Costner has had many great loves in life, from a seemingly happy first marriage to hordes of models and fellow Hollywood starlets, the “Dancing with Wolves Actor” decided it was time for a change when he met a certain someone. It wasn’t always easy, but he got there. Here’s Kevin Costner’s journey to true love and happiness.
Costner’s First Marriage Seemed Perfect
His first love was Cindy Silva, a raven-haired beauty who played Snow White at Disneyland and was a homecoming queen nominee at California State University, Fullerton. That’s where they met. While studying together at CSUF, they fell in love and then tied the knot in 1978.
In a 1989 interview, Costner said, “She was beautiful, she was sweet, she was smarter than me.” Adding, “She represented everything about women that I like.” The happy couple had three children together; Annie, Lily, and Joe. But the marriage did not stay happy.
Costner Wanted to Go His Own Way
People believed they had a great marriage. He seemed to be a caring and loving and honest man. He and Cindy even owned a racehorse named “Proudtobetogether,” what else were fans to think? However, there were other interviews. In 1987 he was not subtle when he said, I have a big thirst.
A big taste for things . . . I hate the fact that I’ve lived by somebody else’s rules and I’ve somehow missed out on something.” People in the business and close friends were not fooled. But fans were disappointed with the contradiction to the straight-shooter image they loved.
Marital Bliss Comes to an End
The two worked hard putting together Costner’s critically acclaimed film 'Dances With Wolves', the blockbuster movie that won six Oscars. He toiled on the film set while she did some stage managing and boosted morale during the long South Dakota shoot by hosting film crew parties. She already had a full-time job taking care of their kids.
However, not long after, rumors of Costner’s infidelity began hitting the tabloids. They worked hard to keep their marriage together, but the affairs became too much for Cindy and Costner had no will to cease his amorous involvements. Finally, they announced the end. In a divorce statement, they wrote, “After 16 years together, we are ending our marriage. We have amicably resolved all issues regarding our children and financial affairs and a full marital settlement has been reached.” In 1994, the divorce was final.
The Writing Was on the Wall
Just before the divorce announcement, Costner revealed what was coming. During an interview with the 'Daily News', he confided: "The temptations are pretty strong—and there’s a hungry world out there waiting for you to fall. So you can’t even dabble without paying a huge price. I try to conduct my life with a certain amount of dignity and discretion—but marriage is a hard, hard gig".
Marriage is hard work, no doubt, but dealing with the fallout from “dabbling” in extra-marital affairs can be even more trying. Some people say he was known to be a man who instinctively came on to any woman he felt attracted to. By his own admission, “The package isn’t important,” he confided to People magazine in 1989, "I have a real appreciation for women.”
More Than One Affair
Once free from his 16-year marriage and living as a bachelor, Costner had some oats to sow, one might say. But prior to the divorce, he sowed a few oats as well. In an unconfirmed report, Costner is said to have been involved in an extra-marital affair with Halle Berry in 1989, during the darker days of his marriage to Cindy Silva. Halle Berry was just establishing herself as an actress when the steamy affair was said to have taken place.
They began dating around the time Halle starred in 12 episodes of 'Living Dolls'. Costner, for his part, was in the middle of 'Field of Dreams' and enjoying the shower of fame 'Dances With Wolves' brought him. Both actors have never mentioned the time they spent together, but they are still friends. The two have often been spotted hanging out together.
Hitting the Tabloid Headlines Once Again
Risking more tabloid exposure while still married, Costner spent some time wooing Michelle Pfeiffer. Pfeiffer is famous for 'Scarface', 'Dangerous Liaisons', and 'Batman Returns', and many more. Incidentally, Bridgett Rooney also played the feline 'Batman' character.
Whether or not Costner has a weakness for women who portray Cat Woman is hard to say, but he did want to play Michelle Pfieffer’s love interest in the Italian love story 'Taming Ben Taylor'. Unfortunately for him, the film never made it out of production. Still, tabloid headlines were shooting off sparks with the prospect.
The Fling with Bobbie Jean Brown
Bobbie Jean Brown’s claim to fame, besides dating Tommy Lee, was starring in a music video. The beauty pageant winner struts her stuff on Warrant’s “Cherry Pie” video, a popular 80s hair metal melody that climaxes with her being sprayed by a firehose.
After Tommy Lee broke up with her to marry Pamela Anderson, Bobbie Jean tumbled through a spate of dates that she details in her salacious tell-all memoir, 'Dirty Rocker Boys: Love and Lust on the Sunset Strip'. One of those rocker boys who got hot for her, as you probably expect by now, is Kevin Costner. At his palatial abode, she accidentally derailed a romantic moment by setting fire to his bedroom. Literally.
'Mighty Aphrodite' Lures Costner into an Affair
Woody Allen’s 1995 'Mighty Aphrodite' romantic comedy caught Costner’s attention. Namely, Mira Sorvino’s award-winning portrayal of a carefree prostitute called Linda Ash drew him in. Seemingly able to detect an up-and-coming Hollywood starlet, Costner courted Sorvino on her rise to fame.
She was filming the movie at the time with just a few other titles under her belt. The affair lit up with sparks in 1993, a year before Costner’s divorce went through. Did it make the tabloid headlines? You bet! The tabloids, for their part, began using radar detection for Costner’s latest love interests by the 1990s.
Costner’s First Fling with a Supermodel
The divorce in 1994 freed Costner to live it up in the singles life. As he said, he missed out on a lot being married, and he made up for lost time forthwith. Of course, his quest for true love was always front and center. The rumor about his affair with supermodel Naomi Campbell hit the tabloid pages in the mid-1990s.
The supermodel had begun her career as a 15-year-old and shot to fame as a household name. As one of the definitive names in modeling, her dating scene did not go unnoticed. She was engaged to U2 bassist Adam Clayton, as well as Formula One racer Flavio Briatore. The relationship with Briatore was tenuous, so traumatizing that she checked in to a 4-week anger therapy program.
Costner’s Ex-girlfriend Comes to His Rescue
Rutgers graduate, event organizer, green party activist, and child’s rights organizer Brigit Cunningham had her own paternity problems from deadbeat dad and race driver Harry Nuttall. She was married previously, but it only lasted three months. In the late 1990s, Cunningham dated Kevin Costner for three years, which ended in recovery, hers, for alcoholism. But she was a loyal friend to Costner.
In 2006, when Costner was embroiled in a lewd behavior scandal stemming from a massage that he received at a five-star hotel in 2004, Cunningham came to his rescue. In a statement, she said, “Kevin is very romantic and tender, he would never do anything so vulgar . . . He really is Mr. Perfect, squeaky clean, if a little naïve when it comes to realizing the effect he has on girls.”
Romance and Rumors
Actress and model Angie Everhart ranked 98th most sexy woman in FHM’s 100 Sexiest Women of 2003 issue. She was a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model who made her Hollywood debut with Arnold Schwarzenegger in 'Last Action Hero'. The redhead knockout was engaged to both Sylvester Stallone and Joe Pesci. Rumor has it she also spent some time with Costner.
In 1995, they made the tabloids when the couple was spotted having a dinner date. It came on the heels of other rumors that Costner and his wife Cindy were attempting to reconcile. His romance with Everhart didn’t last long. Not much later, she married comedian and singer-songwriter, Ashley Hamilton.
He Also Dated 'Friends' Star, Courteney Cox
It was back in 1995 when Kevin Costner and Courteney Cox dated. Not much is known about the secret relationship out of his swinging singles era. They met up again in 2001. This time they shared the big screen in the action-adventure crime movie, '3000 Miles to Graceland'.
By then, she had definitely moved on. Cox and David Arquette, who starred in '3000 Miles to Graceland' as well, tied the knot in 1999.
Yet Another Love Affair in 1995
Remember Cheryl Tiegs? She was the American supermodel whose modeling success invented the concept of the supermodel. From her super successful modeling career came a line of signature brand sportswear. On the way, she graced the covers of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue as well as Time magazine. Obviously, Costner found her irresistible.
