Few actors are as linked as a couple in moviegoers minds as John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, who played Danny and Sandy in the film version of Grease, one of the all-time biggest movies in history. (The original Grease was the top-grossing film of 1978, ahead of such well-known classics as National Lampoon’s Animal House and the original Superman.)
So of course when word broke that Newton-John had died this week at the age of 73, Travolta himself was one of the first to pay tribute to his co-star on social media.
“My dearest Olivia, you made all of our lives so much better,” Travolta wrote. “Your impact was incredible. I love you so much. We will see you down the road and we will all be together again. Yours from the first moment I saw you and forever!”
He signed the post “Your Danny, your John!”
Through the years, Travolta and Newton-John reunited for a second film together, Two of a Kind, and made occasional joint appearances; celebrating Grease anniversaries, performing together, or introducing special screenings of the film. Here they are in concert singing “You’re the One That I Want” together:
And here’s “Summer Nights.”
And here they are doing a Q&A after a Grease screening (in costume no less) in 2019.
Newton-John’s death comes shortly before what’s sure to be a revival of interest in the original Grease, thanks to the upcoming prequel series based on the movie, Rise of the Pink Ladies — which like the Broadway show and the film, will be a musical. The series is coming soon to streaming on Paramount+.
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