Kelly Preston was a model who became popular in Hollywood in the early ’80s. She started acting at the age of sixteen and featured in more than 50 television and film productions. Her most notable works include Mischief, Twins, For Old Time Sake, Battlefield Earth, and Old Dogs. As much as she was known for her works in the entertainment industry, Kelly was admired for her marriage to John Travolta, one of the very accomplished Hollywood actors.
The American actress was born on October 13, 1962, in Honolulu, Hawaii. Her late father worked at an agricultural firm but drowned when Kelly Preston was only three years old while her mother, Linda, worked as an administrator in a psychiatric hospital. Soon after the death of her father, Preston’s mother fell in love and married Peter Palzis who adopted her as his daughter. Kelly passed on on the 12th of July 2020 and her death has been hard on her family.
The Late Actress Met John Travolta While Filming The Experts In 1987
As much as she gained the attention of the public with the many roles she played, Kelly Preston had a love life that piqued the interest of many. Before she met Travolta and started building a family with him, she was involved with other notable figures in the industry.
Kelly had previously exchanged vows with Kevin Gage whom she got separated from in 1987. She got married to the American actor famed for his role in Heat in 1985. She was also romantically linked to Charlie Sheen; reports have it that they got engaged in 1990 before parting ways.
The pretty actress later walked down the aisle in 1991 with the renowned actor, John Travolta. As you would easily find, she met the actor during the production of The Expert in 1987. The couple had two wedding ceremonies; the first was in Paris, France, and was officiated by a French Scientology minister. The second wedding held at Daytona Beach, Florida.
Kelly Preston Had Three Kids With The Famous Actor
The Preston-Travolta union saw the birth of three children. In the year that followed their wedding, precisely on the 13th of April, the couple welcomed their first child together, a son named Jett Travolta.
Many years after that (in 2000), they welcomed their daughter Ella Bleu. Their second son named Benjamin was born in 2010. When Preston was pregnant with Benjamin, rumour had it that Preston and John were expecting twins.
The rumour was debunked by the couple and their spokesperson, Sam Mast.
Coping With The Death Of Their Son Jett
Kelly Preston and John Travolta lost their first child in January 2009; Jett was 16 years old when he died. As it was reported, Jett died after hitting his head on a bathtub while on vacation with his family in the Bahamas.
He had had a history of seizures and suffered one at his family’s vacation home at Old Bahama Bay Hotel. He hit his head on a bathtub and was pronounced dead when he was rushed to a hospital.
The couple would later reveal that Jett had faced health challenges from infancy. He had autism and suffered from Kawasaki disease. Coping with the death of their child was very hard for the couple as three Bahamians plotted to extort millions from the two over their son’s death; one of the plotters was described as a close friend of the couple.
Following the incident that led to the loss of their son, Preston’s husband opened a foundation which is aimed at helping children with special needs in the memory of Jett.
Kelly Preston’s First Prominent Film Role Was As Marily McCauley In 1985’s Mischief
Kelly Preston was brought up in both Iraq and Australia. She had her basic education at Pembroke School in Adelaide, Australia, and later attended Punahou School in Honolulu before furthering her education by studying Drama and Theater at the University of Southern California.
Kelly Preston started her career as a model at the age of 16 in Australia when she was discovered by a fashion photographer who helped her to secure some commercials before putting a start to her movie career.
She made her first movie appearance when she was cast to play the role of Marily McCauley in the 1985 comedy film, Mischief. She would go on to feature in many popular movies. For instance, she starred alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito in the 1988 film, Twins. Preston was also seen in the 1996 comedy-sports film, Jerry Maguire, together with Tom Cruise.
Holy Man And Other Roles That Helped Her Establish Her Name In The Competitive Industry
John Travolta’s late wife gained a lot of attention when she portrayed the character of Kate Newell alongside Eddie Murphy and Jeff Goldblum in Holy Man, a 1998 comedy-drama directed by Stephen Herek. That same year, she played Gabby Frost in Jack Frost.
In 2000, she gained more attention playing Chirk in Battlefield Earth. The next role that proved she was a talented actress had her play Joan Walden in The Cat in the Hat; this was in 2003. It was also the year she portrayed Libby Reynolds in What a Girl Wants.
Kelly maintained her relevance in the industry when she played Josie Stronghold/Jetstream in 2005’s Sky High. In 2009, she again proved her worth as Vicki Greer in Old Dogs. Most recently, the late actress put up a remarkable performance as Victoria Gotti in the 2018 biographical crime film, Gotti, that had her husband play John Gotti. Kelly’s last film appearance is in Off the Rails, a comedy-drama that is yet to be released.
The Actress Passed On Following A Futile Battle With Breast Cancer
Kelly Preston’s death came as a shock to many. To a large extent, it was so because it was reported that she had been battling breast cancer for about two years. Many didn’t know she had been diagnosed until her husband announced her passing on Instagram.
Relating that she had been receiving treatment at MD Anderson Cancer Center, John added that he would be taking some time to be with their kids.
Confirming the death of her mother, Ella described Kelly as courageous, strong, beautiful, and loving. The actress died on the 12th of July 2020 at the age of 57.
