Kelly Preston, John Travolta’s wife, succumbed to her battle with cancer in 2020, leaving behind her kids with the actor and her career legacy.
July 2020 ushered in heart-breaking news for the Travolta family, as the beloved matriarch, Kelly Preston, lost her battle with breast cancer. Before her death, the actress enjoyed marital bliss with John Travolta for almost 29 years.
The “Twins” actor took to Instagram to pay tribute to the Hollywood icon after her passing. In his post, he reflected on her two-year battle with breast cancer and how she braved every moment of it courageously.
He also thanked family, friends, and loved ones who supported them through that time before announcing he was taking time off from his career to focus on his family. Since then, he has made a few appearances in projects like “Paradise City,” and the upcoming movie, “American Metal.”
In October 2022, the icon revisited his tragic loss, sharing a photo of himself and Preston on her would-have-been 60th birthday. Via caption, John Travolta described his late wife as his favorite dance partner, adding how much he missed and loved her.
While it’s evident Travolta still holds his wife dear to his heart after two years of losing her, what legacy did she leave behind for the rest of the world to remember her? Let’s look into the life of Kelly Preston to discover some interesting facts about her.
Who Was John Travolta’s Wife?
John Travolta’s wife, Kelly Preston, born on October 13, 1962, was an American actress and model. She was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, to dad Peter Palzis and mom Linda Carlson.
At age five, Kelly Preston moved to Iraq due to her dad’s new appointment in an agricultural firm. She later relocated to Australia, where she spent her teenage years.
A fashion photographer discovered the then-16-year-old and geared off her career as a commercial model. She eventually branched into acting, establishing her name as a global star.
Some of her most notable movies and TV shows include “Twins,” “Jerry Maguire,” and “The Experts,” among others.
Her Love Story With Travolta Began On The Experts
Kelly Preston and John Travolta met in 1987 while co-starring in “The Experts.” They had instant chemistry. However, the actress was married to actor Kevin Gage but decided to divorce him that same year.
She went on to date George Clooney in 1989 and moved on to Charlie Sheen after their breakup. The “Jerry Maguire” actress and Sheen got engaged in 1990. However, they called off the engagement barely weeks later and went their separate ways.
Free again, she reconnected with her “The Experts” co-star, who proposed to her on New Year’s eve in 1990. The lovebirds enjoyed a happy marriage until Preston’s death in July 2020.
Kelly Preston Lost An Autistic Son
In 1992, Travolta and Preston expanded their family, welcoming their son, Jett. However, the youngster lost his life years later, at the age of sixteen, after experiencing a seizure. The couple would later hint that their first son was autistic and suffered from Kawasaki disease, a condition characterized by the inflammation of blood vessels.
The couple had two other kids to fall back to, including daughter, Ella, born in 2000, and son Benjamin Travolta, born in 2010, two years after their tragic loss.
She Kept Her Cancer Battle A Secret For Years
Following Preston’s death on July 12, 2020, the world was shocked to learn she died from breast cancer. Until then, no one knew she battled the disease until her husband revealed it in his touching tribute to her. A rep of the family detailed her secret struggles in an interview, saying:
“On the morning of July 12, 2020, Kelly Preston, adored wife and mother, passed away following a two-year battle with breast cancer. Choosing to keep her fight private, she had been undergoing medical treatment for some time, supported by her closest family and friends.”
The rep further described her as a bright, beautiful, and loving soul who cared deeply about others and brought light to all she touched.
She Was A Scientologist
Like her husband, Kelly Preston was an active proponent of Scientology, one of the most controversial religious bodies.
The late actress and her husband have openly voiced their connection to the Church of Scientology. In one of her interviews, she credited the church with helping her cope with the loss of her son, Jett. She divulged:
“To be honest, it was the Scientology Center. I don’t know if I would have made it through without it.”
Interestingly, while most celebrities like John Travolta and Tom Cruise have openly associated with Scientology, religion has been subject to debate over the years, thanks to some of its controversial practices and teachings.
Cruise has been condemned openly for allegedly disowning his daughter due to her refusal to associate with the religion. Such extremities have served as the basis for condemnation by those questioning their fate, and the controversial docu-series, “Scientology: A History of Violence,” which geared off Anderson Cooper’s infamous feud with the Church of Scientology.