American actor, singer, and dancer who rose with Saturday Night Fever and revived his career with Pulp Fiction.
Background
Born John Joseph Travolta in Englewood, New Jersey, he left high school early to pursue acting, joining the touring cast of “Grease” before being cast on ABC’s “Welcome Back, Kotter.”
Career
“Saturday Night Fever” and “Grease” made him a global star in 1977 and 1978. After a long career lull, Quentin Tarantino cast him as Vincent Vega in “Pulp Fiction,” earning him an Oscar nomination and renewed lead status across “Get Shorty,” “Face/Off,” and “Primary Colors.” He later played Edna Turnblad in the 2007 remake of “Hairspray.”
Style
Travolta is associated with dance-driven leads and the ability to shift between charm-led and darker character work.