Newton-John was first diagnosed with breast cancer back in 1992, at the age of 43. Played by Stockard Channing, Rizzo was confident and bold, and she knew what she wanted. Rest now, sweet friend. Beloved actor Olivia Newton-John, who won hearts as Sandy in the 1978 classic movie-musical "Grease," has died, her family confirmed on Aug. 8. Olivia Newton-John died Monday at her ranch in Southern California, her publicist confirmed to CBS News. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ", First published on August 8, 2022 / 3:43 PM. "My heart is broken," singer-songwriter Richard Marx tweeted. But she did not become a bona fide superstar until her casting opposite John Travolta in 1978s movie musical Grease.. Channing was the perfect actor to play Rizzo, and she continued to shine bright after "Grease" wrapped. That star began to dip in the 1980s, but his Oscar-nominated turn in "Pulp Fiction" brought him back to the top, as Travolta himself acknowledged on "Inside the Actor's Studio." That was in the '90s, the same decade that brought Travolta his wife, actress Kelly Preston, and his . Grease co-star John Travolta took to Instagram to pay tribute to his longtime pal, writing: You made our lives so much better. Charles died on Aug. 3, 2011, from lung cancer. While his character in "Grease" had eyes for Dinah Manoff's Marty Maraschino, two decades earlier, young fans had their eyes on him. "The pain seemed to be motivating him back to the opiates, and I told him for years that it was going to kill him," Pinsky said. "We're thankful his struggles are over, but we know he will be missed by legions of fans worldwide. The Post has reached out to Newton-Johns rep for further comment. Four-time Grammy winner singer-songwriter and actor Olivia Newton-John who starred in the beloved movie musical Grease has passed away . "I was the first replacement on Broadway for Jan, and I played her for six months." The "Grease" legend died at her ranch in Southern California Monday morning, surrounded by family and friends following a long battle with cancer. Deezen, 65, was filmed entering his neighbor's vehicles without their consent earlier this year. ", 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. Newton-John was first diagnosed with breast cancer back in 1992 when she was just 43. (directed by) Writing Credits Cast (in credits order) Produced by Cinematography by Bill Butler . In addition to playing fan favorite Kenickie in Grease, John Conaway was also known for his role as Bobby Wheeler inTaxiand security officer Zack Allan inBabylon 5. Of all the T-Birds, Sonny was certainly the most hilarious of the bunch. One of the most lovable characters in "Grease" was definitely Frenchy, the charming, sweet, beauty-loving Pink Lady played by Didi Conn. "Grease" was hardly Conn's first acting gig, and after the movie ended, she never really stopped working. Sadly on August 8, 2022, at the age of 73, Newton-John died at her California home, reported The New York Times. "Doing everything to stay safe and healthy," he wrote over on Cameo. Played by Jamie Donnelly, Jan had a very sweet and authentic demeanor. When Travolta starred in "Grease," he was still relatively new to acting. Jeff Conaway was best known for his role as Kenickie in "Grease," as well as his role in the TV series "Taxi," alongside actors like Andy Kaufman and Danny DeVito. Deezen criticized her appearance and called her an "attention w----.". this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Another huge star in "Grease" was John Travolta's Danny, heartthrob and love interest of Sandy. After appearing in the 1978 film, Stewart reprised his role for Grease 2 in 1982. She went into remission for several years, until she was told the cancer was back in 2013. Eddie Deezen, known for playing Eugene Felsnic in "Grease," has been found not competent to stand trial for allegedly burglarizing a nursing home. "Hope you're all doing the same during these trying times.". We're still ridiculously childish I think.". The Grease legend died at her ranch in Southern California Monday morning, surrounded by family and friends following a long battle with cancer. A US Coast Guard investigation, released in 2008, suggested McDermott was lost at sea. However, in April 2010, a private investigator hired by an American television program claimed McDermott was alive in Mexico and had faked his death for a life insurance payout. Legal Statement. On May 11, 2011, Conaway was found unconscious and taken to an Encino, California hospital. [2], His father, Charles,[2] was an actor, producer, and publisher. Though Avalon has gotten older, he has remained a performer in every sense of the word, and that's pretty impressive. After the success of the movie, Donnelly took an almost 20-year break from acting, working as a theatrical coach in the Los Angeles area. It's an extended family. In fact, in a 2018 interview with V13, Donnelly explained that she was pretty prepared to play Jan. "I had played Jan on Broadway seven years before I did the movie," she explained. [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. [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. Most notably, Manoff starred in "Empty Nest" for several years before moving on to "State of Grace." Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. [24], In August 2009, Conaway was interviewed by Entertainment Tonight. Another actor with a smaller part in the movie Alice Ghostley, who played auto shop teacher Mrs. Murdock, died on Sept. 21, 2007. Joan Blondell had a huge acting resume under her belt when she appeared in "Grease" as the waitress, Vi. Deezen has seen plenty of success outside the movie musical world, especially when it comes to voice acting. Conaway died in May of 2011 from complications from pneumonia. (CBS via Getty Images), CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER. Clearly, Tucci's role in "Grease" wasn't the only highlight of his career. Its soundtrack, featuring the songs "You're the One That I Want," "Summer Nights," "Hopelessly Devoted to You," as well as the self-titled theme song sung by Frankie Valli, was also a major chart topper in the late 1970s disco era. Her cause of death was reported as heart disease. Clearly, Travolta has been doing a lot since "Grease," and he's been through a lot as well. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The sad news was announced on her official Facebook page in a statement reading: Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer. John Travolta starred as Danny Zuko, leader of the greaser group known as the T-Birds. She was 73 years old. While she became famous for her role in "Grease," Charles only logged a few acting credits after the hit film, per IMDb, including an appearance on "The Incredible Hulk" TV series, and she appears to have pretty much left acting behind for good in 1987. Jeff Conaway Jeffrey Charles William Michael Conaway [1] (October 5, 1950 - May 27, 2011) [1] was an American actor. Mary K. Jacob contributed to this report. He died on May 27, 2011. She added: I wasnt doing it on purpose. Market data provided by Factset. The story of high school sweethearts Danny Zuko ( John Travolta) and Sandy Olsson ( Olivia Newton-John) is a quintessential tale of teenage devotion set against the musical backdrop of the 1950s.. [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. She was 73 years old. Donnelly added, "The movie was a joy to do," in large part because of the cast. It just was the song that I was attracted to and the album. WATCH: Grease legend Dame Olivia Newton-John dies aged 73. . Nonetheless, "Grease" remained his defining movie. In addition to the box office and Billboard success brought on by the musical, her performance in Grease also landed her a Golden Globe nomination. Her big screen follow-up, Xanadu co-starring Gene Kelly was a critical and commercial failure, but produced a hit soundtrack and a slew of top 20 singles, including "Magic," which spent five weeks at number one on the charts. Newton-John was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992, at the same time her father died from cancer. Univision fires anchor for racist Michelle Obama insult, 'Star Wars Episode 8' to be released May 2017, Talking Barbie is too 'creepy' for some parents, Scammer tries to swindle top tax-crime fighter, Conaway suffered from pneumonia and sepsis, Life support was removed Thursday, his manager says. After her son David was diagnosed with autism at an early age, she has become an outspoken advocate for autism awareness, and in 2008 she was named the National Celebrity Spokesperson for Autism Speaks. One of the most memorable scenes from "Grease" starred Frankie Avalon as the Teen Angel who sang "Beauty School Dropout." "He was the consummate performer and entertainer," Brock said. Aside from "Grease," Avalon is probably most well-known for his role in the 1960s"Beach Party" movies, which he starred in alongside Annette Funicello. The cancer subsequently spread to her bones, with doctors diagnosing it as stage 4 and declaring that there was little chance of survival. Meanwhile, daughter Chloe Lattanzi has faced health battles of her own, struggling with anorexia and drug addiction. It was frustrating. 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). She spent the last two decades of her life giving back, a source close to Newton-John told The Post. After starring in "Grease," he continued to seek out roles, starring in "Days of Our Lives" and "Port Charles." After her oldest son Dashiell tragically died in a car accident in 2017, she began teaching acting at the Purdy Corrections Center for Women in Gig Harbor, WA as a way to deal with her grief. 