John Travolta

John Travolta is an American actor whose debut role was an appearance on the television series Emergency! in 1972.http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000237/ Since that time, the actor has starred in a variety of television shows and cinematic films, including the television show Welcome Back, Kotter (1975-1979) and the musical Grease (1978).http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000237/

John Travolta has been married to actress Kelly Preston since September 12, 1991.http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000237/bio Their marriage has produced three children: Jett, Ella Bleu, and Benjamin.http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/gossip/2010/11/john-travolta-baby-kelly-preston.htmlhttp://articles.cnn.com/2009-01-02/entertainment/obit.jett.travolta_1_jett-travolta-mr-travolta-kelly-preston?_s=PM:SHOWBIZ Jett Travolta died at the age of 16 in January of 2009, following a seizure.http://articles.cnn.com/2009-01-02/entertainment/obit.jett.travolta_1_jett-travolta-mr-travolta-kelly-preston?_s=PM:SHOWBIZ On May 18, 2010, Travolta and Preston issued an announcement that Preston was pregnant with their third child.http://articles.cnn.com/2010-05-18/entertainment/john.travolta.baby_1_jett-travolta-kelly-preston-john-travolta?_s=PM:SHOWBIZ On November 23, 2010, Preston gave birth to a son named Benjamin.http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/celebrity.news.gossip/11/24/travolta.baby.ppl/?hpt=Sbin Their joint publicist issued the following statement: "John, Kelly and their daughter Ella Bleu are ecstatic and very happy about the newest member of the family. Both mother and baby are healthy and doing beautifully."http://www.etonline.com/news/103189_John_Travolta_and_Kelly_Preston_Welcome_a_New_Baby/index.html

John Travolta's debut role was an appearance on the television series Emergency! in 1972. During the 1970s, Travolta appeared for four seasons on the television show Welcome Back, Kotter as Vinnie Barbarino, in addition to appearing in the commercially successful films Grease and Saturday Night Fever.http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000237/ His career stalled a bit in the 1980s before rebounding with the box office winner Look Who's Talking in 1989, which grossed just shy of 300 million dollars worldwide.http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=lookwhostalking.htmhttp://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000237/ Since 1990, Travolta has appeared in over 30 movies.http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000237/

A devout Scientologist, Travolta produced and starred in the film Battlefield Earth: A Saga of the Year 3000 in 2000.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0185183/fullcredits#writershttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/28/john-travolta-scientology_n_441399.html The film was based on the novel by the founder of Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0185183/fullcredits#writers The film was panned by critics.http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/battlefield_earth/ With an estimated production budget of 73 million dollars, the movie grossed just shy of 30 million dollars worldwide.http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=battlefieldearth.htm

• 2010: From Paris with Love (Charlie Wax)
• 2009: Old Dogs (Charlie)
• 2009: The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (Ryder)
• 2008: Bolt (voice of Bolt)
• 2007: Hairspray (Edna Turnblad)
• 2007: Wild Hogs (Woody Stevens)
• 2006: Lonely Hearts (Det. Elmer Robinson)
• 2005: Be Cool (Chili Palmer)
• 2004: Ladder 49 (Captain Mike Kennedy)
• 2004: A Love Song for Bobby Long (Bobby Long)
• 2004: The Punisher (Howard Saint)
• 2003: Basic (Hardy)
• 2002: Austin Powers in Goldmember
• 2001: Domestic Disturbance (Frank Morrison)
• 2001: Swordfish (Gabriel Shear)
• 2000: Lucky Numbers (Russ Richards)
• 2000: Battlefield Earth: A Saga of the Year 3000 (Terl)
• 1999: The General's Daughter (Warr. Off. Paul Brenner)
• 1998: A Civil Action (Jan Schlichtmann)
• 1998: The Thin Red Line (Brig. Gen. Quintard)
• 1998: Primary Colors (Governor Jack Stanton)
• 1997: Mad City (Sam)
• 1997: Face/Off (Sean Archer / Castor Troy)
• 1997: She's So Lovely (Joey Germoni)
• 1996: Michael (Michael)
• 1996: Phenomenon (George Malley)
• 1996: Broken Arrow (Maj. Vic 'Deak' Deakins)
• 1995: Get Shorty (Chili Palmer)
• 1995: White Man's Burden (Louis Pinnock)
• 1994: Pulp Fiction (Vincent Vega)
• 1993: Look Who's Talking Now (James Ubriacco)
• 1991: Shout (Jack Cabe)
• 1991: Eyes of an Angel (Bobby)
• 1991: Chains of Gold (Scott Barnes)
• 1990: Look Who's Talking Too (James Ubriacco)
• 1989: Look Who's Talking (James Ubriacco)
• 1989: The Experts (Travis)
• 1985: Perfect (Adam)
• 1983: Two of a Kind (Zack)
• 1983: Staying Alive (Tony Manero)
• 1981: Blow Out (Jack Terry)
• 1980: Urban Cowboy (Bud)
• 1975-1979: Welcome Back, Kotter (TV series) (Vinnie Barbarino)
• 1978: Moment by Moment (Strip)
• 1978: Grease (Danny Zuko)
• 1977: Saturday Night Fever (Tony Manero)
• 1976: The Boy in the Plastic Bubble (Tod Lubitch)
• 1976: Carrie (Billy Nolan)
• 1975: The Devil's Rain (Danny)
• 1972: Emergency! (TV series) (Chuck Benson)http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000237/

