"Grease" came out in June 1978, starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John as Danny and Sandy. Entertainment Weekly may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. ", My heart is broken. In"Grease," she lent a sympathetic ear to a beauty school dropout (played by Didi Conn), who was her co-worker at the Frosty Palace malt shop, and in an interview with The Spokesman Review, Ellen Travolta who played a fellow Frosty Palace waitress in the film said it was "a lot of fun" working with Hollywood legends such as Blondell and Sid Caesar in "Grease.". (edited by) Casting By Joel Thurm Production Design by Philip M. Jefferies . [3], The following year, Conaway appeared in the original cast of the Broadway musical Grease, as an understudy to several roles including that of the lead male character, Danny Zuko, and eventually succeeded role-originator Barry Bostwick. Newton-John's more recent roles had been on television shows as a performer, as it's clear that music was her top priority. "Grease" was the word and one of the most beloved movies of the 1970s. [26], On May 11, 2011, Conaway was found unconscious from what was initially described as an overdose of substances believed to be pain medication and was taken to Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center in Encino, California, where he was listed in critical condition. [1][3] His second marriage, from 1980 until their divorce in 1985, was to Rona Newton-John,[2] elder sister of his Grease co-star, Olivia Newton-John. ", "But I try not to think about it too much, but I try to mediate and be peaceful about it, and know that everyone I love is there, so there's something to look forward to. Jeff Conaway, the long-troubled actor from Grease and TV's Taxi who waged a public battle with cocaine, painkillers and alcohol, died Friday at age 60. He appeared in films such as Jawbreaker, Elvira: Mistress of the Dark, and Do You Wanna Know a Secret? Newton-John continued to tour and release albums throughout the 1980s, but her personal life was in bloom. She worked steadily through the '90s before joining the cast of the celebrated drama The West Wing in 1999 which brought her six Emmy nominations and one win. When asked whether she thought of death often, Newton-John said she tried not to focus on it or any prognosis given by a doctor. Still, for Donnelly, "Grease" was more than just a movie, it was an experience. He was 87. There was no evidence he ever intentionally overdosed, Pinsky said. Despite her long battle with cancer, news of Newton-Johns passing still shook the showbiz world and prompted an outpouring of grief from her celebrity friends. "When my twins turned 3 and my oldest turned 9, my wonderful husband and I decided it was time to get out of Dodge, a.k.a. "Frenchy was very protective of Sandy Sandy was new in town. The Physical songstress is survived by her husband of 14 years, John Easterling, and her daughter, Chloe Lattanzi, 36. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. The Grease legend died at her ranch in Southern California Monday morning, surrounded by family and friends following a long battle with cancer. Conaway was featured in the first and second seasons of the reality television series Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew. [citation needed]. Her healing inspiration and pioneering experience with plant medicine continues with the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, dedicated to researching plant medicine and cancer," the statement on Facebook said. [2], After breaking into series television in 1975 with Happy Days, followed by guest spots in several other TV shows, and three more films including Grease, he was cast as aspiring actor Bobby Wheeler on Taxi, which premiered in fall 1978. I have nothing really to complain about.. [3], Conaway worked as a child model, and attended high school at the Quintano School for Young Professionals. [16] His stepson, Emerson Newton-John,[1] is a race car driver. "We're thankful his struggles are over, but we know he will be missed by legions of fans worldwide. Arden died on November 12, 1990 at her Beverly Hills home at age 83, per The New York Times. He followed his time on the Great White Way with guest star turns on a number of television shows before joining the cast of the Grease film and becoming a series regular on the sitcom Taxi. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Another actor with a smaller part in the movie Alice Ghostley, who played auto shop teacher Mrs. Murdock, died on Sept. 21, 2007. Newton-John shined in the 1978 film, especially during her performances of "Hopelessly Devoted to You," "You're the One That I Want," and "Summer Nights." He made guest appearances on such shows as Barnaby Jones, George & Leo, and Murder, She Wrote. Olivia Newton-John passed away at the age of 73. Another huge star in "Grease" was John Travolta's Danny, heartthrob and love interest of Sandy. "Maybe deep down I knew there was a reason or a purpose for it," she said. Send tips to Anders.Hagstrom@Fox.com, or on Twitter: @Hagstrom_Anders. In early 2008, Conaway appeared with other celebrities in the VH1 reality series Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew. Before "Grease," the legendary character actress was also known for her self-titled TV series, "The Eve Arden Show" and her role as Eve on The Mothers-In-Law," and she even played herself in the classic "I Love Lucy" episode, "L.A. at Last.". (Allegany County Sheriff's Office), LOS ANGELES - JUNE 16: The movie "Grease", directed by Randal Kleiser. The movie transformed Newton-John into one of the worlds biggest stars, with her next solo album, titled Totally Hot, racing up the charts later that same year. Olivia loved helping people. [14] In 2000, he released the album It Don't Make Sense You Can't Make Peace on the KEGMusic label. Menu. The cancer subsequently spread to her bones, with doctors diagnosing it as stage 4 and declaring that there was little chance of survival. [3] The 1961 Pulitzer Prize-winning play was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Play and ran 333 performances and one preview from November 29, 1960, to September 16, 1961. He was 91. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." In 2013, however, an X-ray taken after a car accident revealed Newton-John had cancer in right shoulder. Im a very privileged person, and Im very aware of that, she said. 3. He was diagnosed with HIV in 1993 and on April 4, 1994, died from pneumonia as a result of complications fromAIDS. In 2021, she released her first novel, The Real True Hollywood Story of Jackie Gold, through Star Alley Press. Like his co-star John Travolta, Conaway appeared in the original cast of Grease on Broadway, serving as an understudy for several of the roles, eventually taking over the role of Danny Zuko. She discovered that the disease had returned in 2013, before revealing in 2017 that it had metastasized to her lower back. In 1992, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and became a tireless advocate for cancer research throughout the rest of her life, founding the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre in Australia. She married actor Matt Lattanzi in 1984 before the pair welcomed their daughter, Chloe, two years later. Kelly Ward brought the youngest member of the T-Birds, Putzie, to life in a role specifically created for the film. In a 2005 radio interview with WDCM (via YouTube), Ghostley admitted she was surprised that older fans liked "Grease," but added, "I do get a lot of letters. Conn's most recent work was in the comedy movie "The Mimic," as well as the yet-to-be released film "Paper Dreams.". (Photo by CBS via Getty Images) Of all the T-Birds, Sonny was certainly the most hilarious of the bunch. "Know that we are forever hopelessly devoted to you, Olivia. I dont think I was really aware of how raunchy it was when I was recording it until afterward, and thats when I freaked out.. In the 1950s, the multi-talented entertainment legend was one of television's very first stars as part of the pioneering live television series, "Your Show of Shows," which was quite an achievement for a kid who'd once earned a living as a saxophone player during the Depression (via Biography). Travolta was married to the late Kelly Preston from 1991 until her death from breast cancer in July of 2020. By the mid-2000s he had relapsed. [citation needed] From 1994 to 1999, he played Sergeant, later promoted to Security Chief, Zack Allan on Babylon 5. Sadly on. [3] After playing with the rock band 3 1/2 beginning at age 15, he attended the North Carolina School of the Arts[3][6] and later transferred to New York University. And [the producers] said they had been thinking along the same lines, so I read again. Yours from the first moment I saw you and forever! Goodman's character was known for her musical contribution to the morning announcements via her trusty xylophone. [12] He also felt creatively stymied: I wanted to do things with Bobby, but as the show went on, I could see I wasn't going to get that chance Lemme tell you I loved Bobby, I identified with Bobby. After Pinsky asked him to elaborate upon how he would carry out a suicidal act, Conaway glared at the mirror in his room and said, "I see myself breaking that mirror and slicing my fucking throat with it." Edd Byrnes, who played TV dance show host Vic Fontaine in "Grease," was known for more than his flirty prom scene in the hit film. Fans already knew actress Alice Ghostley from her role as clumsy housekeeper Esmeralda on the ABC sitcom "Bewitched." Additionally, Conn went on to appear in plenty of film and television projects, including "Benson," "Shining Time Station," and the televised musical "Grease Live!" "Grease" was the word and one of the most beloved movies of the 1970s. Credit: Everett Collection; Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images, Credit: CBS via Getty Images; Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images, Credit: CBS via Getty Images; Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic, Credit: CBS via Getty Images; Jean-Paul Aussenard/WireImage, Credit: CBS via Getty Images; Bobby Bank/Getty Images, Credit: CBS via Getty Images; Albert L. Ortega/WireImage, Credit: CBS via Getty Images; Tara Ziemba/Getty Images. [28][29], Though his drug use did not cause his pneumonia, it hampered Conaway's ability to recognize how severely ill he was and to seek treatment for pneumonia until it was too late. 64.3K subscribers Grease is a 1978 American musical romantic comedy that follows local boy Danny Zuko (John Travolta) who met Sandy Olsson (Olivia Newton-John) at the beach during the summer and. "He was the consummate performer and entertainer," Brock said. He was 87 years old. Then, in 1981, the blonde scored her biggest hit ever with the sexually charged anthem Physical, which track spent 10 weeks at No. I remember leaving the studio feeling guilty and unhappy. We're still ridiculously childish I think.". ", Lately, Pearl is pretty active on Instagram, where he posts some political content, as well as reminders that you can book a message from him on Cameo, where he has a five-star rating. Not only was Olivia a dear friend, but one of the nicest people I had the pleasure of recording and performing with," wrote Dionne Warwick. director of photography Film Editing by John F. Burnett . Dennis Stewart. However, Goodman was so in tune with "Grease" that in1994, she even appeared in a Broadway revival of the story in which she played English teacher Miss Lynch, per Theater Mania. The woman responded with a post of her own on Twitter, however. In fact, Conn even starred in "Grease 2," making her one of the only original cast members to do so. Part of that charm was because Doody was cast perfectly and was played by Barry Pearl. Simpson: American Crime Story. The Post has reached out to Newton-Johns rep for further comment. Character actress Eve Arden (born Eunice Quedens) famously starred in the 1940s and 1950s radio and TV comedy, "Our Miss Brooks," as English teacher Connie Brooks but in "Grease," she took on a different rank in the high school ecosystem when she played Rydell High's Principal McGee. Its unclear what date the image was actually taken. During group sessions, Conaway revealed he was "tortured" during his childhood, as older boys in his neighborhood would put him into dangerous situations, tying him up and threatening him. Even if you aren't a huge fan of "Grease," you probably still know Olivia Newton-John as the actor behind Sandy, one of the main characters and love interests in the movie. During the second episode of Celebrity Rehab's first season, Conaway, fed up with his back pain, withdrawal symptoms, and the humiliation of having to be assisted while using the toilet, told Pinsky that he was thinking of killing himself. The Cal State Northridge newsletterdescribed her as a "supportive and enthusiastic advocate who helped students find their voice as an instructor of speech communication and public speaking in the Chicana and Chicano Studies department, where she had taught since 2002.".