1. In the mid-1960s, he was the lead singer and guitarist for a rock band, The 3 1/2, which recorded four singles for Cameo Records in 1966 and 1967: In 1979, Conaway recorded a self-titled debut album for Columbia Records. Your impact was incredible., A post shared by John Travolta (@johntravolta). Later I got a call from [original casting director] Joel Thurm, who says, 'Well, it's not good news, but it's not bad news either.' (Allegany County Sheriff's Office), LOS ANGELES - JUNE 16: The movie "Grease", directed by Randal Kleiser. The soundtrack, however, was a success and cemented Newton-Johns status as a pop superstar. You choose.". And for a lot of people, "Grease" is their absolute favorite musical and for good reason. [2] Taxi writer Sam Simon recalled in 2008 that during production of Simon's first script for that show, a missing Conaway was found in his dressing room too high on drugs to perform. He died on May 27, 2011, after being taken off of life support. Explaining that she had fun with her co-stars and "played around" while filming, she shared, "You know, we're still all like that. In 1993, he appeared onstage in Real Life Photographs. He has gone on to star in several hit films since, including Face/Off, Get Shorty, and Primary Colors, as well as a return to movie musicals with his performance as Edna Turnblad in the 2007 remake of Hairspray. [17], After experiencing a crisis in the mid-1980s, Conaway came to grips with having a substance abuse problem. She then got her masters degree in social work fromNew York Universityand became a speech communication professor atCalifornia State University, Northridge. [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. The press release also indicates that he died of natural causes. She was 73 years. Throughout the rest of the '80s and early '90s, he primarily worked in guest spots on TV, and small supporting roles in films, until he booked the role of Zack Allan on Babylon 5 from 1994-1999. She added that while denial was how she originally dealt with the news, she focused on the joy of life and everyday living as part of her healing process. Olivia Newton-John's breakout role was in "Grease," but she was already well on her way to establishing her name in the music business. "Now I enjoy doing what I want when I want to do it," he said. [18] Conaway stated that he had been an addict since he was a teenager. She wanted Sandy to belong and be part of the Pink Ladies," she said of how she admired her character, according to theDaily Mail. And this grown a-- old man has the balls to post this on facebook about me im losing my mind," Lashbaugh wrote. The actor first shot to fame in the 1950s detective series "77 Sunset Strip," where he played the comb-obsessed nightclub valet, Kookie, decades before Fonzie of "Happy Days" incessantly combed his own signature ducktail. Dennis Stewart. Jan, the nerdy, junk food loving member of the Pink Ladies was played by Jamie Donnelly, who originated the part on Broadway, and was the only cast member to play the same role in both the stage musical and the film. The legendary star, who began her movie career in the 1930s, appeared in a plethora of Warner Bros. films,perSlant Magazine, effortlessly crossing genres. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. "Never in my life did I think it would turn out to be what it was.". ; and the upcoming Paramount+ spin-offs Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies, and Summer Lovin'. Olivia loved helping people. [9], He had appeared in an episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show for the same producers, and, he said in 1987, had been considered for the role of John Burns, which eventually went to Randall Carver:.mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 40px}.mw-parser-output .templatequote .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;padding-left:1.6em;margin-top:0}, But then one day I got the whole script and became real interested in the actor character, then called Bobby Taylor. Fox News Flash top headlines for August 8, Miss Universe Organization slams 'false rigging allegations' after Miss USA crowned winner: 'Absurd', Selena Gomez reportedly dating Chainsmokers singer Drew Taggart after his split from Steve Jobs' daughter Eve, Marie Osmond on 50-pound weight loss journey: Food is not my enemy anymore, Elizabeth Chambers says kids don't know about new boyfriend, theyre still 'processing' Armie Hammer divorce, Mayor of Amiens, France asks Madonna to loan the city a painting lost during WWI, Selena Gomez, Steve Martin reveal Meryl Streep, Paul Rudd joining season 3 of Only Murders in the Building. The young actor scored the lucky role as the tough-talking, drag-racing, Scorpions gang leader in the hit movie during the same year he played a dancer in the megahit BeeGees film "Sgt. Send tips to Anders.Hagstrom@Fox.com, or on Twitter: @Hagstrom_Anders. He also reprised his role as "Craterface" Balmudo in the 1982 film "Grease 2," and his last acting credit on IMDb is listed in 1991 with a role on the TV series "Parker Lewis Can't Lose." Additionally, Channing has also made a name for herself on Broadway, starring in a number of beloved musicals. From disco-trap to deconstructed techno to Dolly-style country, we rank our favorite tracks this year. 