[5] Conaway remained for the entire run, then toured with the national company of the play Critic's Choice. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. Offers may be subject to change without notice. He says I'm the only choice for a white actor, but that they'd had a meeting and thought that maybe Bobby should be black and that now they're looking at black actors. In 2012, Travolta reunited with Olivia Newton-John for their holiday album This Christmas, and in 2016 he received his first Emmy nomination for his portrayal of Robert Shapiro in FX's The People v. O.J. In addition, she was "hopelessly devoted" to philanthropic works including a stint as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Environment Program. However, Goodman was so in tune with "Grease" that in1994, she even appeared in a Broadway revival of the story in which she played English teacher Miss Lynch, per Theater Mania. Fans were surprised when Charles did a complete career change and became a college professor at California State University, Northridge. "The pain seemed to be motivating him back to the opiates, and I told him for years that it was going to kill him," Pinsky said. Despite her long battle with cancer, news of Newton-Johns passing still shook the showbiz world and prompted an outpouring of grief from her celebrity friends. However, though Caesar appeared in the biggest box office hit of 1978, he struggled with alcohol and pill addiction during that same era, per The New York Times. Played by Jamie Donnelly, Jan had a very sweet and authentic demeanor. Manoff has three children with her second husband, Arthur Mortell. Then in 2020, Preston died of breast cancer, asPeople reported. In a 2005 radio interview with WDCM (via YouTube), Ghostley admitted she was surprised that older fans liked "Grease," but added, "I do get a lot of letters. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Paramount Pictures. [3] He made his film debut in the 1971 romantic drama Jennifer on My Mind, which also featured future stars Robert De Niro and Barry Bostwick. Channing has continued to appear on both stage and screen, and played a recurring role on the CBS drama The Good Wife until 2016. He was 87. He posted a lengthy rant on Facebook about a server at a local restaurant, Kara Lashbaugh. ; and the upcoming Paramount+ spin-offs Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies, and Summer Lovin'. Conaway's dialogue for that episode was divided between his co-stars Danny DeVito and Christopher Lloyd, who delivered the jokes well enough so that Conaway's absence had little negative effect on the episode. Though Travolta had appeared in television shows, in the classic horror film "Carrie," and in "Saturday Night Fever," he didn't reach peak fame until "Grease." While she was arguably most known for playing Sandy in the cult classic, Newton-John had an incredible music career that earned her four GRAMMY awards out of 12 nominations. Marty, another Pink Lady, was pretty entertaining to watch, and it was clear she didn't really care much about conventional standards. While pneumonia was the cause of death, the doctor who. In addition to the box office and Billboard success brought on by the musical, her performance in Grease also landed her a Golden Globe nomination. In"Grease," she lent a sympathetic ear to a beauty school dropout (played by Didi Conn), who was her co-worker at the Frosty Palace malt shop, and in an interview with The Spokesman Review, Ellen Travolta who played a fellow Frosty Palace waitress in the film said it was "a lot of fun" working with Hollywood legends such as Blondell and Sid Caesar in "Grease.". ", My heart is broken. Character actress Eve Arden (born Eunice Quedens) famously starred in the 1940s and 1950s radio and TV comedy, "Our Miss Brooks," as English teacher Connie Brooks but in "Grease," she took on a different rank in the high school ecosystem when she played Rydell High's Principal McGee. Following his film success in "Grease," Stewart logged a series of guest spots on popular TV shows of the era, including "Wonder Woman" and "CHIPs." He was constantly cracking jokes as inappropriate as they may be. He followed his time on the Great White Way with guest star turns on a number of television shows before joining the cast of the Grease film and becoming a series regular on the sitcom Taxi. Played by Eddie Deezen, Eugene was like the lovable nerd who remained optimistic even when he was constantly getting picked on by the popular guys. "Grease" was the word and one of the most beloved movies of the 1970s. [21][22][23], In June 2009, Conaway joined Celebrity Rehab castmate Mary Carey at the premiere of her parody film Celebrity Pornhab with Dr. [3], Conaway worked as a child model, and attended high school at the Quintano School for Young Professionals. Doctors discovered a malignant tumor in her right breast and she underwent a modified radical mastectomy and chemotherapy before eventually being declared cancer free. [25], In March 2010, shortly after the death of actor Corey Haim, Conaway told E! "I was so much older than she was in life, but I could not think about that so I sort of threw myself back to what I felt when I was her age," she said of playing Rizzo. Sadly on August 8, 2022, at the age of 73, Newton-John died at her California home, reported The New York Times. Things took a dark turn in the mid-2000s when Conaway relapsed from substance abuse and turned up on reality TV as a star of the VH1 shows Celebrity Fit Club and Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew. After "Grease," Ward continued acting for a bitand got into voice acting as well, voicing characters in the likes of "Challenge of the GoBots" and "Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures." [12] He also felt creatively stymied: I wanted to do things with Bobby, but as the show went on, I could see I wasn't going to get that chance Lemme tell you I loved Bobby, I identified with Bobby. Mary K. Jacob contributed to this report. She has been married to her second husband, David Shire, since 1982. In 1988, she booked the lead role of Carol Weston in the hit NBC spin-off of The Golden Girls, Empty Nest. Additionally, Channing has also made a name for herself on Broadway, starring in a number of beloved musicals. Like his co-star John Travolta, Conaway appeared in the original cast of Grease on Broadway, serving as an understudy for several of the roles, eventually taking over the role of Danny Zuko. After starring in "Grease," he continued to seek out roles, starring in "Days of Our Lives" and "Port Charles." this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Screen capture. In 1980, Newton-John tried her hand at a second movie musical with Xanadu, but the film flopped with critics and didnt resonate with audiences. He appeared in films such as Jawbreaker, Elvira: Mistress of the Dark, and Do You Wanna Know a Secret? [2], His father, Charles,[2] was an actor, producer, and publisher. I just couldn't appreciate it and use it as just a job, as a learning experience. In an interview with PRIME, Avalon explained that singing was truly his passion and that he was lucky to continue being asked to sing and perform for an audience. That's what happened with Jeff.". After her son David was diagnosed with autism at an early age, she has become an outspoken advocate for autism awareness, and in 2008 she was named the National Celebrity Spokesperson for Autism Speaks. She worked steadily through the '90s before joining the cast of the celebrated drama The West Wing in 1999 which brought her six Emmy nominations and one win. (CBS via Getty Images), CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER. His first, short-lived marriage (when he was 21) was to a dancer he had been seeing for two years. Throughout the rest of the '80s and early '90s, he primarily worked in guest spots on TV, and small supporting roles in films, until he booked the role of Zack Allan on Babylon 5 from 1994-1999. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." After Pinsky asked him to elaborate upon how he would carry out a suicidal act, Conaway glared at the mirror in his room and said, "I see myself breaking that mirror and slicing my fucking throat with it." I had a lot of meetings with [the producers] because I was unhappy Sure, partially it was ego, but let me do what I do best. Your impact was incredible., A post shared by John Travolta (@johntravolta). The actor, who played geeky Eugene Felsnic in the "Grease" musical films and Eddie in the 1980s sitcom "Punky Brewster," also has been transferred to the Maryland Department of Health for treatment, according to Allegany County Circuit Court records reviewed Monday by . In 2005, their on-off nine-year relationship became headline news following McDermotts mysterious disappearance while on a fishing trip off the coast of California. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. After all, Travolta played the handsome stud in the film, and people were understandably taken with him. One of the most memorable scenes from "Grease" starred Frankie Avalon as the Teen Angel who sang "Beauty School Dropout." He was known for playing Kenickie in the film Grease and for his roles in two television series: struggling actor Bobby Wheeler in Taxi and security officer Zack Allan on Babylon 5. Channing appeared in shows like "The Good Wife" and "The West Wing" and starred in movies like "The First Wives Club" and "Practical Magic." His vanishing sparked a frenzied search, but he was never found. Tragically, the much-loved actress died at the age of 73 on Monday, August 8, surrounded by her family at her California ranch. ", Conaway's struggle with alcohol and drug addiction was chronicled in 2008 on the TV reality show "Celebrity Rehab With Dr. [citation needed]. [12], On May 26, 2011, Conaway's family took him off life support after doctors determined they could do nothing to revive him. ", A post shared by Barbra Streisand (@barbrastreisand), Actor George Takei called Newton-John a "great, iconic artist." He signed it, "Your Danny, your John!". That star began to dip in the 1980s, but his Oscar-nominated turn in "Pulp Fiction" brought him back to the top, as Travolta himself acknowledged on "Inside the Actor's Studio." That was in the '90s, the same decade that brought Travolta his wife, actress Kelly Preston, and his . "My heart is broken," singer-songwriter Richard Marx tweeted. Your impact was incredible. Deezen is facing charges relating to an April arrest for allegedly trespassing and burglarizing the neighbors at his Maryland home. It's an extended family. Newton-John was first diagnosed with breast cancer back in 1992, at the age of 43. Donnelly added, "The movie was a joy to do," in large part because of the cast. The star was treated, but did not publicize the diagnosis at the time. Helicopter crash near Ukraine kindergarten kills children and top officials, U.S. lawyer who died in Mexico was "victim of a brutal crime," family says, Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Paul Gosar and George Santos get House committee seats, Qantas plane lands safely on single