The list is long when it comes to big-name stars who were born in New Jersey.

John Travolta was born on February 18, 1954, in Englewood, New Jersey. Travolta was raised there, as the youngest of 6 children.

Travolta attended New Jersey’s Dwight Morrow High School, where he dropped out during his Junior year.

According to empireonline.com, His father, Salvatore Travolta, “was a semi-professional football player turned tire salesman and partner in a tire company.”

In his early acting years, Travolta had success in theater, as a cast member of the touring company Grease.

This lead Travolta to leave New Jersey for California, to pursue a major acting career. It worked.

WPG Talk Radio 95.5 FM logo
Get our free mobile app

Some may not remember or know it at all, but Travolta appeared in the Brian DiPalma film, Carrie. He played the role of the ringleader (Billy Nolan) who dumped pig blood on Carrie, who went on a rage-filled attack.

Travolta rose to fame on Welcome Back Kotter, starring as the most popular “Sweat Hog” in the classroom on the television program, playing Vinny Barbarino.

Welcome Back Kotter, ran the first run for 4 seasons, from 1975 to 1979.

This series and role for Travolta made him a household name and helped launch a (still ongoing) more than 40-year career on the big screen.

During his “Sweat Hog” days, Travolta recorded a hit song titled “Let Her In,” in 1975. It reached the Top 10 of the Billboard charts.

Travolta has been a busy working actor ever since, amassing a net worth reportedly north of $250 million.

Travolta’s place as a Hollywood superstar was cinched with hit movies Saturday Night Fever (1977) and Grease (1977).

These two movies were some of the biggest box office hits of the 1970s.

Travolta recorded two Top 10 hit songs with Olivia Newton-John during Grease. “You’re The One That I Want,” which reached Number 1 on the charts, and “Summer Nights,” which reached # 5 on the charts.

Travolta has had many big hits and he also turned down two of the biggest lead roles of all time … American Gigolo (which made Richard Gere a Hollywood superstar) and An Officer and A Gentleman, a role which also went to Gere.

Richard Gere was born in nearby Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

John Travolta was born and raised in New Jersey, the birthplace of many famous people.

SOURCES: EmpireOnline.com and IMDB.com

Great New Jersey Stores That We Once Loved That Are Now Closed

10 Things I am Extremely Grateful For in Atlantic County

10 Things I am Extremely Grateful For in Atlantic County

 

More From WPG Talk Radio 95.5 FM