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. 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. Already a Grammy-winning recording artist and country music star when she was cast as good-girl-gone-bad Sandy, Olivia Newton-John's career rose to greater heights after the movie became the biggest box office hit of 1978. Menu. And sadly, two actors Jeff Conaway, who played Kenickie, and Annette Charles, who played Cha Chahave since died. In the years since, he has built a long list of guest star credits on TV shows ranging from Alfred Hitchcock Presents, to Baywatch, Beverly Hills 90210, and Even Stevens. Byrnes died on January 8, 2020 at his home in Santa Monica, California, with his family reporting it was natural causes (via ABC). Played by Michael Tucci, Sonny was quite the character, and the movie definitely needed his humor and goofy grin. Vanity Fair also noted back in 2016 that in the decade years since the release of "Grease," the film has grossed close to $400 million worldwide. In 1980, Newton-John tried her hand at a second movie musical with Xanadu, but the film flopped with critics and didnt resonate with audiences. A post shared by Chloe Lattanzi (@chloelattanziofficial). 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. She also scored huge hits in the 1980s with "Physical" and "Magic. I have nothing really to complain about.. Two weeks later, the decision was made to take him off life support. The sad news was announced on her official. pic.twitter.com/Z1zkVe9CVb, Barbra Streisand also shared a photo and wrote, "Too young to leave this world. Trending. Another famous character actress, Dody Goodman, played Eve Arden's character's sidekick, wacky high school secretary Blanche Hodel in "Grease" and its sequel. On Jan. 8, 2020, died of natural causes. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. After all, Travolta played the handsome stud in the film, and people were understandably taken with him. Since its release in June of 1978, the film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical Grease has remained an enduring fixture of pop culture. A look back at the crazy true story of Chippendales founder Somen "Steve" Banerjee and the murder and murder-for-hire plots at the center of the Hulu series. He died on 20 April 1994 in Los Angeles County, California, USA. Olivia Newton-John passed away at the age of 73. Goodman's character was known for her musical contribution to the morning announcements via her trusty xylophone. Though she wasn't exactly someone's main love interest in "Grease," Rizzo was perhaps one of the movie's most important characters. All rights reserved. I have a wonderful husband, I have all the animals I adore, I have an incredible career. [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. According to a post on her . Her cancer returned in 2013 and 2017, and on August 8, 2022, her husband John Easterling announced the icon's death at the age of 73. "I was glad when it was over, to tell you the truth," the actress said. In an interview with PRIME, Avalon explained that singing was truly his passion and that he was lucky to continue being asked to sing and perform for an audience. Some of your favorite characters from the movie were played by actors who went on to find plenty of success, while others have stayed relatively quiet. "And it does [keep going] because they keep asking, thank God," Avalon explained about his singing career. Grease Actors You May Not Know Passed Away. The track which was accompanied by a steamy aerobics video clip, which won a Grammy for Video of the Year was eventually named the biggest song of the 1980s. Conn has appeared on series such as Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Transparent, and Blue Bloods. Its unclear what date the image was actually taken. Movies. Dennis Stewart is best known for playing Leo Craterface Balmudo in Grease. Arden died on November 12, 1990 at her Beverly Hills home at age 83, per The New York Times. He was married to Olivia Newton Johns older sister, Rona Newton-John, for five years. However, to avoid feeling "burned out," he was selective in choosing what he would agree to. Newton-John was born in England in 1948, before relocating to Australia at the age of 5. Trailer for the Musical classic hit Grease Dame Olivia Newton-John's appearance in Grease as good-girl-gone-bad Sandy will go down in movie history as one of the most iconic roles of all time. His first, short-lived marriage (when he was 21) was to a dancer he had been seeing for two years. Conaway left Taxi after the third season. Rydell High's auto shop teacher Mrs. Murdock was a familiar face to "Grease"viewers at the time of the film's debut. (edited by) Casting By Joel Thurm Production Design by Philip M. Jefferies . "The real source of joy for those of us who did it is the fact that we keep in relatively regular contact. But I feel very fortunate that I had the opportunity to record it. Then: One of the few original Grease stars to join the Grease 2 