"I mean, it's part of life. To this day, it remains one of the highest-selling records of all time. And [the producers] said they had been thinking along the same lines, so I read again. He was 87. In fact, Conn even starred in "Grease 2," making her one of the only original cast members to do so. [18] Conaway stated that he had been an addict since he was a teenager. The 1978 movie, set in the '50s, follows a group of high school students as they navigate life and love. They divorced when he was three,[3] and Conaway and his two older sisters lived with their mother. From 1989 to 1990, he played Mick Savage on The Bold and the Beautiful. Paramount Pictures. Trending. Updated on: August 8, 2022 / 5:15 PM Sadly, son Jett died after hitting his head while having a seizure in 2009 (via People). She discovered that the disease had returned in 2013, before revealing in 2017 that it had metastasized to her lower back. The couple had three children together: Jett, who tragically died from a seizure in 2009, Ella Bleu, and Benjamin. She competed on the hit British series Dancing on Ice in 2019, but was eliminated in week four. 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." ", Travolta posted a tribute to her on Instagram, writing: "My dearest Olivia, you made all of our lives so much better. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. You choose.". (CBS via Getty Images), CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Yours from the first moment I saw you and forever! "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. Grease Actors You May Not Know Passed Away. Fans were surprised when Charles did a complete career change and became a college professor at California State University, Northridge. Deezen is best known for playing Eugene Felsnic in the original "Grease" films. In the interview, the actor claimed he was much better after a fifth back operation, and that he had yet to use painkillers again. Los Angeles," she explained, adding, "So now I am raising my kids, riding my horse, writing a novel, teaching acting, cooking vegetable soup from my garden.". "Saturday Night Fever" and "Grease" made an international movie star of him. Rest in song and mirth.". My heartfelt thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this very difficult time. 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. She began singing in the late 1960s, eventually releasing her first solo album, If Not for You, in 1971, with the title track originally written by Bob Dylan and recorded by George Harrison. 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. Despite how painful the circumstances were, I felt so lucky to have someone like my mom with me to lean on and cry with, she stated. "[30], An autopsy performed on Conaway revealed that the actor died of various causes, including aspiration pneumonia and encephalopathy, attributable to drug overdoses. After Grease, Donnelly took a break from acting for 20 years. Edd Byrnes was already a well-known actor before appearing in the movie thanks to his role in the television series 77 Sunset Strip . After appearing in the 1978 film, Stewart reprised his role for Grease 2 in 1982. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Then: One of the few original Grease stars to join the Grease 2 cast, she reprised her role as Frenchy, charged with taking Michael around school. When Grease hit theaters in June 1978, it was an instant hit and its cast members became instant stars. The soundtrack, however, was a success and cemented Newton-Johns status as a pop superstar. Actor: Grease. John Travolta is obviously a big name with a big reputation Paramount Pictures, Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images Another huge star in "Grease" was John Travolta's Danny, heartthrob and love interest of Sandy. Ill miss you every day. A year after her split from Lattanzi, the star began dating cameraman Patrick McDermott. That claim has not been substantiated. Jeff Conaway, the long-troubled actor from Grease and TV's Taxi who waged a public battle with cocaine, painkillers and alcohol, died Friday at age 60. Read on to find out what the class of Rydell High 1978 have been up to since the film's release. Her cause of death was reported as heart disease. The movie musical was also where she met her first husband, Matt Lattanzi, and in 1986 gave birth to their daughter, Chloe Rose. In 1981, she released Physical, the biggest album of her career. He portrayed Kenickie in the film Grease and had roles in two television series: struggling actor Bobby Wheeler in Taxi and security officer Zack Allan on Babylon 5. NewsCore. 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. After her oldest son Dashiell tragically died in a car accident in 2017, she began teaching acting at the Purdy Corrections Center for Women in Gig Harbor, WA as a way to deal with her grief. Explaining that she had fun with her co-stars and "played around" while filming, she shared, "You know, we're still all like that. Channing appeared in shows like "The Good Wife" and "The West Wing" and starred in movies like "The First Wives Club" and "Practical Magic." But when her family decides to stay in America, Sandy is enrolled in Rydell High alongside Danny, who tries to play it cool in front of his gang of greaser friends the T-Birds causing friction between them. She went on to win one more Emmy for the made-for-television movie The Matthew Shepard Story in 2002, which earned her a Screen Actor's Guild Award as well. Charles died on Aug. 3, 2011, from lung cancer. 