Olivia Newton-John, who turned a formative a part of many moviegoers’ musical expertise due to her breakout function in Grease, has died. She was 73.
Born in Cambridge however raised in Melbourne, Australia, she was first interested in music quite than appearing, and realized to play the piano aged 5. By the point she was 15, she’d shaped all-girl group Sol 4, and received a expertise contest TV present referred to as Sing, Sing, Sing.
Profitable a visit to London, Newton-John travelled again to her homeland and carried out at military bases and golf equipment in England and Europe.
Her first music deal got here with Decca Information, recording covers after which becoming a member of bubblegum band Toomorrow (which was aiming to be a UK model of The Monkees – as much as and together with making a film starring the band).
One other large breakthrough got here within the Seventies when she opened for Cliff Richard and guested on his TV present. She started having much more success along with her personal music, scoring prime 10 singles after which her first two chart-toppers with ‘I Actually Love You’ in 1974 and ‘Have You By no means Been Mellow’ the next yr.
She turned a country-pop and soft-rock sensation within the Seventies and ’80s, promoting greater than 100 million albums and having fun with practically 40 entries on the Billboard Scorching 100 throughout her 5 a long time in music.
Whereas some may need seen Grease as a giant alternative, she was nervous about taking up one other film, since Toomorrow had been an abject flop and her music profession was booming. Nonetheless, producer Allan Carr satisfied her, and the remaining is film musical historical past, as she starred alongside John Travolta within the story of opposites attracting.
Additionally on her movie CV? Xanadu, Two Of A Form (which noticed her reunite with Travolta) and the likes of Sordid Lives, It is My Celebration and an uncredited cameo as herself in She’s Having A Child. But her impression on movies is simply as spectacular for her music – she recorded a humorous, horny music video for ‘Bodily’, which noticed her gently spoofing the aerobics development and but proved it’s successful in itself.
Newton-John was recognized with breast most cancers in 1992, however overcame it. The most cancers returned, nevertheless, in 2017 and he or she introduced it had unfold to her decrease again. She by no means wished to be seen as merely a most cancers survivor, nevertheless. “‘Survivor’ seems like somebody clinging onto a lifeboat,” she instructed US morning present At the moment. “A thriver’s somebody who’s already off the boat and on land.”
Her household launched the information through her Fb web page. “Olivia has been a logo of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast most cancers,” husband John Easterling wrote. “Her therapeutic inspiration and pioneering expertise with plant drugs continues with the Olivia Newton-John Basis Fund, devoted to researching plant drugs and most cancers. In lieu of flowers, the household asks that any donations be made in her reminiscence to the Olivia Newton-John Basis Fund.”
“Olivia is survived by her husband John Easterling; daughter Chloe Lattanzi; sister Sarah Newton-John; brother Toby Newton-John; nieces and nephews Tottie, Fiona and Brett Goldsmith; Emerson, Charlie, Zac, Jeremy, Randall, and Pierz Newton-John; Jude Newton-Inventory, Layla Lee; Kira and Tasha Edelstein; and Brin and Valerie Corridor.”
Travolta paid tribute to his pal and co-star through a shifting Instagram message.
