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.". I have nothing really to complain about.. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Eddie Deezen is reportedly unable to stand trial after his recent arrest due to mental-health -related reasons. The Post has reached out to Newton-Johns rep for further comment. He died overnight having fallen into a coma from an apparent drug . Conaway starred in the short-lived 1983 fantasy-spoof series Wizards and Warriors. She was 73 years old. Shepassed away from leukemia on December 25, 1979, a little more than a year after "Grease" was released and two years after getting an Academy Award nomination for her film, "Opening Night." Annette Charles played the cha-cha dancing Charlene "Cha Cha" DiGregorio in "Grease," and she was featured prominently in a prom scene dance-off scene with John Travolta, much to the dismay of Olivia Newton-John's character, Sandy. Nonetheless, "Grease" remained his defining movie. NewsCore. (CBS via Getty Images), CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER. Tragically, the much-loved actress died at the age of 73 on Monday, August 8, surrounded by her family at her California ranch. 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. In 2012, Travolta reunited with Olivia Newton-John for their holiday album This Christmas, and in 2016 he received his first Emmy nomination for his portrayal of Robert Shapiro in FX's The People v. O.J. Channing has continued to appear on both stage and screen, and played a recurring role on the CBS drama The Good Wife until 2016. Deezen is best known for playing Eugene Felsnic in the original "Grease" films. "We're thankful his struggles are over, but we know he will be missed by legions of fans worldwide. Menu. Newton-John spoke publicly of her beaus disappearance, telling the Australian Womens Weekly magazine: I think there will always be a question mark I dont think I will ever really be at peace with it.. My heartfelt thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this very difficult time. 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Her last project,"Bart Got a Room,"was in 2008, and in an interview with Empty Nest TV, Manoff explained that she was done with Hollywood. Starring Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta as Rydell High School sweethearts Sandy Olsson and Danny Zuko, the film grossed $160 million when it was first released in 1978, according to Vanity Fair. 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). The soundtrack, however, was a success and cemented Newton-Johns status as a pop superstar. Like nobody else could do Louie or Jim, they were such defined characters. Though Travolta had appeared in television shows, in the classic horror film "Carrie," and in "Saturday Night Fever," he didn't reach peak fame until "Grease." 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 . Last fall, Newton-Johntold Fox Newsthat she felt the track was a bit raunchy when it first came out. "Grease" co-star John Travolta was devastated to hear the news and penned a sweet dedication on social media. Tucci's most recent role was in the thriller "PinkCity: A Psychedelic Meditation," which was in post-production as of 2020. And even now, Conn has nothing but fond memories of "Grease" and her character. He has gone on to become a voice director for Disney Television Animation, and a screenwriter for numerous cartoons, including the feature film All Dogs Go to Heaven 2. We give each other a lot of support," he said. Closing out a career that spanned six decades, Caesar died on February 12, 2014 at his Beverly Hills home, at the age of 91 (according to Variety), following a thankfully short period of ailing health. Conaway had suffered a back injury earlier in his career on the set of Grease while filming the "Greased Lightning" scene, which had been exacerbated recently by lifting boxes in his home, and he had turned to substances to manage the pain. His vanishing sparked a frenzied search, but he was never found. 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. John Travolta starred as Danny Zuko, leader of the greaser group known as the T-Birds. In fact, Deezen even returned for "Grease 2," but that's not the most impressive role he's had since "Grease." On Jan. 8, 2020, died of natural causes. 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. The actor, who played geeky Eugene Felsnic in the "Grease" musical films and Eddie in the 1980s sitcom "Punky Brewster," also has been transferred to the Maryland Department of Health for treatment, according to Allegany County Circuit Court records reviewed Monday by . 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. Stewart tragically died from complications relating to AIDS on April 20, 1994 (via Facebook). "Grease" came out in June 1978, starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John as Danny and Sandy. Olivia Newton-John, the beloved singer and actor known for her 1970s and '80s hits and the movie "Grease," died at her ranch in Southern California on Monday at age . 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. ", 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. Clearly, Travolta has been doing a lot since "Grease," and he's been through a lot as well. Notably, Travolta has been involved with the Church of Scientology, something that has been fraught with controversy over the years. or redistributed. Binge-worthy entertainment news and celebrity interviews. 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. 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. Still, for Donnelly, "Grease" was more than just a movie, it was an experience. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Gorgeous Gina Lollobrigida leaves behind a lasting legacy, Dolly Parton heartbroken for Priscilla Presley after Lisa Maries tragic death, Lisa Marie Presleys sad final words at sons grave before her death, Aaron Carters family says he didnt drown in tub as drug deal mystery deepens, McDermotts mysterious disappearance while on a fishing trip off the coast of California. In 2005, their on-off nine-year relationship became headline news following McDermotts mysterious disappearance while on a fishing trip off the coast of California. In September 2017, Newton-John went public with the devastating diagnosis but insisted she wasnt focused on her illness, but on things that make her happy. While his character in "Grease" had eyes for Dinah Manoff's Marty Maraschino, two decades earlier, young fans had their eyes on him. Dennis Stewart. Deezen is facing charges relating to an April arrest for allegedly trespassing and burglarizing the neighbors at his Maryland home. "City Boy" was released as a single. All rights reserved. ", First published on August 8, 2022 / 3:43 PM. "You were as kind and loving a person as there's ever been. We will see you down the road and we will all be together again. 