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. A few decades following Conaway's TV and movie heyday, fans were sad to see Conaway turn up on "Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew,"where he revealed he was addicted to alcohol and prescription painkillers. One of Donnelly's most recent roles was as Margot in the 2020 thriller "Souvenirs," so it's clear that she hasn't slowed down her career in the slightest. Legal Statement. Trailer for the Musical classic hit Grease Dame Olivia Newton-John's appearance in Grease as good-girl-gone-bad Sandy will go down in movie history as one of the most iconic roles of all time. 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. Its unclear what date the image was actually taken. Travolta was married to the late Kelly Preston from 1991 until her death from breast cancer in July of 2020. Eddie Deezen is reportedly unable to stand trial after his recent arrest due to mental-health -related reasons. He was 91. Prior to Grease, she also starred in the premiere New York and Los Angeles productions of The Rocky Horror Show alongside Tim Curry. But in 1998, she came out of retirement. (edited by) Casting By Joel Thurm Production Design by Philip M. Jefferies . In an interview with Snakkle, Ward explained that he loved working on "Grease," especially with his coworkers from the movie. The star was treated, but did not publicize the diagnosis at the time. 2 min read. He died on May 27, 2011. The Celebrity Rehab alum had been in a . I worship this woman. The movie also gave us some memorable characters including Danny Zuko and Sandy Olsson. Most notably, Manoff starred in "Empty Nest" for several years before moving on to "State of Grace." 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. "You have to think about it," she said. John Travolta starred as Danny Zuko, leader of the greaser group known as the T-Birds. Byrnes' son, news anchor Logan Byrnes, confirmed the news on Twitter, writing, "It is with profound sadness and . We give each other a lot of support," he said. And Sid Caesar, who played Coach Calhoun, died on Feb. 12, 2014. Still, for Donnelly, "Grease" was more than just a movie, it was an experience. Five years later, after a handful of TV appearances in shows like M*A*S*H, The Waltons, and Magnum, P.I., Ward retired from acting on-camera. Grease wasn't his first time working with co-star John Travolta, as the two worked together on 1976's made-for-television movie The Boy in the Plastic Bubble. 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. Food was the one thing I could be in control of.. She went into remission for several years, until she was told the cancer was back in 2013. Before "Grease," Tucci had only been acting for a few years, so to say that the musical was his big break would be a massive understatement. We've received your submission. 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. Here are a few other actors from the iconic Grease movie who you may not have known also died. The legendary star, who began her movie career in the 1930s, appeared in a plethora of Warner Bros. films,perSlant Magazine, effortlessly crossing genres. The true story of the g-strings and murders behind Welcome to Chippendales. The Hollywood legend was 70 years old when she died, according to The New York Times. in 2016. In the mid-1960s, he was the lead singer and guitarist for a rock band, The 3 1/2, which recorded four singles for Cameo Records in 1966 and 1967: In 1979, Conaway recorded a self-titled debut album for Columbia Records. 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. The "Grease" legend died at her ranch in Southern California Monday morning, surrounded by family and friends following a long battle with cancer. Newton-John, a four-time Grammy winner, died in August 2022 at 73 years old. "Now I enjoy doing what I want when I want to do it," he said. Conaway was featured in the first and second seasons of the reality television series Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew. [1][3] His second marriage, from 1980 until their divorce in 1985, was to Rona Newton-John,[2] elder sister of his Grease co-star, Olivia Newton-John. But she did not become a bona fide superstar until her casting opposite John Travolta in 1978s movie musical Grease.. Sadly, along with all of the fanfare, there has been tragedy. In an interview with Home Theater Forum, Deezen explained how happy "Grease" made him. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! 1. I had anxiety attacks and needed to find a way of feeling in control of something. So, it's just that we have that knowledge that wecoulddie. Ward was the voice director, producer, and co-writer for "All Dogs Go to Heaven 2," the voice director, supervising story editor, and executive producer for "The Pink Panther" television series, and so much more. The cast has also had their fair share of ups and downs in the 44 years since Grease debuted in theaters. Grease & quot ; and & quot ; Grease & quot ; Night... She said 2019, but did not become a bona fide superstar until her Casting opposite john Travolta as. Navigate life and love unable to stand trial after his recent arrest due to -related... Productions of the greaser group known as the T-Birds become a bona fide superstar until her Casting john! In the premiere New York Times, before revealing in 2017 that it metastasized! 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