John Travolta is a celebrated American actor, singer, and dancer who gained widespread fame during the 1970s. He became a pop culture icon through his roles in Welcome Back, Kotter, Saturday Night Fever, and Grease. After experiencing a decline in his career, he made a significant comeback with the critically acclaimed film Pulp Fiction in 1994. Travolta remains active in acting and is also a certified pilot.
Profile Summary
| Full Name | John Joseph Travolta |
| Date of Birth | February 18, 1954 |
| Place of Birth | Englewood, New Jersey, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse | Kelly Preston (married 1991 until her passing in 2020) |
| Children | Three (Jett, Ella Bleu, Benjamin) |
| Occupations | Actor, singer, dancer, film producer, pilot |
| Net Worth | Approximately $100 million (as of 2025) |
Early Life and Education
Born as the youngest of six siblings, Travolta’s parents were Salvatore Travolta, an Italian-American tire salesman and former semi-professional football player, and Helen Cecilia Burke, an Irish-American actress and drama instructor.
Raised in Englewood, New Jersey, he developed a passion for performing arts early on, encouraged by his mother.
Travolta attended Dwight Morrow High School but left at 16 to focus on acting.
He trained in singing, dancing, and acting in New York and performed in theater productions, including Grease and Over Here! on Broadway.
Career
Travolta’s career breakthrough came with the TV series Welcome Back, Kotter (1975–1979). He then starred in major films such as Saturday Night Fever (1977), which earned him an Academy Award nomination, and Grease (1978).
Although his popularity waned in the 1980s, he revived his career with Pulp Fiction (1994), earning another Oscar nomination.
Other notable works include Get Shorty, Face/Off, Primary Colors, Wild Hogs, and American Crime Story. Travolta has also released several music albums, some linked to his film roles.
Personal Life
Travolta was married to actress Kelly Preston from 1991 until her death in 2020. The couple had three children. He has been a practicing Scientologist since 1975. Additionally, Travolta is a licensed private pilot and frequently pilots his own aircraft.
Net Worth
As of 2025, John Travolta’s estimated net worth is around $100 million, accumulated through his extensive career in entertainment and other ventures.
Awards and Nominations
- Two Academy Award nominations for Best Actor (Saturday Night Fever, Pulp Fiction)
- Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy (Get Shorty)
- Primetime Emmy Award as a producer and acting nominations for The People v. O. J. Simpson and Die Hart
- Various other nominations including BAFTA and Screen Actors Guild Awards
Selected Filmography
- Welcome Back, Kotter (TV, 1975–1979)
- Saturday Night Fever (1977)
- Grease (1978)
- Pulp Fiction (1994)
- Get Shorty (1995)
- Face/Off (1997)
- Primary Colors (1998)
- Wild Hogs (2007)
- The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story (TV, 2016)
Discography
Albums
- John Travolta (1976)
- Can’t Let You Go (1977)
- Travolta Fever (1978)
- Grease (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (1978)
- Two of a Kind (Soundtrack) (1983)
- The Road to Freedom (Collaboration) (1986)
- Let Her In: The Best of John Travolta (Compilation) (1996)
- The Collection (Compilation) (2003)
- Hairspray (Soundtrack) (2007)
- This Christmas (with Olivia Newton-John) (2012)
Notable Singles
- “Let Her In” (1976)
- “Whenever I’m Away from You” (1976)
- “All Strung Out on You” (1977)
- “You’re the One That I Want” (with Olivia Newton-John) (1978)
- “Summer Nights” (with Olivia Newton-John) (1978)
- “Greased Lightnin’” (1978)
- “I Thought I Lost You” (with Miley Cyrus) (2008)
