Olivia NewtonJohn, an Australianborn British actress and singer, died Monday at the age of 73 at a ranch in Southern California surrounded by friends and family, her husband John Easterling said. She starred in the film Grease and had a successful music career.
Olivia was diagnosed with breast cancer that metastasized to the sacrum in 2018 after overcoming other tumors in 1992 and 2015.
In a statement, the husband urged her to “respect the family’s privacy at this very difficult time.”
2 of 3 Olivia NewtonJohn and John Travolta in Grease — Photo: Disclosure
Olivia NewtonJohn and John Travolta in Grease Photo: Disclosure
“Olivia has been a symbol of success and hope for over 30 years by sharing her journey with breast cancer. Her healing inspiration and pioneering experience with medicinal plants continues with the Olivia NewtonJohn Foundation Fund dedicated to medicinal plant research and In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donation be made in her memory to the Olivia NewtonJohn Foundation Fund ( ONJFoundationFund.org),” Easterling wrote.
“Eurovision”, “Grease” and “Physical”
Olivia began her career in the early 1970s when she came fourth in Europe’s most famous song competition, Eurovision, and represented the UK with Long Live Love.
She was dedicated by starring in Grease: In the Times of Brilhantina, one of the most beloved musicals in cinema history, with a screenplay about a group of teenagers and a summer passion shared by couple Sandy and Danny. In the film released in 1978, she starred alongside John Travolta.
The actor mourned the loss of his girlfriend and paid tribute to her on his Instagram profile. “You have made all of our lives so much better,” Travolta wrote.
3 of 3 Olivia NewtonJohn in the video for “Physical” — Photo: Playback/YouTube
Olivia NewtonJohn in the video for “Physical” — Photo: Reproduction/YouTube
During her music career, Olivia has sold over a hundred million records and won multiple awards with hits like “Physical,” “I Honestly Love You,” and “Let Me Be There.”
Those songs won four Grammy awards, including Best Video for the cult video for “Physical” in 1983. She won the 1975 Grammy for Record of the Year, one of the top categories at the awards, with “I Honestly Love You.”
Olivia is survived by husband John Easterling, daughter Chloe Lattanzi, sister Sarah NewtonJohn and brother Toby NewtonJohn, and 15 nieces and nephews.
Check out a profile of the singer when she turned 70:
Singer and actress Olivia NewtonJohn turns 70