Meet John Travolta's Wife, Kelly Preston, Renowned Actress, Mother Of Three, Died Of Cancer

John Travolta is a renowned actor who is best known for his stellar performances. Over the years, he won several accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award, three Golden Globe Awards and nominations for two Academy Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a British Academy Film Award. He began his acting career in television and rose to prominence with the American sitcom, Welcome Back, Kotter.

On February 18, 2026, John turned 72. He is currently hogging the limelight for earning a private jet license on his birthday. He himself shared the great news on Instagram and thanked his fans for wishing him a happy 72nd birthday. While his kids were present by his side, it’s been 5 years since his wife, Kelly Preston, left the world. For the uninitiated, Kelly died of cancer in 2020. But do you know that Kelly was not in a happy marriage before she tied the knot with John Travolta? Yes, you read it right. So without further ado, let’s learn more about Kelly Preston.

Who was John Travolta's wife, Kelly Preston?

Kelly Preston was born on October 13, 1962, in Honolulu, Hawaii. According to her official website, Kelly was born and raised in Hawaii. At the age of 5, she moved to Iraq and later spent many years in Australia in her teenage years. She graduated from Punahou High School in Hawaii. When she was 16 years old and living in Australia, a fashion photographer discovered her.

In the 1980s, Kelly did many prominent roles in the films, including 10 to Midnight, Secret Admirer, SpaceCamp, 52 Pick-Up, and Twins. She is best known for the movies like For Love of the Game, Jerry Maguire, and Christine. Besides cinema, Kelly also appeared in many TV series, including For Love and Honor, Fat Actress and more. She was considered as one of the brightest stars in Hollywood who had a successful 4 decade long career in TV and films.

Kelly Preston met John Travolta when she was still married to Kevin Gage

Kelly Preston and John Travolta first crossed paths at a screen test for their comedy, The Experts, in 1987. At the time, Kelly was married to actor, Kevin Gage. For the unversed, Kelly met her first husband, Kevin, on the sets of SpaceCamp in 1985. The former couple tied the knot in the same year. However, after two years, in 1987, they parted ways. Once on Bravo's Watch What Happens Live!, Kelly opened up about her previous marriage to Kevin. Kelly revealed that she was with the 'wrong person' and was 'not happily married'.

For John Travolta, it was love at first sight. When Kelly was asked by host, Andy Cohen on Bravo's Watch What Happens Live!, she replied, "Kinda." The couple started dating in 1990.

Kelly Preston and John Travolta's dreamy proposal

On New Year's Eve 1991, John went down on one knee to propose to his ladylove, Kelly. The proposal took place inside the Palace Hotel restaurant in Gstaad, Switzerland. It is noteworthy to mention that John proposed to Kelly with a six-carat yellow-and-white diamond ring. Once Look Who's Talking Too producer, Jonathan Krane, said to the media that Kelly was totally taken aback by John’s sudden proposal. The actress literally screamed when John proposed to her.

Inside Kelly Preston and John Travolta's married life

Kelly tied the knot with John on September 5, 1991. It is noteworthy to mention that the couple exchanged vows twice. The first ceremony took place at the Hotel de Crillon in Paris. Later, another ceremony was hosted at Daytona Beach, Florida, on September 12, 1991. At the time of their wedding, Kelly was two months pregnant with their first child, a son named Jett.

The two welcomed their first child on April 13, 1992. The couple welcomed their second child, a daughter named Ella Bleu, on April 3, 2000. However, in 2009, Kelly and John experienced a personal loss as their first child, son Jett, tragically passed away. He was just 16 years old. According to a report by People, the family was on a vacation in the Bahamas, and Jett suffered a seizure, hitting his head on a bathtub.

Following the tragic incident, on November 10, 2010, the couple welcomed their third child, a son named Benjamin. Speaking to the media, John at the time said, "a beautiful kind of glue for us to rebond after tremendous loss." Kelly and John were married for nearly 30 years, until the former passed away due to cancer in 2020.

Kelly Preston tragically passed away after battling breast cancer for two years

On July 12, 2020, Kelly tragically passed away after battling breast cancer for two years. The actress was 57 when she took her last breath. On July 13, 2020, John himself confirmed the disheartening news of his wife’s death. He wrote:

"It is with a very heavy heart that I inform you that my beautiful wife Kelly, has lost her two-year battle with breast cancer. She fought a courageous fight with the love and support of so many.  My family and I will forever be grateful to her doctors and nurses at MD Anderson Cancer Centre, all the medical centres that have helped, as well as her many friends and loved ones who have been by her side. Kelly’s love and life will always be remembered. I will be taking some time to be there for my children who have lost their mother, so forgive me in advance if you don’t hear from us for a while."

What are your thoughts on the relationship between John Travolta and his wife, Kelly Preston? Let us know.

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