Dennis Stewart is best known for playing Leo Craterface Balmudo in Grease. He also discussed unscrupulous doctors and enablers. I just couldn't appreciate it and use it as just a job, as a learning experience. In 1992, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and became a tireless advocate for cancer research throughout the rest of her life, founding the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre in Australia. He followed his time on the Great White Way with guest star turns on a number of television shows before joining the cast of the Grease film and becoming a series regular on the sitcom Taxi. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. And even now, Conn has nothing but fond memories of "Grease" and her character. I love you so much. He died on May 27, 2011. Arden also reprised the role in "Grease 2." Jeff Conaway Jeffrey Charles William Michael Conaway [1] (October 5, 1950 - May 27, 2011) [1] was an American actor. ", Lately, Pearl is pretty active on Instagram, where he posts some political content, as well as reminders that you can book a message from him on Cameo, where he has a five-star rating. Menu. Like his co-star John Travolta, Conaway appeared in the original cast of Grease on Broadway, serving as an understudy for several of the roles, eventually taking over the role of Danny Zuko. She continued to work onstage as well, eventually earning a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for Peter Nichol's A Day in the Death of Joe Egg, and nominations for her work in The House of Blue Leaves and Six Degrees of Separation. Some of your favorite characters from the movie were played by actors who went on to find plenty of success, while others have stayed relatively quiet. Though Travolta had appeared in television shows, in the classic horror film "Carrie," and in "Saturday Night Fever," he didn't reach peak fame until "Grease." Dame Olivia Newton-John passed away peacefully at her ranch in Southern California this morning, surrounded by family and friends. No cause of death was given in a statement on her official Facebook page, but Newton-John had been open about her decades-long battle with breast cancer. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. It's fun, it's engaging, and it sometimes can bring up feelings of nostalgia to watch your favorite musical. Clearly, "Grease" was memorable for him. Still, "Grease" was definitely a defining moment in Conn's life and career. In early 2008, Conaway appeared with other celebrities in the VH1 reality series Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew. Despite how painful the circumstances were, I felt so lucky to have someone like my mom with me to lean on and cry with, she stated. The film, in which she played Australian student Sandy Olsson, became the biggest blockbuster of the year and its accompanying soundtrack sold a whopping 28 million copies. The movie also gave us some memorable characters including Danny Zuko and Sandy Olsson. He says I'm the only choice for a white actor, but that they'd had a meeting and thought that maybe Bobby should be black and that now they're looking at black actors. "Grease" was the word and one of the most beloved movies of the 1970s. The pair split in 1995. Four-time Grammy winner singer-songwriter and actor Olivia Newton-John who starred in the beloved movie musical Grease has passed away . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Olivia Newton-John on finding a purpose in cancer, Marie Osmond says her kids won't get an inheritance, Former "American Idol" contestant C.J. "Never in my life did I think it would turn out to be what it was.". Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. His vanishing sparked a frenzied search, but he was never found. Conaway left Taxi after the third season. I love you so much. While pneumonia was the cause of death, the doctor who. The superstar poured money into her Olivia Newton-John Cancer Fund and helped fund the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute in Victoria, Australia. According to a post on her . [citation needed]. She's since appeared in Cyrus (which she acted in alongside Marisa Tomei and John C.. "Physical," "Xanadu," and "Please Mister Please" are some of her most recognized hits, but her performances in "Grease" are some of her best. "Jeff was a severe, severe opiate addict with chronic pain, one of the most serious and dangerous combination of problems you could possibly interact with," Dr. Drew Pinsky said during a taping for Friday night's "Dr. Drew" on HLN. Olivia Newton-John as Sandy and John Travolta as Danny Zuko in a scene from the movie "Grease," released in 1978. WATCH: Grease legend Dame Olivia Newton-John dies aged 73. . in 2016. Though she wasn't exactly someone's main love interest in "Grease," Rizzo was perhaps one of the movie's most important characters. The movie transformed Newton-John into one of the worlds biggest stars, with her next solo album, titled Totally Hot, racing up the charts later that same year. Legal Statement. In 2005, their on-off nine-year relationship became headline news following McDermotts mysterious disappearance while on a fishing trip off the coast of California. An obituary posted by The Orlando Sentinelrevealed that Arden had also been diagnosed with cancer prior to her death. Olivia Newton-John, the beloved singer and actor known for her 1970s and '80s hits and the movie "Grease," died at her ranch in Southern California on Monday at age . In a 2005 radio interview with WDCM (via YouTube), Ghostley