John Travolta Now & Then: Photos From His Young ‘Grease’ Days to Superstardom Today

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February 18, 2024 8:00AM EST
John Travolta
Paramount Pictures/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images

John Travolta is 70! See how far he’s come since his groovy 70s start in our gallery, here.

John Travolta, the man, the myth, the actor, was born on February 18, 1954, and has since become an American icon. His rise to fame began in the groovy 1970s, when he made a name for himself on the small screen in the hit sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter, pictured in his headshot here. But it was his roles in the box office hits Carrie, Saturday Night Fever, Grease, and Urban Cowboy that cemented his status as a bona fide movie star.

Although his career hit a bit of a slump in the 80s, John made a comeback in the 90s, thanks to his unforgettable role in the cult classic Pulp Fiction. From there, he continued to captivate audiences in films such as Get Shorty, Broken Arrow, Phenomenon, Face/Off, and A Civil Action. He even showcased his musical talents in the movie-turned-musical Hairspray and the animated hit Bolt. With that many hits, it’s no wonder that John has been recognized for his acting chops. His mantle features a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture, and he can boast nominations for an Academy Award, an Emmy, and several other Golden Globe Awards.

In addition to his acting career, John is also a singer-songwriter who has released nine albums. He even topped the charts with the Grease soundtrack, which is one of the highest-grossing movie musicals of all time. When he’s not entertaining, the seasoned aviator enjoys soaring through the skies as a private pilot.

John Travolta has truly done it all, and we can’t wait to see what he’ll do next. To see all his best photos from over the years, check out our gallery here.

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John Travolta in 1977

John Travolta in 1977
Michael Sullivan/ANL/Shutterstoc

John Travolta had all the 70s swagger he could muster during the London premiere of Saturday Night Fever in 1977. His feathered hair and baby blue eyes made it clear why the girls were gaga for John.

February 17, 2023, 11:22AM
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‘Saturday Night Fever’

‘Saturday Night Fever’
Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock

Put on your dancing shoes! John Travolta’s big breakout was with Saturday Night Fever. In the film, he played a 19-year-old Italian-American boy from Brooklyn, who tries to escape his anxiety about the future and the harsh reality of his family life on the dance floor at the local disco.

February 17, 2023, 11:22AM
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John Travolta’s Disco Duds

John Travolta’s Disco Duds
Moviestore/Shutterstock

John Travolta’s fashion from Saturday Night Fever made the disco look go mainstream. Talking about how he and legendary costume designer Patricia Field settled on his character Tony’s suit, he told Yahoo News in Dec. 2022, “She insisted that it be a white suit, because you could see it better in the dark. I actually had to agree. It made a lot of sense. So I acquiesced and thus the iconic illusion that we’re all familiar with was born.”

February 17, 2023, 11:22AM
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‘Moment By Moment’

‘Moment By Moment’
Universal/Kobal/Shutterstock

John Travolta looked like quite the hunk in this still from the 1978 film Moment By Moment. The film was about the torrid affair between a Beverly Hills socialite and a young drifter, played by John.

February 17, 2023, 11:22AM
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‘Grease’

‘Grease’
©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection

One cool cat! One of John Travolta’s most beloved roles is in the 1978 musical Grease. He played drag racing loverboy Danny Zuko in the movie, opposite Olivia Newton-John as his sweetheart Sandy.

February 17, 2023, 11:20AM
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‘Urban Cowboy’

‘Urban Cowboy’
©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection

The hits just kept coming for John Travolta. In 1980 he starred in Urban Cowboy, playing Bud, a young man from the country who learns about life and love in a Houston bar.

February 17, 2023, 11:20AM
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John Travolta in ‘Urban Cowboy’

John Travolta in ‘Urban Cowboy’
©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection

While Urban Cowboy isn’t exactly a classic, John Travolta remembers making the movie fondly. He reminisced about the picture with a Jan. 2022 Instagram post, telling fans the flick was “my favorite experience on a film.”

February 17, 2023, 11:20AM
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‘Staying Alive’

‘Staying Alive’
©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection

He’s got all the right moves! John Travolta was back as disco dancer Bobby in Saturday Night Fever’s 1983 sequel Staying Alive. John took his dance training seriously, shedding 20 lbs while preparing for the part.

February 17, 2023, 11:20AM
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John Travolta & Princess Diana Dance

John Travolta & Princess Diana Dance
Everett/Shutterstock

Princess Diana enjoyed a dance with John Travolta during a Nov. 9, 1985 event at the White House. He looked absolutely enchanted by the Princess of Wales.

Opening up about the unreal experience in a 2021 PBS doc about the Princess, John remembered First Lady Nancy Reagan first approaching him. “About 10 o’clock at night, Nancy Reagan tapped on my shoulder and said, ‘The princess, her fantasy is to dance with you. Would you dance with her tonight?'” 

“And I said, ‘Well, of course. How does this work?’ And she said, ‘Well, at about midnight I’ll come and get you and then I’ll lead you over to her and then you ask her to dance.'”

Hours later, the Princess made good on her offer. John remembers her coming to his table, then, “She looked up and me and I said, ‘Would you care to dance with me?’ and she said, ‘Yes.’ I took her and the whole room cleared. We danced for what felt like 15 minutes.”

February 17, 2023, 11:22AM
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‘Michael’

‘Michael’
©New Line Cinema/Courtesy Everett Collection

Fresh off his success from 1994’s Pulp Fiction, John Travolta starred in the supernatural flick Michael in 1996. In the film he played a man who people believed to be Archangel Michael incarnate.

February 17, 2023, 11:20AM