During the hot August nights of 1995, he made room for romantic rendezvous with the fashion beauty who seemed to find the 'Field of Dreams' star stunning. Including his wife, the only models he dated were super!
Cal Ripken, Jr. vs. Kevin Costner
Cal Ripken was on a game-playing streak in 1997 when he had an alleged breakdown that prevented him from starting that night, as he had consecutively for a span of over five years. To help preserve his record, a Baltimore Orioles employee orchestrated a lighting malfunction, or it happened coincidentally. Regardless, the outcome was that the game was called.
In a serious check on guest manners, a personal friend of Costner’s, Cal Ripken, was rumored to have returned to his house after leaving for the day to play a game. He had forgotten something. Next, according to some versions, when Ripken arrived at his home, he caught Kevin Costner in his bed with his wife, Kelly. Costner is rumored to have gotten such a beating he was unable to do any publicity, just at the time he was wrapping up with 'The Postman'.
'Good Morning America' Host Joan Lunden Falls for Costner
At the peak of his fame, right in the middle of 'Waterworld', and at the height of his 1995 dating deluge, Costner found a new friend. Would this one be his true love? A romance with Joan Lunden, ABC’s popular 'Good Morning America' host who manned the desk until 1997, was sending off sparks. His new love tangle with the American journalist, author, and TV host was a hot story in media circles, and with 'Waterworld' promotion coinciding, a lightning storm of tabloid and media attention was so intense it severed the couple’s relationship.
Apparently, Costner romanced the TV journalist quite lavishly. He took her out on the open sea in a lovely yacht for a special date. As Lunden recalls, “He got this yacht and we sailed around New York Harbor and had dinner.” She said, “It was quite romantic and quite beautiful". The charming prince wouldn’t stay long, after being spooked by a hounding media, it seems. “I think Kevin and I would have dated longer had it not been for the unbelievable press focus on us,” Lunden said.
Single Life Gets Serious with a Live-in Girlfriend
A new year, a new lifestyle. In 1996, Costner and Australian model Elle Macpherson started dating. Charmed by the amazing celeb model, actress, businesswoman, and TV host, their relationship progressed into “serious” territory posthaste.
Costner gushed, “I feel I have met my equal with this beautiful, talented, funny and lovely person.” Within months the couple moved in together. The singles lifestyle gave way to domestic stability, no matter how short-lived. It was over by the end of the year.
A European Fling Interrupts a Serious Relationship
Italian-French Supermodel and pop singer Carla Bruni, known as France’s First Lady after dating French president Nicolas Sarkozy, was wooed by Kevin Costner as well. Their dating didn’t last. But, Bruni, one of the world’s first supermodels, also broke up with Mick Jagger and Eric Clapton, so he was in good company.
Just as it seemed Costner was ready to tie the knot again with beauty Elle Macpherson, he slipped into another affair and then back into bachelorhood.
1997 Was a Good Year for Costner
Two successful films lifted Costner into the coveted realm of actor accolades. He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for his outstanding performance in 'Tin Cup' (1996) and was honored with a nomination for a Saturn Award for his 1997 film 'The Postman'. And then the year got a little better.
He met news anchor Tawny Little. He dated the Miss America pageant winner secretly in 1997 and 1998. Costner wasn’t the first celeb Little dated. She had relationships with Ron Silver and Burt Reynolds, as well.
A Steamy 1999 Rumor Enrages John Travolta
By 1999, when Costner was filming 'For the Love of the Game', it wasn’t a professional baseball player pal he ticked off. Instead, it was an actor colleague. Apparently, men do not appreciate rumors of their wife hooking up with Kevin Costner. 'For the Love of the Game' co-star Kelly Preston, who happened to be married to John Travolta, became the focus of a brief tabloid flare-up.
While working on the film, the gossip press asserted the couple’s romance spilled from the storyline and the set into more intimate, offscreen places. National Enquirer published a story claiming that Travolta was “furious.” Neither Costner nor Preston addressed the press allegations. Meanwhile, Travolta and Preston remained married. And, Costner was just on the cusp of meeting “the one.”
Could It Be True Love?
Kevin Costner’s long and winding quest to find the perfect wife after divorcing Cindy took him down a new path that collided directly with Christine Baumgartner’s. Another beautiful model would don his arm, as the fashion handbag designer and much younger beauty fell in love with the double-Oscar winning 'Dances With Wolves' actor. As a coincidence, Baumgartner’s alma mater is California State University Fullerton, too.
They met while he was practicing golf for his role in 'Tin Cup' in the late 1980s. He was married then. But in 1998, when they ran into each other again, he was free and so was she. He got her phone number and said he would call her in two weeks. It caught the actor off guard. He said, “When I met Christine, I wasn’t prepared to be in love again. It took me a long time before I said, ‘I love you’ to her, a long time.’” Long story short, they began dating, despite the 20-year age difference.
Costner’s Transition Out of Bachelorhood
His life as a single man was wild and crazy. He admitted it himself, saying, “When I wanted some company in my life, I was like the classic single guy—who do I love this week, who next week? I wouldn’t even use the word ‘love’ with someone, because that makes things trickier.” All the while, the tabloid press was trying to keep up.
When he ran into Christine Baumgartner again, however, all that began to change. Things were going well for a while. They started dating in 1998 when she was 33, and he was 53. But by 2002, they hit a rough patch and separated. The younger Baumgartner wanted to have children, while Costner refused to start a new family. She told him she would wait for him to come back, “but not long.”
Cold Feet
Costner was ready for love, but not family and commitment. Luckily, he pulled it together in time and saved their relationship. Being single again was a good reminder. He had time to realize his mistake. “Fear kept me from marrying Christine,” Costner said. Adding, “[She] wanted a child, but I was afraid I couldn’t be an effective father.”
They dated for four years, and when it ended, he realized, “'Am I going to lose a beautiful woman who is willing to be with me to my very last breath because I am afraid to say yes to a child?’ That’s all it took.”
Reunited
The love birds were engaged in 2003. They tied the knot at Costner’s sweeping 165-acre Colorado estate just outside of Aspen, on September 25, 2004. The couple met at the film set-ready scenic ranch--he arrived in a covered wagon, and she in a vintage, restored green pickup truck. Exchanging their vows next to a rambling stream, they joined guests such as Tim Allen, Mary McDonnell, and Don Johnson, who gathered under event tents to give their regards.
And with 300 of their closest friends and family members, they celebrated. For Christine, it was the first time she said, “I do,” and it was Costner’s second, and last time. Unless, of course, the 'Field of Dreams' star meandered back to single life. But he’d be faithful, this time. Friend David Giammarco knew it was going to work out. He said Kevin and Christine are “like kids together, really in love.”
Becoming a Family Man Again
The couple took a three-year honeymoon before they had their first child. In May 2007, they welcomed their first son, Cayden. Costner took some time off acting to spend time helping out at home. His work shifted from time-demanding film projects to follow-up, side projects like investing in a centrifuge machine.
He also toured with his country-rock band Modern West, but it looked like he had dropped out of the scene completely. He had certainly left his tabloid-attracting lifestyle behind. His new role as a father was once again his main focus.
A Father of Seven Kids
In 2009, the new Costner family was blessed with a second child. Their second son Hayes was two years younger than his big brother. Then came their daughter, Grace, born in 2010. Family life treated the couple well.
In 2011, Costner shared his perspective about his family saying, “They’re really good children and I see them making steps every day, and the one thing I pray for in life is not success but being able to raise my children and that nothing happens to me in the next 20 years.” With his first three from his marriage with Cindy grown, and adding his son Liam with Bridget Rooney, Costner was now the father of seven children.
A Reason to Live
It’s complicated being an older dad. When your kids are born and you are already in your 60s, it’s something to consider. “I want it to be me who tells them about the secrets, the beauty, the treachery, and everything that is in life. I don’t want them to learn from someone else,” Costner lamented.
His sentiments reveal his commitment to family and, for Baumgartner, a true sign that he has completely reformed from his swinging singles days.
