← Back to explore

John Travolta

Acting

Born February 18, 1954 · Englewood, New Jersey, USA

Also known as John Joseph Travolta · ジョン・トラヴォルタ

Biography

John Joseph Travolta (born February 18, 1954) is an American actor. He began acting on television before transitioning into a leading man in film. His accolades include a Primetime Emmy Award, three Golden Globe Awards, and nominations for two Academy Awards, a British Academy Film Award, and three Screen Actors Guild Awards. Travolta came to prominence starring in the sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter (1975–1979), followed by leading roles in Carrie (1976), Grease (1978), Urban Cowboy (1980), and Blow Out (1981). He earned nominations for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his roles in Saturday Night Fever (1977) and Pulp Fiction (1994). His other notable films include Get Shorty (1995), Broken Arrow (1996), Michael (1996), Face/Off (1997), A Civil Action (1998), Primary Colors (1998), The General's Daughter (1999), The Punisher (2004), Wild Hogs (2007), Hairspray (2007), Bolt (2008), and Savages (2012). Travolta returned to television, portraying lawyer Robert Shapiro in the series The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story. He received an Emmy Award as a producer and nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie. He was also Emmy-nominated for his role in the action-comedy web series Die Hart (2021).  Travolta has released nine albums outside of acting, including four singles that charted on the Billboard Hot 100's Top 40. His albums typically accompanied films he starred in, such as Grease: The Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture (1978), which topped the Billboard 200. Travolta is also a private pilot.

Awards & recognition

  • Honorary Palme d'Or · 2026
  • Donostia Award · 2012
  • New Jersey Hall of Fame · 2011
  • Golden Globe AwardBest Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy · 1996
  • David di DonatelloBest Foreign Actor
Show all 12 awards →
  • IAS Freedom Medal
  • star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
  • Academy AwardBest Actor · 1995 · nominated
  • Golden Raspberry AwardWorst Supporting Actor - Razzie Award · 1992 · nominated
  • Golden Raspberry AwardWorst Actor · 1986 · nominated
  • Golden Raspberry AwardWorst Actor · 1984 · nominated
  • Academy AwardBest Actor · 1978 · nominated

Filmography50+ titles

Pulp Fiction

1994as Vincent Vega

Hot Potato: The Story of the Wiggles

2023as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

Emergency!

1972as Chuck Benson

Urban Cowboy: The Rise and Fall of Gilley's

2015as Self

MTV Video Music Awards

as Self

Tony Bennett: An American Classic

2006as Self

The Playboy Murders

2023as Self (archive footage)

American Crime Story

2016as Robert Shapiro

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962as Self

The Thin Red Line

1998as Brig. Gen. David Quintard

Blow Out

1981as Jack Terry

Grease

1978as Danny Zuko

Carrie

1976as Billy Nolan

Welcome Back, Kotter

1975as Vinnie Barbarino

Face/Off

1997as Sean Archer

Eyes of an Angel

1991as Bobby

Hart to Heart

as Self - Interviewee

Close Encounters with Vilmos Zsigmond

2016as Self

Casting By

2012as Self

That's Dancing!

1985as Self (archive footage)

Saturday Night Live

1975as Self - Host

The Rookies

1972

Propeller One-Way Night Coach

2026as Retiring Captain / Narrator (voice)

The Shepherd

2023as Johnny Kavanagh

A Love Song for Bobby Long

2004as Bobby Long

Hairspray

2007as Edna Turnblad

Saturday Night Fever

1977as Tony Manero

High Rollers

2025as Mason Goddard

Studio 54

2018as Self (archive footage)

Bolt

2008as Bolt (voice)

Ladder 49

2004as Captain Mike Kennedy

Basic

2003as DEA Agent Tom Hardy

A Civil Action

1998as Jan Schlichtmann

Phenomenon

1996as George Malley

Get Shorty

1995as Chili Palmer

Urban Cowboy

1980as Bud Davis

Savages

2012as Dennis

From Paris with Love

2010as Charlie Wax

The Taking of Pelham 123

2009as Ryder

The Punisher

2004as Howard Saint

The General's Daughter

1999as Warrant Officer Paul Brenner

Swordfish

2001as Gabriel

Primary Colors

1998as Jack Stanton

Mad City

1997as Sam Baily

Look Who's Talking

1989as James

Cash Out

2024as Mason Goddard

Die Hart

2020as Ron Wilcox

In a Valley of Violence

2016as The Marshal

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

2015as Vincent Vega (archive footage)

Lonely Hearts

2006as Elmer Robinson