of Dennis).
Personal life
Many women dreamed of catching handsome John. The actor, of course, was flattered by such a huge attention from the opposite sex. But he was never a womanizer and womanizer. On the set of one of his first films, John met actress Diane Hyland. The woman conquered him with magnificent external data and a rich inner world. But their union did not last long. The fact is that Diana had a serious illness - cancer. After almost a year from the date of their acquaintance, the actress died. It was hard for John to realize that there was no longer a lover. But fate dealt him a new blow. The actor’s mother died of the same disease. In such a situation, one can only envy John's resilience. He did not fill his grief with alcohol. Although during this period he had nothing - no work, no money, no desire to live on. Our hero was able to cope with the loss of people close to him and return to the big movie.
In 1991, popular American media reported the marriage of John Travolta. His chosen one was actress Kelly Preston. Their acquaintance took place on the set of the film “Whoever Says”. In 1992, the couple was born the first-born. The boy was named Jett. The second child was born in 2000. The actor could not stop looking at his charming daughter Ella Blue. Another replenishment in the family happened in 2010. It would seem that John received everything that he had dreamed for so long - a loving wife, lovely children and world fame. But in 2009, trouble again knocked on the house of the Travolta family. Sixteen-year-old Jett, suffering from Kawasaki syndrome, died of a seizure. Parents found his lifeless body in the bathroom.
What is the actor doing now
The life of John Travolta is not limited to filming in films and TV shows. The famous actor is an active city dweller. Together with his wife Kelly, he provides assistance to those who need her. For example, in June 2010, the Travolta family transferred $ 10,000 to the Children's Fund. Nelson Mandela, located in South Africa. Spouses did not remain indifferent to people affected by the strongest earthquake in Haiti.
Over the past few years, Travolta has managed to try himself in different directions: drama, scriptwriting and producing. He managed to achieve certain successes. However, John was once again convinced that his main vocation is acting.
Interesting Facts
Hollywood actors often become the main sources of sensation for the yellow press. Most articles written about them contain outright lies. For those who want to know only the truth about John Travolta, we offer some interesting facts:
- In his opinion, the ideal of female beauty is Frenchwoman Sophia Loren.
- The minimum fee for which the actor is ready to act in the film is $ 25 million.
- Travolta has repeatedly been to Russia. In 2010, he flew to our country on a personal Boeing, which he himself controlled.
- He owns several luxurious mansions located in Hawaii and Mine, in California and Santa Barbara. The main residence is located in Florida. It is a house with a small airfield.
- John's favorite dance is Hispanic samba.
- Travolta is one of the highest Hollywood actors. His height is 188 cm.
Conclusion
Now you know where he was born and studied, as well as in what films John Travolta was shot. Having studied the data of his biography and filmography, we can confidently say that we have a hardworking and decent person. It can not be called a minion of fate. Our hero had to go a long and hard way to glory. Today, millions of viewers living in different countries know him not only as a talented actor, but also as a screenwriter and producer. We wish this wonderful person creative success!