A Recovered Swinger
Things changed. Instead of bragging about his singles lifestyle, Costner is now boasting about his kids’ accomplishments and gifts. He revealed this side of himself in a 2007 interview with Good Housekeeping. He said he doesn’t pick favorites, but he revealed, "[I’ve] always been really close to my girls".
Going on, “All of my kids are showered with love.” Fatherhood comes as natural to Costner as success and acting. Just as it did during his first marriage when he had that “squeaky-clean, Mr. perfect” reputation.
Back to Hollywood
Family life is a huge commitment, but as the kids grow it becomes easier to get back to work. So, in 2013, Costner did just that when he took the role of Jonathan Kent in 'Man of Steel'. He had to be sure. He talked about making the film saying, “I won’t make a movie unless I have the ability to do it the way I want, so I hold my breath for a very long time,” Costner said.
“At this point in my life, I don’t want to make a movie I don’t want to make or one that somehow gets manipulated in a way I don’t feel comfortable with.” With all the success he has achieved, he has the luxury to be picky.
A Fulfilling Life
Making movies has been very fulfilling for Costner, but fatherhood is a close second. In his words, “Movies are magic, and they’ve always been magic to me. You get to play heroes in the movies, but there’s a moment in time where you’re just a father and you get to go home. "
Costner added, "I have played two roles in my life, one I get paid to do, which is the movies, and the other one is being a father, for which I’ll be rewarded my whole life.”
Love and Family
The man who had a tumultuous marriage and bumpy midlife experience said, “I have never wanted to be afraid in my life, but after my divorce, I was. The pain of that experience had been so strong that I never wanted to go through it ever again.” But the experience taught him a new lesson.
“Sometimes, you learn the thing you’re most afraid of will save your life,” Costner mused. And with almost two decades together and three wonderful children alongside his drop-dead gorgeous wife, things are good. She definitely saved his life and is proud to have such a loving and committed man.
Who Is Christine Baumgartner?
She seems to be the woman who tamed the beast, but there's a lot more to this lucky lady than meets the eye. Aside from being the woman who took one of Hollywood's most eligible bachelor's into phase two of family life at the not-so-young age of 49 years old, she's led an interesting life.
Christine Baumgartner has had a busy life of her own. These days she's a mother of three, a thriving businesswoman, and of course, the second wife of this Hollywood hunk (yeah, he's still a hunk.) Let's find out more.
A Busy Woman
Though she was first a model and then a handbag designer, Christine has also made a handful of tv appearances on shows like "Entertainment Tonight," "Inside Edition," "Biography and E!" and "Live from the Red Carpet".
She may have never imagined having a life somewhat in the spotlight, but Christine was willing to give up a private life for the man she loved.
Beauty and Brains
Christine Baumgartner wasn’t just another beautiful model when Kevin Costner met her, she also had a Business degree from the University of California-Fullerton. It’s this Business degree that lent itself to helping her start her handbag business with her friend Tamara Muro.
Her degree combined with her starting a business shows that Christine is a woman with goals.
What About Those Bags?
Of all of the businesses that Christine could start, why did she decide on handbags? She said her business was not started because of her love for accessories but because she “was missing something” when it came to her experience as a consumer.
Christine said when she looked for a laptop bag, she could not find one that was functional and stylish, so she decided to design them herself.
Cat Bag Couture
Christine originally started her business with her friend Tamara Muro, but she later had to leave the business for family obligations. She then began running the business, Cat Bag Couture, with a handful of other employees. Her most popular bags are her laptop bags which are designed to be fashionable and functional.
They feature metallic leather and faux fur but are also made with features similar to any laptop bag. She has sold her bags online and in boutique stores such as Hidden Jewel in Aspen, Colorado.
Annie Costner
Though his youngest children are with Christine Baumgartner, Costner also has 3 much older children. His oldest, from his marriage to Cindy Costner, is Annie Costner. She appeared in three of his films including "Dances with Wolves," "Waterworld," and "The Postman."
Annie graduated from Brown University in 2006 and now works as a producer in Hollywood. In 2016, she walked down the aisle, escorted by her dad, to marry California native, Dr. Danny Cox.
Lily Costner
Lily Costner is the second-born daughter of Kevin and Cindy Costner and has also acted a few times in different projects such as "The Babysitter Club." In 2004, she was chosen as Miss Golden Globe (a title known today as Golden Globe Ambassador).
Her real passion though appears to be music. She has performed in her dad’s band, Dances with Wolves, and has also collaborated with singers like Trace Adkins.
Joe Costner
Joe Costner is the youngest child of Kevin and Cindy Costner. He has also had acting experience and starred alongside his sister, Lily in "The Postman."
He had a role in his dad’s film "Tin Cup," but Joe doesn’t seem to be active as an actor anymore. These days, he seems to prefer the quiet life as the son of a notable movie star.
Liam Costner
Liam Costner, Kevin’s son with ex-girlfriend Bridget Rooney, Is the fourth child of the actor. A trust fund was set up for Liam but little is known about the twenty-something.
He, like his other siblings, seems to enjoy a quieter life. But with an actor for a father and a former model as a mother, it’s possible he may step into the spotlight someday.
Movie Star Turned Rock Star
Kevin Costner didn’t just want to stay on the screen, he had other ambitions to be on stage with a guitar in hand. In 2007, Costner formed the country-rock band, Kevin Costner and Modern West. The group included, along with Costner: John Coinman, Teddy Morgan, Blair Forward, Larry Cobb, Park Chisholm, Luke Bulla, Bobby Yang, and Roddy Chong.
The band signed under the Show Dog-Universal label and began touring in 2007. They have performed at the Daytona International Speedway and at the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
A NASCAR Honor
Speaking of NASCAR, Costner was also given the honor of being named the Grand Marshal of the Nextel Cup Series Auto Club in 2007.
His connection to the American pastime went even further when, in 2008, he helped produce the NASCAR documentary (along with CMT Films), The Ride of Their Lives.
The West Is in His Heart
With the formation of his country-rock band, his ranch in Colorado, and his directorial debut in "Dances with Wolves," it's clear that Kevin Costner has a love for the West. He himself has admitted that his favorite movie genre is Westerns.
Additionally, he has a love for horse riding and did all of his own riding scenes (of course) in "Dances with Wolves." And now, you can see him in the Western drama, "Yellowstone!"
Yellowstone
Sticking with his preferred genre, Kevin Costner’s latest project is the Western TV drama, "Yellowstone." Yellowstone follows a Montana family who must fight to keep their land as it borders both a Native American reservation and a national park.
Costner plays the patriarch of the family, John Dutton, who faces challenge after challenge in overseeing the land.
All American Roles
Another genre that Costner finds himself in is the baseball film genre. He has starred in multiple baseball films including "Chasing Dreams," "Bill Durham," "For the Love of the Game," "The Upside of Anger," and "Field of Dreams."
Fans will remember his famous role in "Field of Dreams" and the iconic quote from the film, “If you build it, they will come”. This genre, combined with his roles in Westerns has helped cement him as the quintessential, American leading man.
Home on the Range
Costner has a luxurious Colorado ranch (one of at least two places he calls home) with Christine Baumgartner. The 5,800 square foot ranch is located near the Rocky Mountains and features 6 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms.
But the house itself isn’t the only incredible part, Costner’s land also has three lakes and a river. He has said this is a special place where he and Christine can spend quality time with their kids. Sounds like a real home!
Good With His Hands
Along with his intrigue with the gritty Americana of the West, Costner is also not afraid to get his hands dirty. The actor is also reportedly good with his hands and, at age 18, built his own canoe.
In keeping with his love for the wilderness, he used the canoe to follow the Lewis and Clark trail to the Pacific.
Behind the Scenes
In addition to his acting, Kevin Costner has also been a director. In fact, he has directed The Postman, Open Range, A Little War of Our Own, and, most notably, Dances with Wolves.
Though he may not have directed many movies, he has still pursued the position and may very well take on more directing roles as he has been successful in the past…
The Reward of Awards
Costner has won a couple of Academy Awards in his career. He won for best director, best picture, and was nominated for best actor, all for the film, "Dances with Wolves." He has also won two Golden Globe Awards and has received three nominations.
