John Travolta is an American actor, producer, and singer.
He first became well known in the 1970s, after appearing on the television series Welcome Back, Kotter (1975–1979) and starring in the box office successes Saturday Night Fever and Grease. His acting career declined throughout the 1980s, but enjoyed a resurgence in the 1990s with his role in Pulp Fiction, and he has since starred in films such as Face/Off, Swordfish, Wild Hogs, Hairspray, and I Am Wrath.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 1975 The Devil's Rain Danny 1976 Carrie Billy Nolan 1977 Saturday Night Fever Anthony "Tony" Manero 1978 Grease Daniel "Danny" Zuko Moment by Moment Strip Harrison 1980 Urban Cowboy Buford "Bud" Uan Davis 1981 Blow Out Jack Terry 1983 Staying Alive Anthony "Tony" Manero Two of a Kind Zack Melon 1985 Perfect Adam Lawrence 1989 The Experts Travis Look Who's Talking James Ubriacco 1990 Look Who's Talking Too 1991 Shout Jack Cabe Eyes of an Angel Bobby 1993 Look Who's Talking Now James Ubriacco 1994 Pulp Fiction Vincent Vega 1995 Get Shorty Chili Palmer White Man's Burden Louis Pinnock 1996 Broken Arrow Maj. Vic "Deak" Deakins Phenomenon George Malley Michael Michael 1997 Off the Menu: The Last Days of Chasen's Himself Documentary film Face/Off Sean Archer / Castor Troy She's So Lovely Joey Giamonti Also executive producer Mad City Sam Baily 1998 Primary Colors Governor Jack Stanton Junket Whore Himself Documentary film The Thin Red Line Brigadier General Quintard A Civil Action Jan Schlichtmann 1999 The General's Daughter Warr. Officer Paul Brenner Our Friend, Martin Mr. Langon Voice; Direct-to-video 2000 Battlefield Earth Terl Also producer Lucky Numbers Russ Richards Welcome to Hollywood Himself Cameo; Mockumentary 2001 Swordfish Gabriel Shear Domestic Disturbance Frank Morrison 2002 Austin Powers in Goldmember Himself as "Austinpussy" Goldmember Cameo 2003 Basic Tom Hardy 2004 Ladder 49 Captain Mike Kennedy A Love Song for Bobby Long Bobby Long The Punisher Howard Saint 2005 Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D James Benson "Jim" Irwin Voice; Documentary film Be Cool Chili Palmer 2006 Lonely Hearts Elmer C. Robinson 2007 Wild Hogs Woody Stevens Hairspray Edna Turnblad 2008 Bolt Bolt Voice 2009 The Taking of Pelham 123 Dennis "Ryder" Ford Old Dogs Charlie Reed2010 Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey Dave Voice From Paris with Love Charlie Wax 2012 Savages Dennis Cain Casting By Himself Documentary film 2013 Killing Season Emil Kovac 2014 The Forger Ray Cutter 2015 Life on the Line Beau Ginner Direct-to-video Criminal Activities Eddie Also executive producer 2016 In a Valley of Violence Marshal Clyde Martin I Am Wrath Stanley Hill Direct-to-video 2018 Gotti John Gotti Also executive producer Speed Kills Ben Aronoff Direct-to-video 2019 Trading Paint Sam Munroe The Poison Rose Carson Phillips The Fanatic Moose 2022 Paradise City Arlene Buckley Direct-to-video 2023 Mob Land Bodie Davis The Shepherd Johnny Kavanagh Short film 2024 Cash Out Mason Goddard Direct-to-video 2025 High Rollers 2026 Propeller One-Way Night Coach Older Jeff/Narrator Also director, writer, and producer The Gentleman Thief Mason Goddard Direct-to-video John Roselli Nick Venere Bill Pierce Filming
Television
YearTitleRole Notes 1972 Emergency! Chuck Benson Episode: "Kids" Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law Episode: "A Piece of God" 1973 The Rookies Eddie Halley Episode: " Frozen Smoke" 1974 Medical Center Danny Episode: "Saturday's Child" 1975 The Tenth Level John Television film 1975–1979 Welcome Back, Kotter Vincent "Vinnie" Barbarino 79 episodes 1976 Mr. T and Tina Vinnie Barbarino Episode: "Pilot" The Boy in the Plastic Bubble Tod Lubitch Television film 1987 Basements: The Dumb Waiter Ben The Grand Knockout Tournament Himself Participant; Television special 1991 Chains of Gold Scott Barnes Television film; also writer 1992 Boris and Natasha: The Movie Himself Cameo; Television film 1994 Saturday Night Live Himself Host; Episode: "John Travolta/Seal" 2005 Fat Actress Himself Episode: "Big Butts" 2014 Kirstie Mickey Episode: "Mickey & Maddie" 2016 The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story Robert Shapiro 10 episodes; also producer 2020 Die Hart Ron Wilcox 10 episodes 2024 Sanremo Music Festival 2024 Himself Guest; Annual music festival
Music videos Year Title Artist(s) Role Notes 1989 "Liberian Girl" Michael Jackson 2019 "3 to Tango" Pitbull 2024 "Little Bird" Ella Bleu Himself Archive footage
Commercials
Year Title Role Notes 2020 Capital One Santa Claus 2023 2025
Discography
Albums
Year Album US 1974 Over Here! (musical) — 1976 John Travolta 39 1977 Can't Let You Go 66 1978 Travolta Fever 161 Grease (soundtrack) 1 1983 Two of a Kind (soundtrack) 26 1986 The Road to Freedom (collaboration) — 1996 Let Her In: The Best of John Travolta — 2003 The Collection — 2007 Hairspray (soundtrack) — 2012 This Christmas (with Olivia Newton-John) 81
Singles
Year Title US Billboard US Cash Box US Record World US AC CAN CAN AC UK 1974 "Dream Drummin'" 1975 "Easy Evil" "Can't Let You Go" 1976 "You Set My Dreams to Music" "Goodnight Mr. Moon" "Rainbows" "Settle Down" "Moonlight Lady" "Right Time of the Night" "Big Trouble" "What Would They Say" "Back Doors Crying" "Let Her In" 10 5 16 7 12 "Whenever I'm Away from You" 38 62 61 "Slow Dancin'" "It Had to Be You" "I Don't Know What I Like About You Baby" 1977 "All Strung Out on You" 34 28 30 "Baby, I Could Be So Good at Lovin' You" "Razzamatazz" 1978 "You're the One That I Want" (with Olivia Newton-John) 1 3 2 1 "Summer Nights" (with Olivia Newton-John) 5 3 3 1 "Sandy" — — — — — 2 "Greased Lightnin'" 47 45 11 1980 "Never Gonna Fall in Love Again" — — — — 1983 "Take a Chance" (with Olivia Newton-John) — 3 — 1 — 1997 "Two Sleepy People" (with Carly Simon) — — — — 2008 "I Thought I Lost You" (with Miley Cyrus) —
Awards and nominations
See also
List of oldest and youngest Academy Award winners and nominees – Youngest Nominees for Best Actor
References
Further reading
Tast, Brigitte (ed.). John Travolta. (Hildesheim/Germany 1978.) .
External links