John Travolta's heartbreaking life – cancer, death and 'blackmail' attempts

Pulp Fiction star John Travolta this morning broke the news that his wife Kelly Preston had died at the age of 57.

The Hollywood legend shared a tear-jerking message praising his beloved spouse and telling followers how she had lost her two year battle with cancer.

Actress Kelly, known to millions through her starring roles in films such as Jerry Maguire, Twins and SpaceCamp, married Travolta in 1991 and the couple had three children together.

The devastating news is the latest in a number of tragedies to hit Saturday Night Fever star Travolta who has lost a number of loved ones and battled against adversity.

Kelly Preston’s death

Kelly Preston has died at the age of 57 after battling breast cancer for two years (Image: REUTERS)

Film star Kelly died on Sunday morning following a brave to year battle with breast cancer.

The actress, who had a long list hit films herself, kept the illness private as she continued to post updates on her life and family on social media.

In an emotional statement this morning, the family announced tragic Kelly had lost her fight for life.

A spokesperson said: “On the morning of July 12, 2020, Kelly Preston, adored wife and mother, passed away following a two-year battle with breast cancer.

“Choosing to keep her fight private, she had been undergoing medical treatment for some time, supported by her closest family and friends.

“She was a bright, beautiful and loving soul who cared deeply about others and who brought life to everything she touched.

On the morning of July 12, 2020, a family spokesperson confirmed Kelly had died (Image: Graham Whitby Boot/Allstar/Photoshot/AdMedia / SplashNews.com)

“Her family asks for your understanding of their need for privacy at this time.”

The couple, who famously and sweetly said they have love for a lifetime, met back in 1987 while they were filming The Experts.

The timing was off for the future couple because at the time of that film Kelly was still married.

But then in 1990, both actors were filming separate movies in Vancouver, Canada and decided to give the relationship a shot as Kelly was divorced.

Travolta proposed and Preston eagerly accepted and then 26 years ago in 1991, the couple flew to Paris to get married at the Hotel de Crillon.

His first love died in his arms

Diana Hyland tragically died in John’s arm after a battle with cancer (Image: WireImage)

Tragically, Kelly isn’t the first beautiful woman, who was the love of his life, to die from cancer in his lifetime.

Before John even met Kelly he lived a whole other life when he met and fell in love with actress Diana Hyland.

The pair met on the set of TV drama movie, The Boy in the Plastic Bubble in 1976 and reportedly fell head over heels in love instantly.

Despite there being an 18-year-old age gap between them and facing criticism from trolls, they never hid away their love for one-another.

A year after making the film, Diana was diagnosed with cancer and passed away in John’s arms.

After her death she was awarded a posthumous Emmy award for her role in the film the pair starred in together.

Son’s tragic death

Jett died after hitting his head during a seizure (Image: Corbis/VCG via Getty Images)

John faced death sadly once again when his eldest son passed away at 16-years-old.

His son, Jett, was was diagnosed with Kawasaki disease that caused him to suffer from seizures.

Jett died after sustaining an injury to his head after he had a seizure which made him trip and bang his head.

Jett died when he was just 16 during a family holiday in the Bahamas (Image: Getty Images)

John previously spoke publicly about how the death of his beloved son was the worst thing that had ever happened to him.

Kelly and John were left devastated and the Grease actor spoke about how he considered leaving the acting industry altogether.

For a longtime John has said he found little interest in life but he attributes the support from his church as the reason why he was able to get through such a hard time.

‘Blackmail’ trial over son’s death

Tragedy struck the already grieving star again in 2009 when John was allegedly blackmailed for £18 million after he was reported to have refused local hospital care for his dying son, a court heard at the time.

John, who was understandably in a frantic and panicked state when his son hit his head, apparently said he did not want his 16-year-old son Jett driven to a local hospital following a massive seizure at the family’s holiday home in the Bahamas.

Instead he reportedly begged for the youngster to be taken to the island’s airport and flown back to the US for better treatment.

According to reports, the document was later used in an alleged extortion plot, Nassau supreme court was told over ten years ago.

John was blackmailed for £18million in 2009 (Image: Getty Images)

The paramedic was alleged to have threatened to make it public unless heartbroken Travolta, a high-profile scientologist, paid up. Also on trial was the paramedics attorney.

Both were acquitted of the allegation.

Police Inspector Andrew Wells said it was the first time in 27 years he had encountered a request to transport a patient to the island’s airport, instead of its hospital – a 45-minute drive away.

He told the nine-person jury that he signed the form as a witness and the ambulance sped away. However Jett was taken to the island’s Rand Memorial hospital instead of nearby Freeport international airport.

The paramedic and attorney were acquitted after John reportedly dropped the trial the day before it was due to go ahead (Image: Getty Images)

Despite desperate efforts by John and the paramedics, Jett was pronounced dead on arrival.

In 2010, the were acquitted after a judge in the Bahamas dismissed the case against them, at John’s request.

Prosecutors announced that the Pulp Fiction actor had contacted them saying he no longer wished to give evidence in the case.

At the time Prosecutor Neil Braithwaite said that John had decided to withdraw as his side’s star witness in the forthcoming trial.

Olivia Newton John’s cancer battle

The height of John’s fame was when he starred as Danny Zuko in the musical, Grease alongside Olivia Newton John’s character Sandy.

John and Olivia played a pair of high-school teens who fall in love over the summer.

It’s dubbed a classic, and it’s hard to argue that it isn’t in the film industry. It also led to the pair having a sweet friendship for life in real-life.

But tragically, the 71-year-old is currently bravely battling cancer herself for the third time in her life.

The worldwide national treasure is a British-Australian singer, songwriter, actress, dancer, entrepreneur and an activist.

John and Olivia starred in the film Grease as love interests in 1978 (Image: Getty Images)

Thankfully, as the world prayed and crossed their fingers for the activist, in February 2020, she spoke openly about her cancer battle and had some beautiful news to share.

On the Australian talk show, “The Project,” the Grammy-award winning iconic actress said her health was “fantastic.”

Olivia told the host and the audience: “I’m doing really well. Thank you for your love and support, I really appreciate it.”

The 71-year-old is battling cancer for the third time. In 1992, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. After a car accident in 2013, doctors found cancer in her shoulder. In 2018, the “Physical” songstress revealed her stage 4 breast cancer had spread to her back with a tumor at the base of her spine.

(Image: Getty Images)

When asked if her cancer was stage 4, Newton-John replied: “It was,” before noting she believes she no longer has stage 4 cancer.

“I believe your belief system is part of the healing… at my last MRI, which is an exam where they look inside, things are shrinking, going away, staying the same and I’m living well with it and I’m feeling great,” she said.

“I just want everyone to know, I’m here, I’m doing great,” she told Entertainment Tonight in August. “I’m doing really well and I’m really healthy.”

Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk

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