Additionally, he was nominated for three BAFTA awards (for Dances with Wolves) and won an Emmy for his role in the History Channel series, Hatfields and McCoys.
His Worst Film
No matter how famous or successful, every actor has had at least one film that totally flopped. For Kevin Costner, it was "Water World." The film was considered to be (for its time) the most expensive film to make and, being that it did not do well monetarily, studio executives would have been cringing.
The post-apocalyptic film had many things going against it before it was even released, including bad press over the cost of production and Costner’s personal drama with the film’s director. This, combined with a storyline that just didn’t click with many viewers, made it his worst film.
Dances with Drama
Costner has recently been in the news for filing a 15 million dollar lawsuit against his former business partner, Jim Wilson. Wilson was his partner in the Good One's Production company that produced both "Dances with Wolves" and "The Bodyguard."
Costner claims in the lawsuit that Wilson did not fulfill his obligations as a business partner or sign away his rights to the production company when it was dissolved.
Back to Singletown
After 18 years of marriage, Kevin and Christine, who have been so inspirational to so many, decided to call it quits. In May 2023, Christine filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. Costner, on his part, graciously asked, via his representatives, that fans and media outlets respect the family's privacy.
After all, other than the parents, there are also three children involved, all of which are still teenagers. Putting the kids at the top of their priorities, the couple has agreed to joint custody. Only time will tell if Kevin and Christine will ever find another life partner or if they will ever find their way back to each other.
John Travolta is one of the best-known names in Hollywood, and one of the most gifted actors in the business. However, that does not mean he is without secrets and mystery. From his involvement with the Scientology movement to his colorful love life, we’ll take you through some of the twists and turns along Travolta’s life so far.
John Travolta’s private life has been at the center of many a media storm, but with so many romantic connections, it's hard to keep track of his latest love interest. Recently, John Travolta decided to come out and set the record straight putting an end to rumors and speculation. What he had to say was fascinating…
A Love for a Lifetime
John Travolta met Kelly Preston on the set of The Experts, back in 1987. Love looked as though it would blossom, but there was a small issue that Kelly was already married. It wasn’t until they re-met in Vancouver in 1990 when both were on separate film projects that their love affair really took flight, and they decided to give things a proper shot.
Kelly sought a divorce from her husband, and once things were finalized, the two were engaged. They planned to get married in New York, but when plans started to get out of control they decided to elope in the most romantic city in the world, Paris, and so in 1991 the two of them hopped on a plane and got hitched.
Boy In The Plastic Bubble
This was John Travolta’s breakout role in the TV film in 1976, entitled, The boy in the plastic bubble. Travolta played the leading role, a character called Tom who is born with an undeveloped immune system. His life has to be therefore restricted so that he does not catch any infections as his body would not be able to fight them off. Desperate to experience new things, Tod must move around protected by a giant bubble made out of plastic.
As he starts to explore his surroundings, he falls in love with the girl who lives in the house next door, her name is Gina. When Tod learns he has built up enough immunity to step out of his bubble, he goes for it with Gina. Sparks were flying on-set, but it wasn’t between Travolta and the actress who played Gina. No, Travolta was linked to Diana Hyland who played Tod’s mother in the film. This was to be the first of many love-related scandals for Travolta.
Love Before Kelly
They may have seemed an unlikely pairing, but Diana Hyland and John Travolta were a pairing of true love. They were a huge eighteen years apart, but as they say, love can conquer all. They met on the set of the film, “The boy in the plastic bubble,” and played mother and son which made this an unlikely pairing.
Their love was not to last, as Hyland became sick with breast cancer and sadly died at the age of 41, in Travolta’s arms. The boy in the plastic bubble was critically acclaimed, and as a result, Hyland was awarded an Emmy Award, which Travolta accepted in her honor.
Kelly and Clooney
Kelly Preston also had a colorful romantic history before her meeting Travolta. When they met once again in Vancouver, Kelly was at the time married to Kevin Gage. The couple had enjoyed a huge and lavish wedding in Hawaii but their marriage only two years when things started to fall apart.
Kelly Preston had also been linked to hunky actor George Clooney between the years 1987-1989. Reports of a serious relationship were confirmed when Clooney gave Kelly a pet pig as a gift which they named Max. Preston was able to keep the pet after George and Kelly split up.
They Married Twice
When Travolta and Preston decided to get married things weren’t plain sailing from the start. They decided the wedding preparations were getting out of hand, so they hopped on a plane and had a small ceremony in Paris in 1991.
The service was officiated by a Scientology minister, but when the happy couple returned home, their celebrations were halted when they found out the marriage was not legally binding. They decided to quickly arrange another ceremony which would be a legal ceremony and took place on Daytona Beach in Florida.
Family Tragedy
The Travolta was struck by tragedy in 2009 when Kelly and John’s son, Jett sadly passed away on January 2nd. The Travoltas had been enjoying a family vacation at their home away from home in the Old Bahama Bay Hotel in the Bahama’s.
The shocking death occurred after their sixteen-year-old son, Jett hit his head on the bathtub and suffered a seizure. He died shortly after leaving the family, including Jett’s sister, Ella, devastated and grief-stricken. Speaking on behalf of the Travoltas, their family attorney released a statement to People Magazine which said, “To bury your son is the worst thing you can ever do.”
A Family Affair
Acting was something of a family business for the Travoltas. John’s mother, Helen, also made her career in acting which heavily influenced John and his career path. As a child he had watched his mother performing in roles for film and on the stage, taking on acting and dancing.
It was John who was the triple threat as he could act, dance and sing, a talent he discovered when he attended drama school in New York. The mother and son pair starred together in both Grease and Saturday Night Fever showing their multi-faceted talents to the audience.
Travolta Senior
Mother and son, Helen and John had a special bond through their shared love of the performing arts. The patriarch of the family, Salvatore Travolta was an Italian-American whose grandparents had emigrated to the United States. As a second-generation immigrant, Salvatore felt the promise of the American dream and pursued his love of football. He had a semi-professional career as a football player but decided to take on something with more stability.
Salvatore retired from his sports career and opened a tire shop to be run by the family in New Jersey. Sadly in 1995, Salvatore died leaving a gaping hole in the Travolta family.
He’s a Pilot
Aside from acting, Travolta has a passion for flying. He is a skilled pilot and received his official flying license allowing him to fly private planes. This passion led him to buy his own fleet of five planes. Included in the fleet, is a Boeing 707 which Travolta uses to fly his family and friends around the country and to exotic far off locations.
Travolta loves planes so much he built a home for his family in a residential airpark, part of the Jumbolair Aviation Estates. The house was built with a runway that goes straight to the Travolta’s front door so he can jump on a plane and fly to wherever he wants, whenever he wants.
Net Worth
Travolta has had a long and successful career which has allowed him to build up his net worth and his reputation. Currently, Travolta’s net worth is estimated at $170 million. The grease and Hairspray star is one of the highest paid actors in Hollywood, and with hits such as Saturday Night Fever, the royalties just keep on coming.
It’s not surprising with this level on income he is able to spend his money on expensive homes and airplanes adding to his already impressive fleet.
Dancing Confession
Travolta stunned audiences in 1977 with his acting and dancing abilities in the hit movie, Saturday Night Fever. Although Travolta clearly had a natural talent, he had to work hard and fine tune it so he could become a killer dancer. For this Travolta undertook intense training for nine months at a dance school. He had been inspired by the film Soul Train and so wanted to bring influences from that into his dancing.
Speaking about it at the time, Travolta told Vanity Fair magazine that he preferred “black dancing than white dancing” and that he had tried to bring elements of the Soul Train atmosphere into Saturday Night Fever.
Oprah’s Best Friend
Over the years, John Travolta and Oprah Winfrey have developed a special bond. She has said he is her favorite movie star and Travolta often favors Oprah over other TV show appearances.
