16 photos showing how John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John's friendship has evolved since 'Grease'

Olivia Newton-John, John Travolta

Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta costarred in "Grease."
Fotos International/Getty Images; Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images
  • John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John met as costars in the 1978 musical "Grease."
  • The actors reunited years subsequently to film "Two of a Kind" in 1983.
  • Newton-John and Travolta have now been close friends for more than four decades.
  • Visit Insider's homepage for more than stories.

Travolta convinced Newton-John to take the atomic number 82 part in "Grease."

A however from the Paramount film "Grease" in 1978.
Paramount Pictures/Fotos International/Getty Images

Newton-John most didn't accept on the part of Sandy Olsson.

In her autobiography "Don't End Believin'," the Australian actress said she felt too one-time at 28 to play a high schoolhouse student. 2 of her prior films flopped at the box role, leaving her unsure about her acting career.

Only when the already-cast Travolta met with Newton-John about the movie, she agreed to a screen examination.

"In person, John Travolta radiates pure joy and love. That day, he greeted me with a big hug similar we were already lifelong friends. How could you say no to John Travolta?" she writes, per The Sunday Mail.

The costars attended the 1978 premiere of "Grease" together.

Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta at the "Grease" premiere.
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

The actors arrived on the red rug together to gloat the premiere, fielding questions from reporters as they made their way by screaming fans.

Travolta channeled his on-screen graphic symbol Danny Zuko in a leather jacket, while Newton-John opted for a pink gown.

Newton-John and Travolta kissed at a "Grease" political party that year.

Newton-John and Travolta at a Paramount party.
Brad Elterman/Getty Images

While attending a political party for "Grease" at Paramount Studios the year of the film's premiere, the actors gave a glimpse of their on-screen chemistry by sharing a kiss.

Though the actors stayed in character as Sandy and Danny on set, their romance was limited to the script. In her autobiography, Newton-John recalls having a mutual "attraction" with Travolta but explains that they were both committed to other people.

"The truth is, it never went beyond friendship with John despite the fact that the fans wanted for united states to become a couple in real life. Nosotros left the making out to Sandy and Danny, merely the deep feeling of sisterly love I accept for John continues to this day," she writes, per The Sunday Post.

Decades after they shot the moving-picture show, Newton-John said "Grease" benefited from the fact that the actors never got together in real life.

"I think information technology kept the tension at that place and the chemical science. It might have been a existent disaster had we decided to engagement or we had a falling out or something." she reportedly said on a 2018 episode of Mamamia podcast.

Newton-John and Travolta both walked the cherry carpet at the 50th annual Academy Awards.

Newton-John and Travolta at the 1978 Oscars.
Ron Galella/Getty Images

The costars wore formal attire to the 1978 Academy Awards.

They reunited on-screen for the 1983 film "2 of a Kind."

The costars reunited for "Two of a Kind."
Juergen Vollmer/Popperfoto/Getty Images

Travolta and Newton-John teamed upwards once again as the leads in "Two of a Kind," a 1983 romantic fantasy film directed past John Herzfeld.

Fans and critics weren't nearly equally impressed past the movie as they were by "Grease" ("Two of a Kind" was nominated for several Razzle Awards and scored an 18% blessing rating on Rotten Tomatoes). All the same, the movie's soundtrack was certified platinum and featured numerous songs by Newton-John.

In 1992, they both went to an event celebrating the original "Grease" theater production's 20th ceremony.

Newton-John and Travolta at the original "Grease" production's 20th anniversary celebration.
Ron Galella, Ltd./Getty Images

To laurels the original 1971 musical, written by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, the moving picture stars attended a party at the Sheraton Universal Hotel in Universal Metropolis, California.

A decade later, they reunited with the "Grease" bandage at Paramount Studio'southward 90th anniversary party.

The "Grease" cast reunited in 2002.
Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

Newton-John and Travolta attended an upshot for Paramount Studio'southward 90th ceremony in 2002 along with other stars from "Grease."

The "Grease" costars gave a live operation of "You're the One That I Want" at the political party.

Newton-John and Travolta performed at Paramount Studio'due south 90th ceremony political party.
Steve Granitz/Getty Images

Travolta and Newton-John dueted the finale song from "Grease," incorporating some of the original choreography into their routine.

The post-obit month, Newton-John, Travolta, and Kelly Preston posed for cameras at the One World, 1 Child Do good concert.

Newton-John, Travolta, and Preston at the One World, 1 Child Do good Concert.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Newton-John spent time chatting with Travolta and his wife Preston at the result.

Preston, who had been married to Travolta since 1991, died of chest cancer in 2020. She was 57 years old.

Subsequently her death, Newton-John described the actress as a "radiant, beautiful low-cal in the globe" on an episode of "People."

Travolta walked the Penfolds Icon Gala red carpet hand-in-hand with Preston and Newton-John in 2006.

Kelly Preston with Travolta and Newton-John.
Michael Buckner/Getty Images

Newton-John joined the married couple at the upshot, at which Travolta presented the actress with the Lifetime Accomplishment Award.

Travolta and Newton-John reunited at the G'24-hour interval United states of america Australia blackness tie gala in 2008.

Travolta and Newton-John in 2008.
Barry Rex/Getty Images

They attended the effect at the Hollywood and Highland Thousand Ballroom in Hollywood, California.

John Easterling, Newton-John's husband, spent fourth dimension with Travolta at the 2010 Australia Week Black Tie Gala.

Easterling, Newton-John, and Travolta at the 2010 Australia Calendar week Black Tie Gala.
Jean Baptiste Lacroix/Getty Images

Newton-John has been married to Easterling, an environmentalist and businessman, since 2008.

Travolta and Newton-John collaborated on a 2012 holiday album called "This Christmas."

Travolta and Newton-John in the "I Recollect Yous Might Like Information technology" music video.
Olivia Newton-John/YouTube

The tracklist included a duet called "I Recall You Might Like It," from John Farrar, the same songwriter behind "You're the One That I Want."

Newton-John and Travolta shot a holiday-themed music video for the song, which was Travolta'southward idea, he explained during an interview on SiriusXM.

"The little footstep we created was a homage to 'You're the Ane That I Want,'" he said.

Newton-John added: "Everything was spontaneous."

The costars showed off their dance moves at a "Grease" screening on the pic's 40th ceremony.

Newton-John and Travolta at a "Grease" screening in 2018.
Steve Granitz/Getty Images

After 4 decades, Travolta and Newton-John still knew their "Grease" choreography.

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