‘Your impact was incredible’: John Travolta, Mandy Moore and Richard Marx lead heartfelt celebrity tributes to Olivia Newton-John after Grease star passes away at 73
John Travolta has lead the celebrity tributes to Dame Olivia Newton-John following the tragic news that she has died, aged 73, after a 30-year battle with breast cancer.
The Grease star died with loved ones by her side at her ranch home in Southern California on Monday, according to her husband, John Easterling.
A Facebook post read: ‘We ask that everyone please respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time.’
Touching: John Travolta has lead the celebrity tributes to Dame Olivia Newton-John following the tragic new that she has died, aged 73, after a 30-year battle with breast cancer
Her Grease co-star Travolta, 68, was among the first to pay tribute, writing: ‘My dearest Olivia, you made all of our lives so much better. Your impact was incredible. I love you so much.’
He added: ‘We will see you down the road and we will all be together again. Yours from the first moment I saw you and forever! Your Danny, your John!’
Actress Mandy Moore, 38, shared a black and white photo of the star, with the caption ‘Thank you for the joy you brought countless people around the world.’
Farewell: Her Grease co-star Travolta, 68, was among the first to pay tribute, writing: ‘My dearest Olivia, you made all of our lives so much better. Your impact was incredible. I love you so much’
Joy: Actress Mandy Moore, 38, shared a black and white photo of the star, with the caption ‘Thank you for the joy you brought countless people around the world’
Rest now: Singer Richard Marx, 58, posted photos of himself with the late actress, writing: ‘My heart is broken. Rest now, sweet friend’
Meanwhile her other Grease co-tar Stockard Channing, 78, called Olivia ‘the essence of summer’ in a statement to People.
‘I don’t know if I’ve known a lovelier human being. Olivia was the essence of summer – her sunniness, her warmth and her grace are what always come to mind when I think of her. I will miss her enormously.’
George Takei, 85, also paid tribute to the actress, writing on Twitter: ‘We have lost a great, iconic artist in Olivia Newton John, gone too soon from us at age 73.’
‘I trust she is now is the great Xanadu beyond. Know that we are forever helplessly devoted to you, Olivia. Rest in song and mirth.’
Singer Richard Marx, 58, posted photos of himself along with the late actress, writing: ‘My heart is broken. Rest now, sweet friend. You were as kind and loving a person as there’s ever been. I’ll miss you every day.’
Class act: Broke Shields, 57, shared a lovely black and white photo of her and Olivia, writing: ‘A true class act whose light shines everywhere she went… she inspired us all’
Greatly missed: Scarface star Michelle Pfeiffer, 64, posted a photo of her and Olivia writing ‘Thank you for your art and talent you gifted us all so graciously with. You will be so greatly missed’
Thank you: Underworld star Kate Beckinsale, 49, posted a snap of the star as Sandy, writing ‘RIP, absolute icon. Thank you for the years of joy’
Heartfelt: X-Men star Hugh Jackman, 53, wrote a heartfelt message on Instagram revealing Olivia was his first ‘crush’ and that he kissed her poster ‘every night before bed’
Beloved: Dancing With The Stars pro Peta Murgatroyd, 36, wrote: ‘This has done me over today. An Aussie icon and legend, there will never be another. This is so tragic’
Gone too soon: George Takei, 85, also paid tribute to the actress, writing on Twitter: ‘We have lost a great, iconic artist in Olivia Newton John’
Heavenly voice: Singer Dionne Warwick, 81, wrote ‘Another angelic voice has been added to the Heavenly Choir’
Singer Dionne Warwick, 81, wrote ‘Another angelic voice has been added to the Heavenly Choir. Not only was Olivia a dear friend, but one of the nicest people I had the pleasure of recording and performing with. I will most definitely miss her. She now Rests in the Arms of the Heavenly Father.’
Broke Shields, 57, shared a lovely black and white photo of her and Olivia to Instagram, writing: ‘A true class act whose light shines everywhere she went… she inspired us all.’