In 2010 Oprah famously announced in the first episode of the last season of her talk show, that the whole audience was being invited on an 8-day, all expenses paid trip to Australia. As if this wasn’t enough, John Travolta had offered to fly the plane to take the audience to their destination. The pair needed to work on this concept for over a year, to make this a reality.
John Gets Personal
Both Kelly and John are used to media attention, and there were some things where they felt it was important for them to have their voices heard. In 1996 they decided to speak about the special weekend they spent at the home of Demi Moore and Bruce Willis, where they believe they conceived their beloved son Jett.
They had no idea that in a few short years Jett would no longer be with them. It has not always been plain sailing for the Travoltas, and they have openly spoken about needing to a Scientology marriage counselor to help them through some of the more difficult times.
Pregnant at 47
At the age of 47, Kelly was very surprised to find out that she was pregnant with their third child. This happy news came just sixteen months after the devastation of Jett’s death in the previous January. This news came as a huge shock and a great surprise as they were not expecting it.
Still, the Travoltas were delighted and couldn’t wait to share the happy news for their family. In their official announcement, they said, “it’s impossible to keep a secret – especially one as wonderful as this. We want to be the first to share this great news with everyone that we are expecting a new addition to our family.”
Baby Benjamin
Kelly and John welcomed their third child, a baby boy whom they named Benjamin into the world in 2011. The family were so happy to have a new child after the tragic loss of their son, Jett just two years previous.
In an interview with Hello magazine, the Travoltas told the reporter that having a new baby had given the whole family a renewed sense of spirit and purpose. They said about Benjamin, “He’s brought us a new beginning.” Maybe the most special part of this for John was how he felt when he held Benjamin. He said, “for us, it’s been uplifting, especially when he smiles at me and seems contented in my arms.”
Kelly and Charlie Sheen
Kelly Preston wasn’t just married previously, she was also engaged to Charlie Sheen for a short time in 1990. Sheen proposed with a 2.5-carat diamond engagement ring. The relationship ended after an accident with a handgun which Kelly wrote about in her autobiography. Charlie had a gun which he had kept in the pocket of his pair of jeans.
Kelly was trying to tidy up and moved the jeans when the gun went off and shot Kelly in the arm. The split was amicable, and they decided to sell the engagement ring and share the profits.
He Was a Loner
High school wasn’t the easiest for Travolta as he often found himself alone. He did not enjoy the same popularity as he does now, and he wasn’t successful with girls either. Travolta was mostly interested in perfecting his acting craft and so would spend most of his spare time in acting classes.
In an interview with the Phoenix, Travolta said, “Not too many of my friends identified with what I was doing. I participated in football and basketball and did what they were doing, but not many kids understood my going to acting studios at night.” It was this love for acting that most likely separated Travolta from his peers and as a result, he spent much of his teen years alone.
Behind The Scenes
They say there is no rest for the wicked, and this was the case for Travolta. Just four short days after filming on Saturday Night Fever wrapped, Travolta, starting working on his next hit movie, Grease. This was the biggest box office hit of 1978, so it’s no surprise he wanted to get stuck in straight away. This was an especially difficult time for Travolta as his girlfriend, Diana Hyland had recently passed away in his arms.
According to the Grease director, Randal Kleiser, Travolta was having trouble lip-syncing the words “heat lap trials” and kept on saying, “heap” instead. As a professional, Travolta eventually got there and was able to lipsync correctly.
Welcome Back, Kotter
When Travolta finished work touring with the cast of Grease, Travolta was well and truly at the top of his game and very much living the high life. He wanted to continue riding the crest of this wave and was happy when he was cast by ABC in their popular sitcom, “Welcome Back, Kotter” in the role of Vinnie Barbarino. Travolta portrayed this bad-boy role successfully for four exceptional years.
Along the way, he won the hearts of women of all ages across the United States and further afield. Reflecting on the show in the years since Travolta has noticed similarities with his character Vinnie.
Rejected Role Of A Lifetime
Travolta was now in a position where he could pick the roles he wanted. In 1984, he was offered the lead role in a movie called Splash, with Daryl Hannah playing a mermaid who finds herself in New York City. Other popular actors of the time also turned down the role, including Michael Keaton, Bill Murray, Dudley Moore, Allen Bauer, and Chevy Chase, with Tom Hanks eventually accepting the opportunity.
Travolta was discouraged by his agent who thought it wasn’t the right role for him at the time. This turned out to be a mistake as it was one of the huge box office hits of the year. Who knows how popular it could have been with Travolta in the starring role.
Qantas Ambassador
Travolta had always taken a keen interest in aviation and flying from a young age, and this had manifested in him taking his private pilot’s license as well as owning a fleet of five aircraft. In 2001, shortly after the terrorist attacks of 9.11, Travolta became the “Ambassador-at-large” for Qantas Airways in an attempt to encourage people to continue using airplanes in the wake of that fateful day.
It may seem strange that Travolta would link up with Qantas, who are in fact the Australian national airline, but Travolta was always impressed with their safety record and is known for flying the longest routes around the world. It was through Qantas that Travolta purchased his Boeing 707 aircraft, the most impressive in his fleet.
Travolta’s Mansions
As with many stars they have huge incomes and so can afford extravagant homes. The Travoltas own four such homes in Maine, California, Hawaii, and in Ocala Florida which is their main residence and also their largest. Maybe the most extravagant thing about it is that it also functions as an airport and two runways which lead straight to their front door.
The home is actually situated in a residential airpark. The Travoltas chose this location on purpose as they wanted to be able to access their airplanes at any time. In an interview with Australia’s Today program, Travolta was quoted in saying that “We designed the house for the jets and to have at our access the world at a moment’s notice.”
Dream Co-Pilots
Being passionate about something is a wonderful thing, and we all know Travolta is passionate about planes and flying. He has been lucky enough to be able to share this passion with a good friend, Marlon Brando, with whom he has co-piloted a number of flights before. Travolta had dreams to co-pilot with some of the legends of flying which included Howard Hughes, a genius of his time who was plagued by mental health issues and OCD. Hughes was brought back to life in the film, The Aviator when Leonardo DiCaprio took on the role.
His other dream co-pilot would have been Charles Lindbergh who was the first person to fly solo, non-stop all the way over the Atlantic Ocean. Unfortunately, both of these ambitions will remain dreams for John as both Lindbergh and Hughes sadly passed away many years ago.
Kirstie Alley and Travolta
The late Kirstie Alley and John Travolta were great friends. They first met when they starred opposite each other in the hit movie, Look Who’s Talking, and again in the sequel Look Who’s Talking Now. They discovered that they shared many interests including Scientology. It took years for Alley to move past her romantic feelings for Travolta.
It’s interesting she felt that way because at the time they met she was married to Parker Stevenson, despite declaring to Barbara Walters that he was “the love of my life.” Kirstie remained faithful to Stevenson, and she and Travolta remained the best of friends.
Cruise vs. Travolta
You would be forgiven for assuming that Tom Cruise and John Travolta are good friends. In fact, this is not true at all. Despite having mutual friends, being part of the Hollywood scene and being devoted believers in Scientology, the two are not at all close
In Leah Remini’s book entitled, “Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology,” she reveals that Tom Cruise doesn’t like John Travolta or Kirstie Alley for that matter. This rumor was confirmed when neither Travolta or Alley was invited to Tom Cruise’s wedding to Katie Holmes, back in 2006.
After Tragedy
Life in the Travolta home was pretty plain sailing, and relatively normal, as normal as life can be when your dad is one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood. This was until their lives were wrecked by the tragic death of Jett Travolta who died at just 16 years old after suffering a seizure. Jett had a younger sister who was only eight at the time her big brother died in such tragic circumstances
A few days after the accident, the Travoltas released a statement which spoke of Jett. It said, “Jett was the most wonderful son that two parents could ever ask for and lit up the lives of everyone he encountered.” Any parent who loses a child will tell you, it is the hardest pain you will ever have to endure, and you will think about them every day.
Moving On
At times of tragedy, some people prefer to grieve alone, others rely on the love and support of their closest friends and family. This is exactly what the Travoltas decided to do, and they sought strength from the love they had been shown, not just by those closest to them but from their many fans too. The Travoltas said it was this outpouring of love which has helped through this darkest of times.