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. In early 2008, Conaway appeared with other celebrities in the VH1 reality series Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew. Starring Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta as Rydell High School sweethearts Sandy Olsson and Danny Zuko, the film. I remember leaving the studio feeling guilty and unhappy. After a whirlwind fling of "Summer Nights," the pair assumes their time together is over, and that Sandy must return to Australia with her parents. Two weeks later, the decision was made to take him off life support. Sadly, along with all of the fanfare, there has been tragedy. She was 82. Four years later, doctors discovered thatNewton-Johns cancer had spread and was now stage IV. In 2015, he voiced a seagull in "The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water." "I trust she is now in the great Xanadu beyond," he wrote. The Hollywood Reporter cited a coroner's report that revealed Conaway's death was caused by a "major internal infection." By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. She returned to the profession in the late '90s and has appeared on television in series like Monk, Veep, and Ray Donovan, as well as the feature films Black Mass with Johnny Depp, and Cyrus, with Marisa Tomei. 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. Played by Michael Tucci, Sonny was quite the character, and the movie definitely needed his humor and goofy grin. "The real source of joy for those of us who did it is the fact that we keep in relatively regular contact. Explaining that she had fun with her co-stars and "played around" while filming, she shared, "You know, we're still all like that. She spent the last two decades of her life giving back, a source close to Newton-John told The Post. "Now I enjoy doing what I want when I want to do it," he said. ", My heart is broken. They call it reinventing yourself, the superstar said about how fans looked at her differently following the release of the single. The Grease legend died at her ranch in Southern California Monday morning, surrounded by family and friends following a long battle with cancer. My best friend, the devoted daughter captioned the snap, which showed the pair wandering across a field together. pic.twitter.com/Z1zkVe9CVb, Barbra Streisand also shared a photo and wrote, "Too young to leave this world. 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. [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. Travolta was married to the late Kelly Preston from 1991 until her death from breast cancer in July of 2020. Played by Jamie Donnelly, Jan had a very sweet and authentic demeanor. Olivia Newton-John on finding a purpose in cancer, Marie Osmond says her kids won't get an inheritance, Former "American Idol" contestant C.J. Grease actor Eddie Deezen is not mentally fit for a trial and must remain in the custody of the Maryland Department of Health, according to a court order. That's what happened with Jeff.". The pair split in 1995. There was no evidence he ever intentionally overdosed, Pinsky said. In 1993, she reprised the role of Louisa "Ouisa" Kittredge for the film version of Six Degrees and received both Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for her performance. She continued to work onstage as well, eventually earning a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for Peter Nichol's A Day in the Death of Joe Egg, and nominations for her work in The House of Blue Leaves and Six Degrees of Separation. [citation needed]. And I could die tomorrow a tree could fall on me. It's been 44 years since Grease debuted in theaters. 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. Kelly Ward brought the youngest member of the T-Birds, Putzie, to life in a role specifically created for the film. After appearing in the 1978 film, Stewart reprised his role for Grease 2 in 1982. "Maybe deep down I knew there was a reason or a purpose for it," she said. Dennis Stewart is best known for playing Leo Craterface Balmudo in Grease. [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 signed it, "Your Danny, your John!". 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. Four-time Grammy winner singer-songwriter and actor Olivia Newton-John who starred in the beloved movie musical Grease has passed away . [4], He also spent time living with his grandparents in South Carolina, which gave him enough of a Southern accent[4] that when he accompanied his mother to a casting call for director Arthur Penn's Broadway play All the Way Home, a story set in Knoxville, Tennessee, the 10-year-old Conaway landed a featured role as one of four boys. "I lucked out that my first film was 'Grease,'" he said, noting, "It was just electric because I'd been in high school just two years earlier. While Ward might have found success on screen in "Grease," it's clear he became more passionate about things behind the scenes. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jeff_Conaway&oldid=1125805102, Participants in American reality television series, University of North Carolina School of the Arts alumni, Pages using infobox person with multiple spouses, Articles with unsourced statements from May 2011, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2008, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2015, Articles with unsourced statements from June 2020, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, 2 episodes, 1974 "Landslide" (S01, E16), 1975 "The Long Way To Nowhere" (S02, Ep10), Howard Griffin / Nolan Walsh / Tom Powell, 1 episode, "Matlock's Bad, Bad, Bad Dream" (S08, E11), Voice, 1 episode, "Dedicated to Jeff Conaway", Conaway's final project, "Don't Cry to Me Babe" / "R & B In C" (Cameo 425, 1966), "Problem Child" / "Hey Mom Hey Dad" (Cameo 442, 1966), "Hey Gyp" / "Hey Kitty Cool Kitty" (Cameo 451, 1967) (This single was produced by, "Angel Baby (Don't You Ever Leave Me)" / "You Turned Your Back on Love" (Cameo 485, 1967), This page was last edited on 5 December 2022, at 23:17. Conaway appeared in VH1's Celebrity Fit Club, but was forced to leave and entered rehabilitation. Ward added that he mostly bonded with "creative visionaries, Pat Birch and Randal Kleiser," the movie's choreographer and director, respectively, which makes sense considering his affinity for producing and writing. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 2022 / 3:43 PM he died overnight having fallen into a coma from an apparent drug our NEWSLETTER. Rep for further comment `` we 're thankful his struggles are over, but we he. Created for the film in `` the SpongeBob movie: Sponge out of Water. defined characters had! The fact that we keep in relatively regular contact appearing in the beloved musical... Arrest for allegedly trespassing and burglarizing the neighbors at his Maryland home fallen a... In July of 2020 vanishing sparked a frenzied search, but we know he will be by... Olsson and Danny Zuko, the devoted daughter captioned the snap, showed. 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