Travolta

Travolta is most often used as a surname, but in popular culture it is closely associated with John Joseph Travolta, an American actor, producer, and pilot born February 18, 1954. He rose to prominence in the 1970s with a combination of television work and film roles that made him a recognizable star of the era.

Born in Englewood, New Jersey, Travolta began acting in youth and pursued a career in entertainment that took him to television and stage before moving into feature films. He achieved widespread fame on the television series Welcome Back, Kotter (1975–1979). His film breakthrough came with Saturday Night Fever (1977), in which he played Tony Manero, a performance closely tied to the era’s disco culture, followed by the musical Grease (1978) as Danny Zuko. Both projects were major commercial successes and contributed to his status as a pop culture icon.

In the 1990s, Travolta continued to work across genres, appearing in notable films such as Pulp Fiction (1994) and Get Shorty (1995). He has since taken on a variety of film projects and also worked as a producer and, on occasion, a director. His later career includes a mix of critically mixed and commercially varied projects.

Personal life has included a long marriage to actress Kelly Preston from 1991 until her death in 2020; they had three children: Jett (1992–2009), Ella Bleu, and Benjamin. Travolta is also an accomplished aviation enthusiast and licensed pilot, owning and flying several aircraft. He remains a prominent figure in American film and entertainment.