In a statement on their website, they said, “It is a beautiful reminder of the inherent goodness in the human spirit that gives us hope for a brighter future.” Their lives would never be quite the same again, but the couple decided to move forward with their lives and on November 23, 2010, in Florida, the family welcomed a healthy baby boy weighing in at 8lbs 3 oz and who was named Benjamin.
Marriage Secrets
To celebrate 25 years of marriage takes hard work and dedication and John and Kelly opened up to Closer Weekly about what they do to keep things on track. The underlying thought is that they care deeply for one another and have a genuine loving bond.
They also told the magazine that they both have an instinct to want to protect the other. Most married couples will also tell you to try and keep things fresh. Have new experiences together, so you continue to grow as a couple and move together through the different phases of life. Kelly agreed with all of these things and added that it’s important to make time for each other. “Keep doing things, just the two of you” she added.
Major Pushover
It’s also important to be a team when it comes to parenting and to have a united front. This isn’t the case in the Travolta household as the kids know that John is a total pushover. You could say that John is a “Yes Dad.” It’s something you have to do says John, admitting to the Daily Mail that he will say yes to pretty much anything when it comes to their youngest son, Ben.
Kelly added that if Ben were to ask her for ice cream at midnight, she would, of course, tell him that it was too late and he needs to go to bed. Two minutes later he would ask his dad and John would tell him, “Sure! Do you want hot fudge on that?” How do we get an invite to the Travolta house for a midnight ice cream?
Ella Travolta Now
Many of those who are in show business would not encourage their children following in their footsteps. This is not the case in the Travolta household as their daughter Ella Bley is well on the way to becoming an actress in her own right. Now as a young adult she is honing her craft just as her father did.
When John was asked at the 2017 SAG awards about whether he encouraged her acting career, he answered positively and said, “Yes, I want her to because she is so good at it. She is such a good performer.” Fathers are always their daughters biggest fans, but in this case, he may have a point.
Facial Hair
For a Hollywood star appearance is, and for John Travolta, he put a lot of care into his looks especially when it came to his hair and facial hair. He has dyed it different colors and even added in a weave to give it more volume. Generally speaking, each new look is for a specific role he is going to play.
The same goes for his facial hair which has seen a number of different styles including goatee beards and handlebar mustaches. Each of these different looks he would have done for different roles he was playing.
Dance With Princess Diana
One of the most iconic moments in John Travolta’s life was in 1985 when he danced with Princess Diana at the White House. It took place at a gala dinner hosted by the President at the time, Ronald Reagan. It was a surreal moment for both of them.
According to reports from the event, Nancy Raegan said that Diana wanted to dance with John Travolta, so he asked her, and she accepted. He says to this day it was one of the best moments of his life. Speaking of the moment, he said that they, “were off for 15 minutes of dancing. I’m so honored that I was able to experience it.”
You’re The One That I Want
When Travolta and the Australian actress/ singer Olivia Newton-John worked together when they starred as Danny Zuko, and Sandy Olson in on-screen musical Grease everyone could see the genuine chemistry between the two. Newton-John is probably one of Travolta’s all-time crushes.
The rumors of a romance started spreading which were not silenced when they starred in other movies together including, “Two of a kind.” The romance never went anywhere serious, and the two remain close friends to this day. You can often see them hanging out at Hollywood events reminiscing about the good old days.
The Hiatus
Not every role you choose is going to be a success, and for Travolta, the dip in his career came when he starred in the movie, Urban Cowboy, following which was a string of failed films which had very poor reviews and didn’t do well at the box office either. This was despite him being offered multiple roles that were sure-fire hits.
Not every decision is the right decision at the time, and this led to a downturn in movie offers and a period of quiet for Travolta. As we know, this wasn’t the end of his career, and soon enough, he was making good decisions and appearing in huge hits once again. Travolta had re-found his mojo.
A Singing Sensation
Most of Travolta’s career has been focused on acting and dancing, but he is the triple threat and can also belt out a tune. After appearing in Grease he could have taken the same route as his co-star, Olivia Newton-John and become a successful singer, but he decided to stick with acting.
John Travolta did make one foray into singing as a young 22-year-old when he released a love song entitled, “let her in.” It captured the hearts and minds of the American public and eventually made it to the number 10 spot on the Billboard charts.
The “John-aissance”
The tables began to turn once again for John Travolta when he starred opposite Kirstie Alley as a young taxi driver in Look Who’s Talking. The movie was released in 1989 and made a phenomenal $297 million at the box office. The producers knew they were on to a winner as this was Travolta’s biggest box office win since Grease. They decided to make a number of sequels ushering in a new era of success. Some called this his “John-aissance,” which was well and truly in full swing when in 1994 he was offered a role in Quinten Tarantino’s new movie, Pulp Fiction.
Travolta played opposite Samuel L Jackson and earned himself an Academy Award Nomination for best actor for his role as Vincent Vega. This was almost like a rebirth for Travolta reaching new heights and successes. Of course with this was more fame and fortune.
A-List Actor
Pulp fiction may not have been big budget, but it had catapulted Travolta into an area of A-list movies with top actors. In the long string of successful films for which he was given top roles during the nineties included playing opposite Nicolas Cage as an FBI agent in the thriller, Faceoff.
He also played the role of a loan shark in Get Shorty and as an attorney in Civil Action. It wasn’t until the end of the nineties when John Travolta was cast as a presidential candidate who was similar in many ways to Bill Clinton in the movie Primary Colors. The role was demanding and challenging, and Travolta would have to make some drastic changes to his appearance to make the character believable.
Weight Gain
For his role in Primary Colors in 1998, for which he would be portraying former President Bill Clinton during his first presidential campaign in 1992, the directors and producers thought it might be more believable if Travolta gained some weight to portray the role.
They asked him to gain about thirty pounds which were a departure from his slim and svelte physique in movies like Grease. To do so, he said he got to binge-eat burgers and junk food, to which he admitted to enjoying. “It’s been fun gaining it,” he said.
Oscars Embarrassment
When it comes to acting, you are always on the stage, but there is no bigger stage than the Academy Awards ceremony. Travolta managed to embarrass himself when in 2014 he introduced Idina Menzel and Adele Dazeem. Surely he’s learned to read and autocue by now? He received lots of criticism for his mistake, but he took it in good spirits and sent the singer his apologies with a large bouquet of flowers.
Menzel accepted his apology but got her own back the following year when the roles were reversed, and she introduced him as “Glom Gazino.” Everyone got a good laugh, but it got a bit uncomfortable when he joined her on stage and caressed her face. No one was quite sure what was going on, but everyone took it in good spirits.
Another Oscar Oops
This wasn’t the only time John Travolta would get himself into hot water. There was another unfortunate incident at the Oscars that same year when on the red carpet, Travolta approached Scarlett Johansson to give her a kiss hello just as she was being snapped by photographers. The result was an awkward-looking surprise kiss.
Johansson was quick to jump to the defense of John Travolta saying that within the context it was a welcome gesture and was very sweet. She continued on to say, “That still photo does not reflect what preceded and followed if you see the moment live.” They say a picture says a thousand words, but sometimes you need a few extra to explain things.
Gere’s Indebted to Travolta
Richard Gere says he is strangely indebted to John Travolta because some of his major roles were ones that were first offered to, and subsequently turned down by John Travolta. It wasn’t just one such role, but there were four significant films which included Gere’s breakout role in American Gigolo.
There were also roles in the films, Days of Heaven and An Officer and a Gentleman. Perhaps most famously, Travolta turned down a role to be in the adaptation of the Broadway musical, Chicago, a role which Gere gladly took and which earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor. Of course, Gere gained these roles on his own merit, but it’s funny to think of what might have been for Travolta.