admitted she was surprised that older fans liked "Grease," but added, "I do get a lot of letters. While his character in "Grease" had eyes for Dinah Manoff's Marty Maraschino, two decades earlier, young fans had their eyes on him. In 1992, Newton-John was diagnosed with breast cancer (via USA Today), leading her to open the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre in Melbourne in 2012. Grease (1978) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Grease (1978) Full Cast & Crew See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro Directed by Randal Kleiser . She made several appearances in TV and movies over the years as well but left her career in the entertainment business after earning a bachelors degree fromAntioch University Los Angelesin psychology and theater. Los Angeles (CNN) -- Actor Jeff Conaway, who was in the TV series "Taxi" and the movie "Grease," died Friday morning, his manager said. He acted steadily throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Sadly on August 8, 2022, at the age of 73, Newton-John died at her California home, reported The New York Times. You choose.". The risqu title track ruled the Billboard Hot 100 for 10 weeks, and its tongue-in-cheek, aerobics inspired music video became an MTV staple. We're still ridiculously childish I think.". Screen capture. [11] Conaway was reported at the time to be dissatisfied with being typecast as a "blond bimbo" and the "butt of struggling-actor jokes," along with finding the nature of the role repetitive. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Drew. Channing was the perfect actor to play Rizzo, and she continued to shine bright after "Grease" wrapped. She married actor Matt Lattanzi in 1984 before the pair welcomed their daughter, Chloe, two years later. She went on to win one more Emmy for the made-for-television movie The Matthew Shepard Story in 2002, which earned her a Screen Actor's Guild Award as well. Olivia loved helping people. She also began abusing cocaine and chugging down a bottle of vodka every day. NewsCore. Olivia Newton-John has died at the age of 73. Channing appeared in shows like "The Good Wife" and "The West Wing" and starred in movies like "The First Wives Club" and "Practical Magic." We give each other a lot of support," he said. The couple had three children together: Jett, who tragically died from a seizure in 2009, Ella Bleu, and Benjamin. Five years later, after a handful of TV appearances in shows like M*A*S*H, The Waltons, and Magnum, P.I., Ward retired from acting on-camera. He has gone on to become a voice director for Disney Television Animation, and a screenwriter for numerous cartoons, including the feature film All Dogs Go to Heaven 2. Upon arrival at the Pasadena Recovery Center (which was filmed as part of Celebrity Rehab's first episode) Conaway, using a wheelchair, arrived drunk, mumbling to Drew Pinsky that he had binged on cocaine and Jack Daniel's whiskey the previous night. Screw. After Pinsky asked him to elaborate upon how he would carry out a suicidal act, Conaway glared at the mirror in his room and said, "I see myself breaking that mirror and slicing my fucking throat with it." Grease Actors You May Not Know Passed Away. I have nothing really to complain about.. (edited by) Casting By Joel Thurm Production Design by Philip M. Jefferies . Though Avalon has gotten older, he has remained a performer in every sense of the word, and that's pretty impressive. Annette Charles' character's bad boy boyfriend, Leo "Craterface" Balmudo, was played by Dennis Stewart in "Grease." Another huge star in "Grease" was John Travolta's Danny, heartthrob and love interest of Sandy. But the actors behind those beloved teenage characters aren't so young anymore. Still, for Donnelly, "Grease" was more than just a movie, it was an experience. In addition, she was "hopelessly devoted" to philanthropic works including a stint as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Environment Program. Send tips to Anders.Hagstrom@Fox.com, or on Twitter: @Hagstrom_Anders. Conn's most recent work was in the comedy movie "The Mimic," as well as the yet-to-be released film "Paper Dreams.". That claim has not been substantiated. CHRIS ROCK'S BROTHER CHALLENGES WILL SMITH TO A BOXING MATCH AFTER OSCARS SLAP, Eddie Deezen was arrested on burglary charges in April 2022. Sadly, according to the BBC, Conaway's addiction to prescription drugs may have started with "Grease," as a back injury he suffered while filming the movie spawned a lifelong addiction. [2] Taxi writer Sam Simon recalled in 2008 that during production of Simon's first script for that show, a missing Conaway was found in his dressing room too high on drugs to perform. Instead I saw it as, 'Hey, anybody could do this character.' After appearing in the 1978 film, Stewart reprised his role for Grease 2 in 1982. And, of course, if you have a cancer diagnosis, your death is kind of there. "Another angelic voice has been added to the Heavenly Choir. All rights reserved. After her oldest son Dashiell tragically died in a car accident in 2017, she began teaching acting at the Purdy Corrections Center for Women in Gig Harbor, WA as a way to deal with her grief. A US Coast Guard investigation, released in 2008, suggested McDermott was lost at sea. However, in April 2010, a private investigator hired by an American television program claimed McDermott was alive in Mexico and had faked his death for a life insurance payout. Updated on: August 8, 2022 / 5:15 PM Catch up with your favorite members of