Trivia
Things You May Or May Not Know
Fred Kelly's dance school became the largest in New Jersey. John's mother enrolled him for Saturday morning classes.
The following year, John took jazz and tap lessons after school. John loved to sit with Dottie (Fred's wife) at the reception desk and answer the phone, says Fred. Many afternoons callers would be greeted with "Fred Kelly Dance Studio in Oradell, New Jersey, if you wait a moment Mrs.
Kelly will speak to you personally". Years later, Fred sent
some of his students to audition for John's film "Saturday Night Fever" (1977), with a note saying they were referred
by Dorothy Kelly's husband. Some of them appear as
extras in the movie. Fred is Gene Kelly's younger brother.
Left is Fred Kelly in "Deep In My Heart" (1954).
Biographic film about American composer Sigmund Romberg.
John's family members often appear in his films as extras. His mother Helen had a small role in "Saturday Night Fever" (1977).
John's foot prints and hand prints were immortalized in cement on the forecourt of Mann's Chinese Theatre, 6925 Hollywood Boulevard.
The ceremony took place on 2nd June 1980.
Above are 6 of the real people that John has portrayed on film and television and his portrayal of them.
They are:
Ernest Palmer (Chili) in "Get Shorty" (1995).
Jan Schlichtmann in "A Civil Action" (1998).
Detective Elmer C. Robinson in "Lonely Hearts" (2006).
Robert Shapiro in"The People V. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story" (2016).
John Gotti in "Gotti" (2017).
Don Aronow (John plays Ben Aronoff who is based on him) in "Speed Kills" (2018).
John also provided the voice of Jim Irwin in "Magnificent Desolation: Walking On The Moon 3D" (2005).
John has won numerous awards including the Golden Globe Award, above left (1996) and the Blockbuster Entertainment Award, above right (1999), which is a lifetime achievement award.
Some of John's films are entered in the Cannes Film Festival, including "Pulp Fiction" (1994) which won the Golden Palm Award.
Above are Lawrence Bender, Quentin Tarantino, Uma Thurman, John Travolta and Kelly Preston in Cannes for the 20th Anniversary of "Pulp Fiction" on 23rd May 2014.
John and Olivia Newton-John have starred in 2 films together: "Grease" (1978) and "Two Of A Kind" (1983), 7 music videos: "Summer Nights", "You're The One That I Want", "We Go Together" from "Grease", "Twist Of Fate", "Take A Chance" from "Two Of A Kind", Liberian Girl by Michael Jackson and "I Think You Might Like It", they also recorded "This Christmas" CD (2012)
together for their charities: The Jett Travolta Foundation and Olivia Newton-John's Cancer and Wellness Centre, they have reunited many times over the years including for the 40th anniversary promotion of "Grease" in 2018. I met them both
in 2019. They work very well together!
John has starred in 5 films with James Gandolfini: "Get Shorty", "She's So Lovely", "A Civil Action", "Lonely Hearts" and "The Taking Of Pelham 123".
They were very close friends since they were teenagers, unfortunately James died on 19th June 2013 of a heart attack (age 51), he will be very greatly missed.
John got his star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame, 6901 Hollywood Boulevard on 5th June 1985.
John was the first non-test pilot to fly the Qantas
Airbus A380 super jumbo jet in June 2007. Olivia Newton-John accompanied him.
Travolta means "High Voltage" and "To Be Overwelmed".
There is no end to John's talent.
John has appeared on the cover of "Rolling Stone" magazine more times than any other actor (5).