Nick Young Stole Travolta’s Swag
Aside from awards nominations and accolades, John Travolta also has a victory dance that was inspired by Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard, Nick Young. Nick played for the Lakers between 2013-2017 and is known as “Swaggy P” which is short for, “The Prophet of Swag.” Aside from his incredible talent, whenever he scores off of a three-pointer, he will do a dance reminiscent of some John Travolta moves.
He claims that this was from a dream he had where God instructed him to be “a man going back and forth like John Travolta.”, something that we know John is very happy about as he says he “loves it” and thinks it’s “awesome”!
OJ Simpson Criticisms
In 2016 there was once again interest around the OJ Simpson murder trials. This had something to do with the ESPN documentary entitled, “OJ: Made in America” which was released at the same time as “The People vs. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story.” Both of these were critically acclaimed.
Travolta played the role of Robert Schapiro, a lawyer who was at the forefront of the trial and part of OJ’s “dream team.” Travolta was criticized by Schapiro for not going to meet him and get to know him. Schapiro said the portrayal was not accurate, but then he might say that as he didn’t come across as the nicest of characters in the show.
Cutting Some Bangs
We know that John Travolta’s passion for airplanes isn’t limited to just flying them. He loves the whole concept of aviation. So, when Buzz Aldrin launched a non-profit organization called ShareSpace which encouraged the teaching of science and math, John Travolta was happy to put his name to it and help raise money.
To do so, he took part in a celebrity auction where he would re-enact the famous dance scene with his character and Uma Thurman's. The winning bidder was a dedicated fan and wished to emulate Uma Thurman's look so asked Travolta to cut bangs into her hair. He duly obliged and gave her hair a snip there and then.
Gotti Get Me Some Travolta
John Gotti, who was head of the infamous Gambino family, one of the most ruthless criminal families has got to be a tough role to play, but it was Travolta who was deemed talented enough to capture the character of Gotti.
Along with other A-list stars including Stacy Keach from Prison Break, Travolta played the role of one of the most powerful and influential mob bosses of all time. With the many twists and turns in Gotti’s life, it makes for a thrilling movie plot that Travolta has the challenge of depicting with an emotional and sometimes raw performance.
Freak Accident
When their son, Jett tragically passed away at the young age of 16 from a freak accident they must have thought that was enough sadness for a lifetime. Yet again, the Travoltas suffered a terribly sad accident when they flew to Maine airport.
They had brought their dogs with them who had been taken for a quick walk around the grounds of the airport. A liaison was said to be left responsible for taking the dogs out, but unfortunately, during their walk, they were hit by an airport vehicle and didn’t survive the accident. The airport was very sorry and sent condolence flowers and a card to the Travoltas.
Good Vs. Evil
Learning how to play a character is a skill and something that takes years to perfect, a talent Travolta knows a lot about. He always says it’s easier to play the bad guy as opposed to the good guy. When asked about what kind of roles he preferred Travolta said he found playing the bad guys a more liberating experience.
They are not held back my morals or restrictions, you can let loose and just not care. Good guys place these restrictions on themselves and have to navigate their behavior in line with their own moral code, which makes it more challenging to add personal touches to a character.
He’s an Author
If you thought to be the triple threat of actor, dancer and singer weren’t enough then you can add author to the list of talents Travolta seems to possess. In 1984, amidst all of the Grease and Saturday Night Fever madness, Travolta released a book entitled, John Travolta Staying Fit. This was a complete guide to body shaping and conditioning through weight resistance training and modern dance.
If that wasn’t enough, in 1997, he released a second book dedicated to his love of aviation which told the story of a young boy who dreamt about flying planes one day. The book was called, Propeller One-Way Night Coach, A Fable for All Ages, which surely touched the hearts and minds of other young wannabe pilots.
A Career of a Lifetime
Travolta has had a wide and varied acting career and enjoyed the heights of success. He has a fantastic record of high box office takings with at least 10 of his films grossing over $100 million and a further eight managing to double that figure with takings of over $200 million. Producers know that having his name on the bill will help increase revenues at the box office and so he has become one of the most experienced and sought-after actors in Hollywood.
He has had a string of hit movies which include, Saturday Night Fever, Grease, Look Who’s Talking, Wild Hogs, Hairspray, Bolt, Pulp Fiction and Phenomenon. Amazingly, despite being nominated, John Travolta is yet to receive an Academy Award.
Bolt
We know that Travolta has played a range of roles from mob bosses to Danny Zukko, and from Hairspray to Pulp fiction, the genres couldn’t be more different. No one imagined, however, that he would take a role in an animated movie, but he did exactly that for his part in Bolt. For this movie he gave his voice to the lead character, also called Bolt and starred alongside Miley Cyrus.
The movie showcased both of their singing voices and Travolta was once again able to demonstrate how talented he is. Bolt proved that he was still relevant and able to make fresh movies that would delight those in Hollywood as well as a wider audience.
Romantic Scandal
It’s not unusual for there to be a romantic scandal for Hollywood stars and John Travolta is no different. In 2014 a former pilot for Travolta called Douglas Gotterba claimed that he had been having intimate relations with Travolta for six years. Gotterba broke his silence in a tell-all story with the National Enquirer.
The Travolta family said the rumors were false and “ridiculous.” When the accusation was made, Gotterba said that he was not breaking any kind of non-disclosure agreement and said the story took place when he worked for the Travolta family aircraft company.
Man on Man
This would not be the only rumor circulating about John Travolta’s fidelity or his sexuality. He has been photographed a number of times getting up close and personal to certain people. Travolta claims he treats all of his male and female friends the same and kisses them all hello and goodbye. We assume that is what is going on in this photo with Kirk Douglas.
There was, however, the occasion when Travolta was caught on camera with a friend, whose identity remains unknown when they were about to take off aboard Travolta’s private airplane. This may have been the biggest scandal to beset him.
Scientology Involvement
Travolta is one of the most famous and prominent believers in Scientology. Despite having been brought up as a Roman Catholic, Travolta decided to convert to Scientology in 1975. Travolta has been a firm believer for over 40 years and says he has loved having it as an influence on his life.
In an interview on Good Morning America, he said it had been a thing of beauty in his life, helping him to save the lives of others and being a source of immense support and strength through the grieving period for his son Jet. He was quoted by saying, “I’ve saved lives with it and saved my own life several times. Through my loss of my son, it helped me every step of the way for two years solid, and here I am.”
Living In Fear
Travolta’s relationship with Scientology hasn’t always been plain sailing. In 1991 the Church of Scientology believed that Travolta might be looking to leave the Church. Executive Director, William Franks thought that Travolta was worried that the Church would expose details about his personal life. For the Church of Scientology, secrecy is held in high regard.
These secrets have not been revealed, perhaps they are subject to a non-disclosure agreement. All this makes his relationship with the Church of Scientology, less than straightforward.
Still Defends Scientology
Even though it hasn’t always been a smooth ride for John Travolta and Scientology he is still willing to defend it through and through. When HBO released a documentary on the Scientology, it did not show the Church in a positive light. Travolta was asked his opinion on the program and said he could not comment properly as he had not experienced the negative aspects of Scientology that the program portrayed.
He believed that those who had spoken out against Scientology were merely, “disgruntled with their experiences.” This is in contrast to Travolta’s experience which he is quoted as saying it has, “been so beautiful for me, that I can’t even imagine attacking it.”
His Breakthrough
For as long as he can remember, John Travolta had dreamed of being an actor. So much so, that he dropped out of high school so he could focus all his time into making a success of it. His first move was to New York City where he got his first professional acting job in the line up for Grease the musical, with whom he toured.
His next job was with another Broadway hit show called, “Over here!” This was a fantastic opportunity for Travolta to develop his acting skills and built up his resume. Once he felt confident that this was something he could really make a go of he packed his bags and headed for the showbiz capital of the world, Los Angeles.
Lawsuits and Assault
May of 2012 was a bad time for Travolta as he was hit with allegations of unwanted advances by an anonymous masseuse. The masseuse filed a lawsuit against Travolta. This revelation came just days after another set of accusations. This time from two men represented by Gloria Allred.
