The Anglo-Australian actress and singer Olivia Newton-John, who became a worldwide star by playing the character of Sandy in the cult film Grease, alongside John Travolta, has died at 73 years, announced Monday, August 8, her husband in a statement published on social networks.
The actress “passed away peacefully at her ranch in Southern California this morning, surrounded by family and friends,” said John Easterling in the statement. She had been battling breast cancer for 30 years.
“My dear Olivia, you made our lives better. Your influence has been incredible. I love you so much,” John Travolta reacted in a statement.
Born in Cambridge, England, in 1948, Newton-John moved with her family to Melbourne, Australia, when she was five. After winning a talent contest on a television show, “Sing, Sing, Sing,” as a teenager, she formed a girl group and began appearing on weekly pop music programs in Australia.
Newton-John recorded her first single in England in 1966 and scored some international hits, but she remained largely unknown to American audiences until 1973, when “Let Me Be There” reached the top 10 on the adult contemporary and country charts.
A string of easy-listening hits followed, including “I Honestly Love You,” “Have You Never Been Mellow” and “Please Mr. Please.”