the iconic cast after they flew off in a convertible into the sky. Lattanzi shared a photo to Instagram with her mom last Friday three days before the superstars death. The actor first shot to fame in the 1950s detective series "77 Sunset Strip," where he played the comb-obsessed nightclub valet, Kookie, decades before Fonzie of "Happy Days" incessantly combed his own signature ducktail. Clearly, Travolta has been doing a lot since "Grease," and he's been through a lot as well. Conaway died in May of 2011 from complications from pneumonia. ", On hearing about his death, "Grease" co-star John Travolta said: "Jeff Conaway was a wonderful and decent man and we will miss him. Simpson: American Crime Story. She was 73 years old. However, though Caesar appeared in the biggest box office hit of 1978, he struggled with alcohol and pill addiction during that same era, per The New York Times. Edd Byrnes was already a well-known actor before appearing in the movie thanks to his role in the television series 77 Sunset Strip . Putzie, played by Kelly Ward, was another important member of the T-Birds in "Grease." In addition to the Pink Ladies in "Grease," the guys trying to woo them, the T-Birds, were also a big part of the film. Trending. And sadly, two actors Jeff Conaway, who played Kenickie, and Annette Charles, who played Cha Chahave since died. She has been married to her second husband, David Shire, since 1982. The cast has also had their fair share of ups and downs in the 44 years since Grease debuted in theaters. Rest now, sweet friend. ", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jeff_Conaway&oldid=1125805102, Participants in American reality television series, University of North Carolina School of the Arts alumni, Pages using infobox person with multiple spouses, Articles with unsourced statements from May 2011, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2008, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2015, Articles with unsourced statements from June 2020, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, 2 episodes, 1974 "Landslide" (S01, E16), 1975 "The Long Way To Nowhere" (S02, Ep10), Howard Griffin / Nolan Walsh / Tom Powell, 1 episode, "Matlock's Bad, Bad, Bad Dream" (S08, E11), Voice, 1 episode, "Dedicated to Jeff Conaway", Conaway's final project, "Don't Cry to Me Babe" / "R & B In C" (Cameo 425, 1966), "Problem Child" / "Hey Mom Hey Dad" (Cameo 442, 1966), "Hey Gyp" / "Hey Kitty Cool Kitty" (Cameo 451, 1967) (This single was produced by, "Angel Baby (Don't You Ever Leave Me)" / "You Turned Your Back on Love" (Cameo 485, 1967), This page was last edited on 5 December 2022, at 23:17. Ill miss you every day. Read on to find out what the class of Rydell High 1978 have been up to since the film's release. Marty, another Pink Lady, was pretty entertaining to watch, and it was clear she didn't really care much about conventional standards. Channing has continued to appear on both stage and screen, and played a recurring role on the CBS drama The Good Wife until 2016. "He was the consummate performer and entertainer," Brock said. "Maybe deep down I knew there was a reason or a purpose for it," she said. Your impact was incredible. Initial theatrical release of the film, June 16, 1978. Nonetheless, "Grease" remained his defining movie. The Cal State Northridge newsletterdescribed her as a "supportive and enthusiastic advocate who helped students find their voice as an instructor of speech communication and public speaking in the Chicana and Chicano Studies department, where she had taught since 2002.". "That causes a rapidly progressing and overwhelming pneumonia that they usually don't know that they have, because they're sort of too out of it because of the drugs and by the time they get to the hospital it's too late. He was married to Olivia Newton Johns older sister, Rona Newton-John, for five years. She originally co-starred on the sitcom alongside Richard Mulligan and Kristy McNichol, and was featured in every episode of its seven-season run. When Travolta starred in "Grease," he was still relatively new to acting. [2], His father, Charles,[2] was an actor, producer, and publisher. Grease is one of those classic films filled with songs that just about everyone can recite today. She discovered that the disease had returned in 2013, before revealing in 2017 that it had metastasized to her lower back. He portrayed Kenickie in the film Grease and had roles in two television series: struggling actor Bobby Wheeler in Taxi and security officer Zack Allan on Babylon 5. I had a lot of meetings with [the producers] because I was unhappy Sure, partially it was ego, but let me do what I do best. He was known for playing Kenickie in the film Grease and for his roles in two television series: struggling actor Bobby Wheeler in Taxi and security officer Zack Allan on Babylon 5. In early 2008, suggested McDermott was lost at sea that arden had also been diagnosed with Cancer to... Had their fair share of ups and downs in the 44 years since Grease debuted in theaters off coast. ] was an experience the television series 77 Sunset Strip of California June 16 1978. Television series 77 Sunset Strip Ward, was another important member of the film 's.! And helped Fund the Olivia Newton-John dies aged 73. 77 Sunset Strip have a diagnosis!, '' he was the cause of death, the doctor who her death two actors Conaway... Of ups and downs in the television series 77 Sunset Strip after appearing in the beloved movie Grease. 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