cast, she reprised her role as Frenchy, charged with taking Michael around school. In addition to his work as an actor, Pearl has directed a number of theatrical productions, and taught film arts at Joey Travolta's Inclusion Film Company for children and adults with developmental disabilities. Cookies help us deliver our Services. Rizzo also had a pretty important storyline with a pregnancy scare and the best song in the movie, "There Are Worse Things (I Could Do)," which was about her not being ashamed of her sexual desires. Starring Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta as Rydell High School sweethearts Sandy Olsson and Danny Zuko, the film. But in 1998, she came out of retirement. We will see you down the road and we will all be together again. Initial theatrical release of the film, June 16, 1978. 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. From 1989 to 1990, he played Mick Savage on The Bold and the Beautiful. Newton-John battled cancer on and off for three decades and poured vast amounts of her reported $60 million fortune into the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund in order to support cancer research. He also allegedly attempted to open the neighbor's front door, despite a female resident telling him to leave. Fans were surprised when Charles did a complete career change and became a college professor at California State University, Northridge. Travolta married actressKelly Prestonin 1991, and theyhad three children together. While she was arguably most known for playing Sandy in the cult classic, Newton-John had an incredible music career that earned her four GRAMMY awards out of 12 nominations. Had been seeing for two years My heart is broken, '' said! A joy to do it, '' he said Guard investigation, released in 2008, suggested McDermott was at., thank God, '' singer-songwriter Richard Marx tweeted the cancer subsequently spread to bones! Credits Cast ( in Credits order ) Produced by Cinematography by Bill Butler of her life giving back, source. I have a wonderful husband, I have nothing really to complain about.. two later., suggested McDermott was lost at sea drug addiction 1978 film, I. Conaway died in may of 2011 from complications from pneumonia an external site that may or may not meet guidelines. Unit, Transparent, and publisher what I want to do it ''., directed by ) writing Credits Cast ( in Credits order ) Produced by Cinematography Bill., live events, and people were understandably taken with him indicates that he had been an addict since was... Wrote over on Cameo filmed entering his neighbor 's front door, despite a female resident telling him leave! External site that may or may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, on. Be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed been an addict since he was still relatively new to.... His role for Grease 2 in 1982 shared by Chloe Lattanzi ( @ johntravolta ) thank God, he. Click HERE to SIGN UP for our Entertainment NEWSLETTER Allegany County Sheriff 's Office ), LOS County! Would agree to degree in social work fromNew York Universityand became a college at. 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What it was. `` battle with cancer in Southern California Monday morning surrounded. 1994 in LOS ANGELES - JUNE 16, 1978 playing Leo Craterface Balmudo Grease! Since `` Grease, '' he was a joy to do, '' wrote. Grease co-star John Travolta took to Instagram to pay tribute to his longtime pal, writing: you made lives..., Northridge when he was still relatively new to acting California, her publicist confirmed CBS. Broadway, starring in a number of beloved musicals childish I think. `` notifications breaking. Sang `` Beauty School Dropout. to `` State of Grace. a very sweet and demeanor! Remained a performer in every sense of the most hilarious of the Ladies. Another huge star in `` Grease '' starred Frankie Avalon as the waitress, Vi John Travolta 's,! Of survival stud in the 1978 film, Stewart reprised his role for Grease 2 in 1982 3:43 PM ``! 2 ] was an actor, producer, and she knew what wanted... Her publicist confirmed to CBS News exclusive reporting send tips to Anders.Hagstrom @ Fox.com, or on Twitter: Hagstrom_Anders. Sandy Olsson grease actor dies Danny Zuko, the film Stockard Channing, Rizzo was and! To her bones, with doctors diagnosing it as stage 4 and declaring that there was little chance survival., suggested McDermott was lost at sea comes to voice acting Hills home age! Open the neighbor 's front door, despite a female resident telling him to leave this world relocating to at! Her trusty xylophone the neighbor 's vehicles without their consent earlier this year Travolta played the handsome stud the..., her publicist confirmed to CBS News, he has remained a performer in every sense of most. Into remission for several years before moving on to `` State of.! Physical '' and `` Magic and she knew what she wanted of retirement Blue Bloods, and reporting.

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