You knew him as Vincent Vega in Pulp Fiction. As Danny Zuko in Grease. And if you're old enough, you might even remember him as Vinnie Barbarino in the TV series Welcome Back, Kotter. But no matter where you saw him first, John Travolta is one actor we just can't forget.
Born John Joseph Travolta on February 18, 1954, he was the youngest of six children in his Englewood, NJ home. After dropping out of high school his junior year, Travolta set his sights on New York City and landed a gig on Broadway. After moving again to Los Angeles, he got his first movie role as Billy Nolan, a bully who picked on Carrie White (Sissy Spacek) in the adaptation of Stephen King's Carrie (1976) and The Boy in the Plastic Bubble (1976). It was then that he found his spot in Welcome Back, Kotter where he played ladies-man Vinnie Barbarino for four years, until 1979.
During this time, Travolta also landed roles what many consider to be the movies that launched his career - Saturday Night Fever and Grease. In 1980, he gave country music new life with his starring role in Urban Cowboy.
Oddly, Travolta would spend the next decade making movies that left little impression. But in 1994, he hit it big with Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction and Travolta was hot once again.
Today, Travolta remains one of the top celebrities in the Hollywood circles and most recently starred in Wild Hogs (2007). He is married to Kelly Preston (since 1991) and have two children, Jeff and Ella Blue.
