At the age of 73, Dame Olivia Newton-John, a star of Grease, passed away. According to her official Facebook page, Newton-John, who is best known for playing the wholesome Sandy in the popular 1978 musical, passed away yesterday morning (8 August) at her home in Southern California. Here you can read further updates on the story and more tributes.
Her husband John Easterling informed him of her passing.
According to the announcement, “Dame Olivia Newton-John (73) died quietly at her Ranch in Southern California this morning, surrounded by family and friends.” We kindly request that everyone respect the family’s privacy during this extremely trying time.”Olivia has been a symbol of achievements and hope for almost 30 years sharing her experience with breast cancer,” the statement continued. The Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, which is focused on studying plant medicine and cancer, carries on her pioneering work in plant medicine and healing inspiration.
She “went away quietly at her ranch in southern California this morning, surrounded by family and friends,” according to the actress and singer’s husband, John Easterling.
She co-starred in Grease with John Travolta, who stated she “made all of our lives so much better.”
On Instagram, he also added: “Your influence was tremendous. I adore you a lot. When we are all back together, we will see each other again.
“From the first minute I saw you, you were all mine.
In the 1978 film adaptation of the musical, Travolta played Danny Zuko, the T-Birds’ leader, and Newton-John portrayed meek, reserved Sandy.
They are reunited when Sandy forgoes her sensible attire in favour of a leather jacket and tight leather pants, seeming ill-suited, and Zuko wonders whether to tone down his image.
They collaborated on the song You’re The One That I Want, which peaked at number one on the UK charts alongside Summer Nights.
Hopelessly Devoted to You by Newton-John, which peaked at number two in the UK, received an Academy Award nomination for best original song.
Dame Olivia was hesitant to accept the part because she thought she was too old for it because she turned 29 during the 1977 filming.
However, she was adamant about having a screen test with Travolta and chose to accept the role.
She stated to the Detroit News, “I’m thankful for Grease,” in 2016. The music and the movie continue to be very popular.
It was the largest box office blockbuster of 1978 and, at the time, the highest-grossing musical movie ever thanks to its critical and economic success.
For the 40th anniversary in 2018, the cast came back together.
In 1948, Dame Olivia was born in Cambridge. She was the youngest of three children and moved to Melbourne, Australia, with her family when she was five years old.
She competed for the UK in the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest before starring in Grease.
In the same year that Abba won with Waterloo, her song, Long Live Love, came in at number four.
Four-time Grammy Award winner Newton-John had five songs that reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, including Physical and I Honestly Love You.
She started performing when she was young and rose to fame after relocating to America.
With the Bob Dylan song “If Not for You,” which George Harrison had also covered, she had her first success in 1971.
She sold more than 100 million records worldwide.
Chloe Rose, the couple’s daughter, was born in 1986 after Dame Olivia wed actor Matt Lattanzi in 1984.
In 1995, the couple got a divorce. She married Mr. Easterling, a businessman and environmentalist, in 2008.
She received her first of three cancer diagnoses in 1992, at which point she rose to prominence as a breast cancer advocate.
She revealed several years ago that her breast cancer had migrated to her back and metastasized, forcing her to postpone concerts.
For more than 30 years, Mr. Easterling claimed, Dame Olivia was a “figure of achievements and optimism sharing her battle with breast cancer.”
“The Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, committed to investigating plant medicine and cancer,” he stated, “continues her therapeutic inspiration and pioneering expertise with plant medicine.”
According to the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, flowers will be placed on Dame Olivia’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
On August 5th, 1981, she received the star in recognition.