‘A wonderful mother and wife, who was grace and strength personified. Sending all of my love to Olivias family and friends. She’ll never be forgotten.’
Scarface star Michelle Pfeiffer, 64, posted a photo of her and Olivia writing ‘Thank you for your art and talent you gifted us all so graciously with. You will be so greatly missed.’
Dancing With The Stars pro Peta Murgatroyd, 36, shared an Instagram Story, writing: ‘This has done me over today. An Aussie icon and legend, there will never be another. This is so tragic. RIP the beloved Sandy.’
Summer: Meanwhile her other Grease co-tar Stockard Channing, 78, called Olivia ‘the essence of summer’ in a statement to People; Pictured together in 2001
Forever: Actress Elle Fanning, 24, posted a beautiful photo of the star writing: ‘Forever icon’
Forever Sandy: Actress Gabrielle Union, 49, shared a snap of Olivia from Grease
Rest in peace: The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Lisa Rinna, 59, shared an autographed photo of Olivia with the words ‘Rest In Peace’
Icon: ‘RIP What an icon,’ Katharine McPhee, 38, wrote over a photo of a younger Olivia looking radiant in a black trench coat
True icon: Fellow Australian star Rebel Wilson, 42, wrote ‘You were a true icon and I absolutely adored you!’
Inspiration: Yolanda Hadid, 58, shared a tribute on Instagram: ‘Rest In Peace beautiful angel, it was an honor to know you,’ adding, ‘thank you for decades of inspiration’
Sad news: Comedian Rosie O’Donnell, 60, took to Instagram and TikTok with a video expressing her sadness at the news
Amazing: ‘She was amazing, and I lover her. It’s very sad. Rest in Peace, beautiful woman,’ she said
Underworld star Kate Beckinsale, 49, posted a snap of the star as Sandy, writing ‘RIP, absolute icon. Thank you for the years of joy.’
‘RIP What an icon,’ Katharine McPhee, 38, wrote over a photo of a younger Olivia looking radiant in a black trench coat.
X-Men star Hugh Jackman, 53, wrote a heartfelt message on Instagram revealing Olivia was his first ‘crush’ and that he kissed her poster ‘every night before bed.’
‘I’m devastated to hear the news that @therealonj has passed away. One of the great privileges of my life was getting to know her. Not only was she one of the most talented people I’ve known… she was one of the most open hearted, generous and funny.’
‘She was a one of kind spirit. It’s no secret Olivia was my first crush. I kissed her (poster) every night before bed. Her legacy will only grow stronger in the years to come. A fighter for healing from cancer that knows no bounds. I love you Olivia.’
Special: Actress Goldie Hawn, 76, shared an iconic video of herself on stage with Olivia, Meryl Streep, Bette Midler, and Cher as they performed What A Wonderful World during an all-star charity concert in 1990 at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles
Her light: ‘Olivia’s light will continue to shine and will never flicker. Never. Rest sweetheart. Rest peacefully, you are Love,’ she wrote in her caption underneath
Homage: Her daughter Kate Hudson, 43, also paid homage to the legendary star, sharing a video of herself singing Hopelessly Devoted To You, first crooned by Newton-John’s character, Sandy Olsson, in Grease (1978)
Inspiration: As she cradled her three-year-old daughter, Rani Rose, in her arms, the mother-three belted out the chorus before penning a heartfelt tribute to her ‘inspiration’
Actress Goldie Hawn, 76, shared an iconic video of herself on stage with Olivia, Meryl Streep, Bette Midler, and Cher as they performed What A Wonderful World during an all-star charity concert in 1990 at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles.
‘A light landed on this planet 73 years ago. Her voice brought us to such joyous heights, nothing held her back, nothing. Her mind was strong and heroic. Olivia’s light will continue to shine and will never flicker. Never. Rest sweetheart. Rest peacefully, you are Love,’ she wrote in her caption underneath.
Her daughter Kate Hudson, 43, also paid homage to the legendary star. While paying her respects to the Australian icon, the Almost Famous star shared a video of herself singing Hopelessly Devoted To You, first crooned by Newton-John’s character, Sandy Olsson, in Grease (1978).
