John Travolta and other celebrities react to Olivia Newton-John’s death

The tragic passing of singer and actress Olivia Newton-John was announced by her husband John Easterling on Monday, 8 August. Quickly, Hollywood and fans of the icon from around the world began to share their grief and sadness.

While the message shared by the star’s family did not say directly what the cause of death was but they did speak to her struggle with breast cancer that has been ongoing since 1992.

One of the first celebrities to send his condolences to the family of Olivia Newton-John was her ‘Grease’ co-star John Travolta. In the 1978, Newton-John and Travolta won the hearts of their viewers for their portrayal of Sandy and Danny, two high schoolers who fall in love after a summer of fun in the 1950s.

The two remained friends in the years following their on-screen appearance and in the wake of her passing, Travolta wrote of his co-star “Yours from the first moment I saw you and forever! Your Danny, your John!”

Paramount Movies, the production company that produced ‘Grease,’ also tweeted a message of farewell to the star whose death was announced on Monday 8 August.

“In loving memory of our Sandy,” wrote the production company.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences also tweeted a message with a photo of Newton-Jones and Travolta just months before their film ‘Grease’ premiered at the 50th Academy Awards.

Director James Gunn, known for Guardians of the Galaxy Volume I and II as well as Suicide Squad which was released in 2021. Describing ONJ as his “first real crush as a kid” he went on to say that after enjoying her music and movies, he “coincidentally [...] bought & lived in for a while the wonderful home she built in Malibu.”

Albert Kim, the showrunner for Netflix’s upcoming ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ also sent out a message of sorrow, noting his love for her music saying “Hers was the first concert I went to, and to this day I still have more Olivia albums that of any other artist.”

A film industry non-profit working to increase the representation of women in Hollywood, Women in Film (WIF), said that they were “saddened by the passing.” Newton-John was a role model to many in the industry and WIF spoke to how her work inspired a generation of fans.

“Her roles and songs will live on, and her advocacy for those affected by cancer remains and inspiration,” said WIF.

Media writer Boonie Stiernberg wrote about the movie sensation that was ‘Grease’ for those who grew up in the 1970s and 80s. A true class act, Olivia Newton-John stole the hearts of millions with her tunes, moves, and her on screen chemistry with Danny.

“It’s [’Grease’] a classic, and Olivia Newton-John is a classic.”