John Travolta shot to international stardom with iconic roles in films like Saturday Night Fever (1977), which launched his career to new heights. His fame continued to rise with his unforgettable performance in Grease.
Born in 1954 in Englewood, New Jersey, Travolta seemed destined for a life in the spotlight. As the youngest in his family, he had big dreams and took the bold step of dropping out of high school to pursue his passion for acting—a risk that paid off tremendously.
Over the years, John has appeared in numerous acclaimed films, including Two of a Kind (1983), Pulp Fiction (1994), Get Shorty (1995)—which earned him a Golden Globe—Broken Arrow (1996), Wild Hogs (2007), and Gotti (2018), among many others.
In 1991, John married actress Kelly Preston, whom he met while she was still in another relationship. Kelly later revealed that she had been unhappy in her previous marriage and knew she wasn’t with the right person. The couple shared nearly 30 years of marriage before Kelly tragically passed away from breast cancer in July 2020.
Together, John and Kelly had three children: Jett, born in 1992; Ella Bleu, born in 2000; and Benjamin, born in 2010. Sadly, their eldest son, Jett, who had been diagnosed with autism, passed away in 2009 due to complications from seizures. The loss was devastating for John, but he remained a devoted father to his two other children.
Ella Bleu has followed in her parents’ footsteps, pursuing a career in acting. She has expressed deep gratitude for the support and guidance they provided throughout her journey.
After Kelly’s passing, Ella shared heartfelt tributes to her mother, describing her as the best person she had ever known and expressing immense love and gratitude. Her bond with her father is equally strong—she often refers to him as the most important person in her life.
John frequently expresses pride in Ella on social media. In one particularly touching post, he shared a video of the two of them dancing in memory of Kelly, a nod to Kelly’s love for dancing with her husband.
The close-knit relationship between John and Ella is a heartwarming reminder of the strength of family.
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70s’ heartthrob Christopher Atkins disappeared from the spotlight – see him now at 63
The actor who once stole hearts in The Blue Lagoon has resurfaced, looking very different from his teenage days – with silver hair and lines etched into his face, his transformation reflects a life fully
lived.
Away from Hollywood’s limelight, he faced struggles that nearly broke him, but today, he’s embraced a quieter life.
Let’s look at the twists and turns of his journey, from battling alcoholism to bankruptcy, and where he stands now…
Christopher Atkins, the former Blue Lagoon star, skyrocketed to fame over four decades ago, largely due to his role in the iconic 1980 film. Although acting was not his initial dream, fate had other plans.
Born in New York, Atkins grew up aspiring to become a professional baseball player, but a knee injury ended his athletic ambitions. Instead of heading to the baseball field, he found himself teaching sailing and trying his hand at modeling. A fateful audition led to his breakthrough as Richard in The Blue Lagoon, a role that would change his life forever.
Atkins was chosen from among 4,000 hopefuls for the part, a testament to his undeniable on-screen charisma, Now to Love detailed. The film, co-starring Brooke Shields, told the story of two teenagers stranded on a tropical island and quickly became a box-office sensation.
One of the first mainstream movies to feature male nudity, it was an intimidating experience for the young actor, but his performance captured audiences worldwide.
Following his success in The Blue Lagoon, Atkins went on to star in The Pirate Movie, where he met Australian model Lyn Barron.
Reminiscing on their whirlwind romance, he shared: “It was love at first sight, and six months later we were married. We went on to have two kids, Grant and Brittany.” However, the glamorous Hollywood life came with a darker side.
As Atkins’ career progressed, the pressures of fame began to weigh heavily. Constant travel, extravagant parties, and high expectations led him down a dangerous path of alcoholism.
Although the family had settled in Los Angeles, their seemingly perfect life unraveled when Atkins discovered that his former manager had embezzled nearly half a million dollars from him. The financial betrayal left the star nearly bankrupt, leading to an alcohol-fueled breakdown in 1986. Reflecting on that challenging period, he admitted to Lifestyle Magazine: “There is nothing worse than having your whole life pulled out from under you.
His turning point came after a heated argument with his wife, which prompted his parents to step in. Atkins entered rehab for 28 days to confront his addiction. After completing treatment, he emerged with a new perspective on life. “I came out of there realizing that I wanted to be a dad more than I wanted to be a drunk,” he said. Despite his efforts, his marriage couldn’t survive the strain of his struggles. “Sadly, the marriage didn’t last, but we remain genuinely great friends,” he added.
Atkins has now been sober for over 30 years, a milestone he takes pride in. He made a conscious effort to be a devoted father, focusing on his children, Grant and Brittany. Grant pursued baseball, chasing the dream his father once had, while Brittany ventured into acting, appearing in British children’s films, including one written by her father.
While Atkins continued to work in film and television, he longed for another major box office hit like The Blue Lagoon. “I consider myself an actor, that’s what I’ve done for 43 years… I still, to this day, dream of being in an ‘A’ movie again,” he revealed.
Outside of his career, Atkins remains hopeful about love. Having been married for 20 years and experienced other relationships, he still seeks a partner who shares his zest for life. “I want a woman, obviously no drama, I’m too old for that. A woman who loves to laugh, can be spontaneous…has to be open,” he shared, per Page Six.
Now a grandfather to three boys, Atkins finds immense joy in his role. “I take them snake hunting, we go camping, fishing, play ball, wrestle all the time, we have a blast. They’re so much fun,” he said.
Christopher Atkins’ transformation is a true testament to his resilience – what an inspiration to us all!
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