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Aquarius - John Joseph Travolta was born on February 18, 1954 in New Jersey, the youngest of six siblings.

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Parents -

John Travolta is Italian on his father's side, and Irish on his mother's.

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Early steps -

His mother, also an entertainer, enrolled him in a drama school, where he received voice, dance, and singing lessons. At age 16, he dropped out of high school and moved to New York to pursue acting, mainly appearing in commercials and performing in summer theater productions. But stardom was right around the corner.

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Olivia Newton-John - Surely one of cinema's all-time favorite on-screen couples, John Travolta and the late Olivia Newton-John set the silver screen alight in 1978's 'Grease.' Of course, Olivia Newton-John was not the only co-star he's had chemistry with.

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Uma Thurman - One of his most famous roles was that of Vincent, the gangster in Quentin Tarantino's 'Pulp Fiction.' The dance scene with Uma Thurman is still loved by moviegoers around the globe.

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Sharon Stone -

Here he is posing with Sharon Stone at the 74th Annual Academy Awards celebrations in 2002.

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Scarlett Johansson - All smiles at the 2004 Venice Film Festival next to a luminous Scarlett Johansson. The two were attending the world premiere of their acclaimed drama 'A Love Song for Bobby Long.'

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Michelle Pfeiffer -

With 'Hairspray' co-star Michelle Pfeiffer and late wife Kelly Preston (left). The star-studded John Waters musical marked a return to Travolta's song-and-dance roots, earning him another Golden Globe nomination in 2008.

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Halle Berry -

At the 2001 MTV Movie Awards with 'Swordfish' co-star Halle Berry, who's caught between Travolta and Hugh Jackman. 

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Leslie Stefanson -

In 1999's 'The General's Daughter,' next to the actress playing the titular charatcer, Leslie Stefanson.

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Salma Hayek - These two co-stars have appeared in more than just one movie together.

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Blake Lively -

Blake Lively starred with John Travolta and Salma Hayek in 2012's 'Savages.'

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Jennifer Lawrence -

But Travolta doesn't only have chemistry with his co-stars. He delights the biggest Hollywood A-listers with his presence, like here with Jennifer Lawrence.

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Lady Gaga - Here he is dancing the night away with Lady Gaga at a Grammys after-party in 2017. Oh yeah, he's still got it!

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Kylie Minogue -

Attending a gala event with Australian popstar Kylie Minogue in 2008.

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Bianca Jagger - Having a chat with Bianca Jagger (Mick Jagger's ex-wife) at the 1978 premiere of 'Saturday Night Fever.' The disco-themed dance movie would catapult Travolta into the absolute stratosphere of Hollywood super stardom.

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Dancing -

No one thought it was possible that the budding movie star would have an even bigger hit in 1978, but he did! 'Grease' became the highest-grossing musical of that year, and is still considered one of the greatest musicals ever made!

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Style - For many, these two major roles solidified John Travolta not just as a sex symbol, but as a style icon as well.

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The pain and the pleasure -

However, at the same time his career was taking off so spectacularly, the actor also knew moments of great sadness and loneliness. It was during this time he was steered towards Scientology, which he credits with saving his life.

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Scientology - Indeed, Travolta has been a Scientologist since the '70s. He even convinced his 'Grease' co-star, the late Jeff Conaway (Kenickie), to attend sessions to help him combat his own issues, mainly drug abuse and depression.

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Grief -

However, as alluded to earlier, before joining Scientology the actor went through some dark times, tragically losing his partner, actress Diana Hyland (pictured), and his mother within a year of each. They both died of cancer.

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Kelly Preston - But Travolta would get another shot at love. He married his late wife, actress Kelly Preston, in September 1991. Did you know they had not one, but two weddings? The first one was a Scientology ceremony, but was later declared illegal.

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Children -

Sadly, in later life the actor's world took another tragic turn when he lost his 16-year old son, Jett, following a seizure episode during a family vacation in the Bahamas. Kelly Preston and John Travolta had two other children together: Benjamin and Ella Bleu.

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Generous -

The famous couple were both deeply committed to the Jett Travolta Foundation, a nonprofit charity that aims to provide relief for impaired children with special needs.

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Communication -

In 2021, Kelly Preston and John Travolta would've celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary. According to Travolta, their secret was communication. But in yet another heartbreaking moment in his life, Travolta lost his wife in July 2020 to breast cancer. She was just 57.

See also: Shake and shimmy through the greatest dance movies of all time

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