As she cradled her three-year-old daughter, Rani Rose, in her arms, the mother-three belted out the chorus before penning a heartfelt tribute to her ‘inspiration.’
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Lisa Rinna, 59, shared an autographed photo of Olivia with the words ‘Rest In Peace.’
Yolanda Hadid, 58, shared a tribute on Instagram: ‘Rest In Peace beautiful angel, it was an honor to know you,’ adding, ‘thank you for decades of inspiration.’
Her mini-me: Olivia’s daughter Chloe Lattanzi, 36, shared a number of touching photos of the two of them on her Instagram profile
Baby joy: Another snap saw Olivia holding Chloe when she was a baby
Happy times: One photo showed the two women smiling as they took a selfie together
Together: Chloe also shared a photo where both her and Olivia looked incredibly dressed up and smiled for the camera
Proud mom: In another photo Olivia looked proudly at her daughter as they did an interview together
Actress Elle Fanning, 24, posted a beautiful photo of the star writing: ‘Forever icon’ while Gabrielle Union, 49, shared a snap of Olivia from Grease.
Fellow Australian star Rebel Wilson, 42, wrote ‘You were a true icon and I absolutely adored you!’
Comedian Rosie O’Donnell, 60, took to Instagram and TikTok with a video expressing her sadness at the news.
‘Oh boy, just heard about Olivia Newton-John. What a great woman she was. She fought long and hard. She had cancer a while.’
‘I loved her, I almost bought her house in Florida. It didn’t go through but… she was amazing, and I lover her. It’s very sad. Rest in Peace, beautiful woman.’
Olivia’s daughter Chloe Lattanzi, 36, shared a number of touching photos of the two of them on her Instagram profile. One black and white snap featured a young Chloe giving her mom a kiss.
Iconic: Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta in the iconic 1978 movie Grease that catapulted her career
Sandy and Danny: Newton-John famously resisted the part of Sandy in the 1978 movie Grease. She was 28 at the time and thought she was too old to play a fresh-faced high school student
Another snap saw Olivia holding Chloe when she was a baby, while yet another photo showed the two women smiling as they took a selfie together.
Chloe also shared a photo where Olivia looked proudly at her as they did an interview together.
A source known to TMZ also said Monday: ‘After a 30-year cancer journey, she lost her battle to metastatic breast cancer,’ which was first diagnosed in 1992, more than 30 years ago. In 2013, it resurfaced before going into remission again until it reappeared in 2017.
Olivia got her big break in the 1978 movie musical as good two shoes teenager Sandy Olsen – in which she starred opposite John Travolta’s hunky bad boy Danny Zuko – and originated the new song ‘Hopelessly Devoted To You’.
This came after her pop career – which began in the early 70s – where Olivia made her name with a string of pop hits, such as If Not for You, Let Me Be There and the smash hit Have You Never Been Mellow.
Her beloved: Newton-John’s husband John Easterling announced her death on her Facebook page on Monday; Pictured 2019
Difficult time: A Facebook post read: ‘We ask that everyone please respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time’
The Glee guest star had daughter Chloe Lattanzi, now 36, with her ex Matt Lattanzi, who she married in 1984 and split from in 1995.
Olivia tied the knot with John in 2008, who appealed for donations to her cancer charity in her memory.
He added on the post: ‘Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer. Her healing inspiration and pioneering experience with plant medicine continues with the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, dedicated to researching plant medicine and cancer.’
‘In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be made in her memory to the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund (ONJFoundationFund.org).’
John concluded: ‘Olivia is survived by her husband John Easterling; daughter Chloe Lattanzi; sister Sarah Newton-John; brother Toby Newton-John; nieces and nephews Tottie, Fiona and Brett Goldsmith; Emerson, Charlie, Zac, Jeremy, Randall, and Pierz Newton-John; Jude Newton-Stock, Layla Lee; Kira and Tasha Edelstein; and Brin and Valerie Hall.’
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