John Travolta Podcast Eps. 24 - From Vinnie Barbarino To Vinnie Vega - Italian American Actor

Actor John Travolta is just one of literally thousands of Italian Americans in Hollywood, be they actors, actresses, directors, producers, screenwriters, cinematographers and so on.
On this Bravo And Brava Italian Americans in Hollywood podcast episode No. 24, hosted by film enthusiasts Daley Giacopella and Sadie Bruni, we celebrate the contribution of actor John Travolta who has left an indelible mark on Hollywood and the American entertainment industry.
John Travolta, born John Joseph Travolta on February 18, 1954, in Englewood, New Jersey, is one of Hollywood's most iconic actors. He is the youngest of six children born to Salvatore "Sam" Travolta, a semi-professional football player turned tire salesman, and Helen Cecilia Burke, an actress and singer. His father hailed from a family of Italian immigrants from Sicily, while his mother was of Irish descent.
Travolta’s passion for performing emerged early. His mother, who taught drama, nurtured his interest in acting. By his teenage years, Travolta was already taking singing and dancing lessons. After high school, he moved to New York City to pursue his dreams, landing roles in musical theater productions such as "Grease" and "Over Here!".
His television breakthrough came in the mid-1970s with his role as Vinnie Barbarino in the sitcom "Welcome Back, Kotter". The show was a hit, and Travolta quickly became a teen idol. Around the same time, he also starred in the made-for-TV movie "The Boy in the Plastic Bubble" (1976).
Travolta’s film career skyrocketed in the late 1970s. His portrayal of Tony Manero in "Saturday Night Fever" (1977) captured the spirit of the disco era and earned him his first Academy Award nomination. He followed this success with "Grease" (1978), where his role as Danny Zuko solidified his status as a box office superstar.
The 1980s proved more challenging for Travolta, with several of his films underperforming. However, his career experienced a resurgence in the 1990s thanks to Quentin Tarantino’s "Pulp Fiction" (1994). Travolta’s portrayal of Vincent Vega earned him an Academy Award nomination and opened doors to more varied roles in films like "Get Shorty" (1995), "Face/Off" (1997), and "Primary Colors" (1998).
Throughout his career, Travolta appeared in over 70 films and numerous television projects. His versatility allowed him to tackle a wide range of genres, from musicals like "Hairspray" (2007) to action thrillers like "Swordfish" (2001). In recent years, he has continued to take on new roles, including "The Fanatic" (2019) and "The Poison Rose" (2019).
Beyond acting, Travolta is a licensed pilot and owns multiple aircraft. His passion for aviation is well-known, and he often speaks about the freedom and joy flying brings him.
Travolta’s personal life has been marked by triumphs and tragedies. He married actress Kelly Preston in 1991, and they had three children: Jett, Ella Bleu, and Benjamin. Sadly, Jett passed away in 2009, a loss that deeply affected the family. Kelly Preston died in 2020 after battling breast cancer. Travolta has since dedicated himself to raising his children while continuing his career.
John Travolta’s legacy as an Italian American icon in Hollywood remains strong. His contributions to film and television, along with his resilience in overcoming personal and professional challenges, have cemented his place as a true legend.
Please subscribe, like, comment, share and turn on notifications so you don't miss any of our daily Italian Americans In Hollywood podcasts and shorts.
Check out all of our previous podcasts in the Playlist below:
EPS. 1 AL PACINO - • Al Pacino Podcast Eps....
EPS. 2 MARISA TOMEI - • Marisa Tomei Podcast E...
EPS. 3 FRANK SINATRA - • Frank Sinatra Podcast ...
EPS. 4 LIZA MINNELLI - • Liza Minelli Podcast E...
EPS. 5 LOU COSTELLO - • Lou Costello Podcast E...
EPS. 6 LORRAINE BRACCO - • Lorraine Bracco Podcas...
EPS. 7 NICOLAS CAGE - • Nicolas Cage Podcast E...
EPS. 8 ANNE BANCROFT - • Anne Bancroft Podcast ...
EPS. 9 MARK RUFFALO - • Mark Ruffalo Podcast E...
EPS. 10 DREA DE MATTEO - • Drea De Matteo Podcast...
EPS. 11 QUENTIN TARANTINO - • Quentin Tarantino Podc...
EPS. 12 SOFIA COPPOLA - • Sofia Coppola Bio Podc...
EPS. 13 JAMES GANDOLFINI - • James Gandolfini Podca...
EPS. 14 BERNADETTE PETERS - • Bernadette Peters Bio ...
EPS. 15 LEONARDO DICAPRIO - • Leonardo DiCaprio Podc...
EPS. 16 SUSAN SARANDON - • Susan Sarandon Podcast...
EPS. 17 BRIAN DE PALMA - • Brian De Palma Podcast...
EPS. 18 VALERIE BERTINELLI - • Valerie Bertinelli Pod...
EPS. 19 DENNIS FARINA - • Dennis Farina Podcast ...
EPS. 20 ALYSSA MILANO - • Alyssa Milano Podcast ...
EPS. 21 THE COPPOLA CLAN - • The Coppola Clan Podca...
EPS. 22 BRADLEY COOPER - • Bradley Cooper Podcast...
EPS. 23 ANNABELLA SCIORRA - • Annabella Sciorra Podc...
EPS. 24 JOHN TRAVOLTA - • John Travolta Podcast ...

[@ItalianAmericansInHollywood]

Podcast correction: Travolta’s father was a second-generation Italian American with roots in Godrano, Sicily, and his mother was Irish American.