engine after mayday call over Pacific, New Mexico lawmaker says shootings suspect confronted her outside her home, Gov. After two brief attempts at sitcom stardom in the early 1980s, Channing re-teamed with Nicholson and Nichols (as well as Meryl Streep) for the film Heartburn, based on Nora Ephron's best-selling novel. Of all the T-Birds, Sonny was certainly the most hilarious of the bunch. After her turn as beauty school dropout Frenchy in the original 1978 film, she went on to star in television shows like The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang, Benson, and the PBS series Shining Time Station alongside Ringo Starr, and later, George Carlin. Stewart tragically died from complications relating to AIDS on April 20, 1994 (via Facebook). Conaway played struggling actor turned cab driver, Bobby Wheeler, on and off for four seasons, starting in 1978. And [the producers] said they had been thinking along the same lines, so I read again. Already a Grammy-winning recording artist and country music star when she was cast as good-girl-gone-bad Sandy, Olivia Newton-John's career rose to greater heights after the movie became the biggest box office hit of 1978. "The real source of joy for those of us who did it is the fact that we keep in relatively regular contact. Actor Eddie Deezen is has been found not competent to stand trial in a nursing home burglary case because of a mental disorder. Conaway had suffered a back injury earlier in his career on the set of Grease while filming the "Greased Lightning" scene, which had been exacerbated recently by lifting boxes in his home, and he had turned to substances to manage the pain. Seen here, the T-Birds prank on Eugene (wearing glasses and bow tie), played by Eddie Deezen. Instead I saw it as, 'Hey, anybody could do this character.' She was 73. Deezen has seen plenty of success outside the movie musical world, especially when it comes to voice acting. Grease Actors You May Not Know Passed Away. Inspired by her climactic transformation into "Bad Sandy," Newton-John revamped her sound and image for her next album, Totally Hot, to add more of a Pink Ladies edge. In addition to his work as an actor, Pearl has directed a number of theatrical productions, and taught film arts at Joey Travolta's Inclusion Film Company for children and adults with developmental disabilities. Olivia Newton-John as Sandy and John Travolta as Danny Zuko in a scene from the movie "Grease," released in 1978. No cause of death was given in a statement on her official Facebook page, but Newton-John had been open about her decades-long battle with breast cancer. Dody Goodman, who shared scenes with Arden in the role of Rydell High School secretary Blanche Hodel, died on June 22, 2008, following a long battle with colon cancer. Its soundtrack, featuring the songs "You're the One That I Want," "Summer Nights," "Hopelessly Devoted to You," as well as the self-titled theme song sung by Frankie Valli, was also a major chart topper in the late 1970s disco era. Binge-worthy entertainment news and celebrity interviews. "Doing everything to stay safe and healthy," he wrote over on Cameo. [2][8] The two would reunite in the 1978 motion picture musical Grease, in which Travolta played Zuko and Conaway his buddy Kenickie. 3. Meanwhile, daughter Chloe Lattanzi has faced health battles of her own, struggling with anorexia and drug addiction. And Sid Caesar, who played Coach Calhoun, died on Feb. 12, 2014. While his character in "Grease" had eyes for Dinah Manoff's Marty Maraschino, two decades earlier, young fans had their eyes on him. Olivia Newton-John's breakout role was in "Grease," but she was already well on her way to establishing her name in the music business. he wrote on Instagram. Los Angeles (CNN) -- Actor Jeff Conaway, who was in the TV series "Taxi" and the movie "Grease," died Friday morning, his manager said. The younger Byrnes, thankfully, became sober before hitting age 50 and would go on to live for decades after finding sobriety. Four-time Grammy winner singer-songwriter and actor Olivia Newton-John who starred in the beloved movie musical Grease has passed away . He died on May 27, 2011. Eve Arden, who had a long film and stage career, played Rydell High School Principal McGee in Grease. She returned to the profession in the late '90s and has appeared on television in series like Monk, Veep, and Ray Donovan, as well as the feature films Black Mass with Johnny Depp, and Cyrus, with Marisa Tomei. By the mid-2000s he had relapsed. On Jan. 8, 2020, died of natural causes. Conaway's appearance on the show's first and second seasons drew much attention[citation needed] because of his severely crippled state, his constant threats to leave the facility, and his frequent inability to speak clearly. But Bobby anybody could walk in and say, 'Hi, Alex.'"[13]. We give each other a lot of support," he said. (Allegany County Sheriff's Office), LOS ANGELES - JUNE 16: The movie "Grease", directed by Randal Kleiser. And sadly, two actors Jeff Conaway, who played Kenickie, and Annette Charles, who played Cha Chahave since died. May she RIP. After appearing in the movie,Manoff went on to star in many projects, writing, directing, and producing here and there. The character was the leader of the T-Birds rival gang called the Scorpions. , Sonny was certainly the most hilarious of the T-Birds prank on (... Prank on Eugene ( wearing glasses and bow tie ), LOS ANGELES - JUNE 16: movie. '' starred Frankie Avalon as the Teen Angel who sang `` Beauty School Dropout. 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