On January 2, 2009, Travolta's son, Jett Travolta, passed away while on vacation in the Bahamas with his father and mother, Kelly Preston. An autopsy performed on January 5, 2009, listed Jett Travolta's cause of death as being seizure related.TMZ: John Travolta's Son Dies (January 2, 2008)TMZ: Travolta Death Cert Lists... (January 5, 2009) A private memorial service took place on January 8, 2009, at Travolta's residence at Jumbolair Aviation Estates in Ocala, Florida.Extra: Travolta Memorial Planned (January 7, 2009)

On January 23, 2009, three people were detained in the Bahamas in connection with a plot to extort $20 million from Travolta and wife Kelly Preston regarding their son's death. Senator Pleasant Bridgewater, ambulance driver Tarino Lightbourne and parliament member Obie Wilchcombe were arrested, but not initially charged with any crime, as is consistent with Bahamian law. Officials reported that they had some kind of incriminating recording of Bridgewater, but did not elaborate with any further details. Lightbourne came forward in the days following the death of Jett Travolta, claiming that he had attempted to revive the young man before he was pronounced dead.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/4327366/Men-detained-over-John-Travolta-extortion-plot-in-Bahamas.html

It was later revealed that the extortion plot reportedly stemmed from a "refusal to transport" document that Travolta signed, releasing emergency services from any liability, after he considered flying Jett to Florida for treatment instead of having him transported to a hospital 45 minutes away. Travolta opted to have Jett transported to the hospital after considering the two options.TMZ: Details in Mystery Travolta Extortion Doc (January 27, 2009) People: Police Reveal Details of Travolta Extortion Plot (January 27, 2009)

Lightbourne and Bridgewater were formally charged with conspiracy to extort in late January of 2009.Huffington Post: Paramedic Charged In $25 Million Travolta Extortion Plot (January 26, 2009) Wilchcombe was released without any charges.E Online: Paramedic Charged in Alleged Travolta Extortion Plot (January 26, 2009) The case ended in a mistrial in October of 2009 after allegations of juror misconduct.http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20314252,00.html?xid=rss-topheadlines

Travolta and Preston always maintained that their son, Jett, suffered from Kawasaki Disease, a form of vasculities that is poorly understood by doctors. However, rumors have long held that the boy in fact suffered from a form of autism. A popular blog post on Hollywood, Interrupted maintained that Jett did, in fact, have autism, which Travolta and Preston overlooked because of their Scientology faith.Hollywood Interrupted: Wild Hogs Star Gives own Autistic Son the Silent Treatment (May 10, 2007) Travolta and Preston have always maintained that Jett was not autistic.Hollyscoop: John Travolta's Son Dies (January 2, 2009)

John Travolta and Kelly Preston, both residents of Ocala, Florida, issued an open thank you letter to their neighbors, the residents of Ocala, via their local newspaper. The letter thanks the residents of Ocala for their love, prayers, support and condolences following the death of their son Jett.

"The enormous amount of love, support and condolence we have received from this community has been most humbling. Comforting words, thoughts and prayers of Ocala's citizens have made an impossibly painful situation, a little less painful...The actions of Ocala's community leaders, its law enforcement professionals, our neighbors at Jumbolair and its surrounding communities have offered us the dignity to grieve the loss of our son and Ella's brother in peace. For this we will always be grateful."Perez Hilton: Travoltas Issue a Gracious Open... (January 12, 2009)

Entertainment Tonight reported that Travolta set up The Jett Travolta Foundation in memory of his son, Jett. Travolta's personal website claims the foundation will "endeavor to use its resources specifically to assist and provide relief to children with vision, hearing, mobility, communication, behavior learning impairments or other special medical, environmental, health or educational needs. It may also use its resources, and make grants to educate the public about the need for a clean environment, provide relief and assistance to children who are victims of natural or man-made disasters, and to fund children's educational programs." Travolta's official site details how the general public can make donations.ET: John Travolta Announces Foundation in Memory of Son(February 20, 2009)Official Site: John Travolta.com