The men had sued Travolta for battery and assault after they claimed they had been subject to his violent behavior in a hotel in Beverly Hills and at another hotel in Atlanta. Travolta remained strong, and eventually, his legal team proved that the stories weren’t true and the allegations were dropped.
Another Assault
The cases in 2012 were not the first allegations Travolta had had to face. In 2009 which on a Royal Caribbean cruise, Travolta is alleged to have spoken out of turn to one of the workers on the ship. According to the allegations, Travolta had called him “beautiful” and said that he would “take care of” him. While John Travolta couldn’t deny he was on the cruise, he could deny the claims made by Mr. Zanzi, the cruise ship worker at the center of the allegations.
Travolta, when asked about the claims called them “ludicrous and inane” and thought it was just another person looking for a few minutes in the spotlight. The claims were eventually dropped before a trial took place.
Alleged Misconduct
Another allegation was made in 2012 but Travolta’s former co-star from Grease, Jeff Conaway, who played Kenickie. Together with his ex-fiancée, Vikki Lizzi claimed in an article in the National Enquirer that John Travolta had once again made unwanted advances, but on this occasion, it took place in the 1990s and was directed at Conaway.
Travolta’s legal team vehemently denied the claims and said they were nothing more than, “a malicious tabloid agenda to boost lagging sales by running outrageous defamatory stories about my client sourced by people seeking notoriety or a payday.”
Jett’s Struggle
Jett sadly died at the tragically young age of sixteen, but it wasn’t until after his death that John Travolta revealed some of the many difficulties his son had lived with. Aside from being autistic, Jett suffered from a complicated combination of neurological disorders, which meant that he often had seizures.
The details of Jett’s condition were revealed in a hearing as a result of attempted extortion. John Travolta felt it was important for people to know how his son had suffered throughout his short life and what ultimately brought him to his untimely death.
Total Blackout
As an experienced pilot and aviation enthusiast John Travolta has been able to experience some amazing things. This isn’t to say he hasn’t had to deal with an emergency from time to time. This particular emergency took place on a late November evening back in 1992. It was a cloudy night, and Travolta was piloting his Gulfstream N728T. As he was making his way along with one of the busiest airwaves he suffered a complete engine failure.
Travolta had to think quick and luckily noticed the Washington DC airport between a break in the clouds. He was able to guide the plane, along with his co-pilot to an emergency landing, where luckily no one was harmed.
A Near Miss
As part of the full engine failure, the plane's radio system also had a total blackout. Air traffic control became very nervous as to the whereabouts of Travolta’s plane and suspended activity until they knew its location and where it might be landing. In an attempt to try and be helpful it was decided to have another plane guide John and his co-pilot to the runway. To do this, they diverted a fully booked Boeing 727.
However, due to the fact Travolta’s radios were also out, he had no idea this was the plan and so narrowly avoided a mid-air collision. Luckily all was fine, both planes landed safely, and no one was hurt.
Taking Its Toll
Jett’s life was from an early age plagued with difficulties. At the age of just two, he was rushed to hospital with what appeared to be flu-like symptoms. In fact, it was the far more serious, Kawasaki disease, which is an auto-immune condition affecting inflammation in the arteries. It is severe but treatable. While it's not contagious, it was likely to been related to Jett’s many other health issues, with which he suffered his entire life.
It wasn’t until Montel Williams interviewed Kelly Preston in 2003 that she revealed what had happened during this ordeal.
Couldn’t Make The Grade
John Travolta was not an academic child when he was at school, he was too focused on perfecting his acting skills. Indeed, this was mirrored in some of the roles he played where he was one of the “cool kids” but not necessarily top of his class, roles such as Grease and Welcome Back Kotter. It didn’t take long for Travolta to realize that the performing arts were his calling and he became less and less interested in his studies, which was something his teachers were concerned about.
Regarding his relationship with his teachers, Travolta would just try and charm them and was once quoted as saying he “tried to communicate with them on a more adult level.”
Dropping Out Of High School
It is said that life imitates art, and for John Travolta, art imitated life. Such was the case that because he was so focused on his acting career, he decided to drop out of high school-aged sixteen to pursue his dreams. Landing the role of Danny Zuko, a charming and popular high school kid, who was not focused on his studies was, to an extent, art imitating life for Travolta.
What it didn’t reflect was that for Travolta, he participated in football and basketball with his friends, but they never really understood his devotion to acting and why Travolta would head to the acting studios at night to work on his craft. Perhaps now that he is one of the most in-demand actors in Hollywood, they understand.
Helping Haiti
Being a successful actor means that you have resources to help those less fortunate than you. This is very much the case with John Travolta who often shows selfless behavior for those in need. This was the case in 2010 when news of the devastating earthquake in Haiti hit. The Haitian people and their government just didn’t have the resources to help those affected. It was when Travolta heard this that he loaded his Boeing 707 with food, supplies, medical equipment, and doctors and flew the plane to Haiti to deliver the goods personally.
This is one of the many perks of having your own airplane that in times of need you can deliver the goods yourself.
Out of the spotlight
John Travolta has had a long and fruitful acting career, but in the early 2000s things weren’t going as well as they usually do. He made some poor choices when it came to his career. Most notably was Battlefield Earth which he co-produced as well as starring in.
The movie was panned by the critics and performed very poorly at the box office bringing in virtually nothing. They say you’re only as good as your last movie so Travolta may have thought his career was over. He shouldn’t have been so worried as his reputation was strong and there were to be some exciting times ahead.
A model figure
Travolta has proved throughout his career that he is the triple threat. He can sing, dance, and of course, he can act. This has brought his incredible success with fame and fortune. As a result, lots of brands want to work with him and for him to promote their products. He has been turning heads for many years, such was the case when he became the first man to appear on the cover of the popular magazine McCalls in 1978.
At the time this was revolutionary as who would have thought to put someone who wasn’t a model on the front of a magazine, and moreover, he was a male actor. This was not a traditional choice by any means but began a new trend of inviting men to be on the covers, and not just female models.
His Romantic Preference
No one is really sure where Travolta’s romantic preferences lie. He appeard to be happily married to his wife of many years, Kelly Preston, with whom he has had three children. However, with a string of allegations from men relating to unwanted romantic advances from Travolta, it is hard to continue denying his situation.
Travolta is clearly fed up with such claims and decided to speak out about it in an interview with the Daily Beast he was quoted as saying, “I found it most offensive with the loss of my son. I felt like that was the lowest I’d ever felt. [That] stuff is always going to be interesting to somebody, but you stay away from family. This is every celebrity’s Achilles heel. It’s just about people wanting money. That’s all. It happens on many levels.”
Actors on Actors
It is essential to try and stay relevant in Hollywood, and even though Travolta’s career is well established and has a strong reputation, he still thought it would be a good idea to appear on the PBS for Variety special, “Actors on Actors” with another hugely popular star, Rob Lowe.
The two chatted about the allegations relating to Travolta’s supposed sexual misconduct and his preparations for the role of Robert Schapiro in “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story,” which had an all-star cast including David Schwimmer, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Nathan Lane.
Moving Forward
Travolta has had a long and successful career, but what is next for him, we don’t know. Perhaps in the age of Netflix where TV is king, he will do more work like “The People vs. O.J Simpson: American Crime Story.” Maybe the days of the big-budget movies like Saturday Night Fever, Grease and Pulp Fiction are behind him. Perhaps he will decide its time to focus on his family and his love of aviation?
What we do know is that whatever Travolta sets his mind to, he goes for it, full throttle until he has reached the top of his game with it. Back in 2016, some new opportunities were being offered to him for stage and screen, so we wait with bated breath to see what he comes out with next.
Losing Kelly
After overcoming hardships and personal tragedies together for so many years, it seemed like nothing could come between the loving Travoltas. However, in some cases, there is not a lot a couple can do against a higher power.
In 2018, Kelly was unfortunately diagnosed with breast cancer — a diagnosis the family kept away from the spotlight. After two years of treatment, at the age of 57, she sadly passed away. John officially announced her passing in an emotional Instagram post, praising her courage and the support she's had throughout that difficult battle. She will forever be his greatest love.