Grease is the word! When Grease hit theaters in June 1978, it was an instant hit — and its cast members became instant stars.
Based on the 1971 musical of the same name, the film follows students at Rydell High School after they return from summer break in 1958. As memorably recapped in the song “Summer Nights,” Danny Zuko (John Travolta) has a seasonal fling with Sandy Olsson (Olivia Newton-John), but when they get back to class, the duo have different expectations about where their relationship stands.
The Pulp Fiction actor was already relatively famous thanks to his turn in 1977’s Saturday Night Fever, but Newton-John hadn’t yet risen to fame in the United States. That changed after Grease, which at the time was the highest-grossing movie musical of all time.
The Xanadu actress and the New Jersey native remained close friends after they made Grease until her 2022 death, but they barely knew each other when production started — and one of the first scenes they filmed included a kiss.
“I was nervous, of course,” the “Physical” singer told Us Weekly in January 2021. “It was a very special day, and it was really a nice way to get to know John a little bit because we hadn’t spent all that much time together. We had some rehearsal time and dance time and stuff, but this was our first acting day. It was lovely. It was special.”
Travolta, for his part, believes that Sandy and Danny would still be together after literally flying off into the sunset in the movie’s finale.
“I think they had several kids, which people did in those days,” he told USA Today in June 2018, reflecting on the film’s 40th anniversary. “They adored their kids, and they held onto their romance. Sandy and Danny were the real deal.”
He did not, however, buy a then-viral internet theory that Sandy actually drowned at the beach in the summer, making the rest of the movie a hallucination she had after death. Fans began speculating in 2016 that “Summer Nights” hinted at the tragedy with Danny’s line, “I saved her life, she nearly drowned.”
While Travolta found the theory amusing, he didn’t think the writers of Grease would take the plot in so dark a direction. As for the drowning line, he thought Danny made it up to “impress” his friends in the T-Birds. “But I don’t want to spoil the fun for everyone,” he joked.
Keep scrolling to find out where the Grease cast is now:
After singing and dancing his way through Grease, Travolta went on to star in hit films including Urban Cowboy, Look Who's Talking, Pulp Fiction, Get Shorty, Face/Off, Hairspray and more. In 2012, he released a holiday album with Newton-John titled This Christmas. His 2016 portrayal of Robert Shapiro in The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story earned him tons of critical acclaim and a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie. Travolta married actress Kelly Preston in 1991. They had three children together: Jett, Ella and Benjamin. Jett died in January 2009 at age 16 after suffering a seizure during a family vacation in the Bahamas. In July 2020, Preston died at age 57 after a two-year battle with breast cancer. Shutterstock (2)
Newton-John went on to star in films in Xanadu, It's My Party, Two of a Kind and Sharknado 5: Global Swarming. She also appeared as a guest judge on American Idol, RuPaul's Drag Race and Dancing With the Stars, and she played herself in two 2010 episodes of Glee. Newton-John's recording career, which began years before her turn in Grease, never slowed down. She won four Grammys, 10 American Music Awards and a CMA Award, among other honors. Newton-John shared daughter Chloe with ex-husband Matt Lattanzi, whom she divorced in 1995. She married John Easterling in June 2008. The "I Honestly Love You" singer was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992. The disease returned again in 2013 and 2017. Easterling announced Newton-John's death at age 73 in August 2022, noting that her cause of death was metastatic breast cancer. Shutterstock (2)
The New York City native played Rizzo, the jaded leader of the Pink Ladies. Channing went on to star in Heartburn, The First Wives Club, Practical Magic, Where the Heart Is and Six Degrees of Separation, which earned an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. In 2002, she won her first Primetime Emmy for her portrayal of first lady Abbey Bartlet on The West Wing. She has also maintained a thriving stage career, most recently appearing in a 2021 London production of 'Night, Mother. Channing has been married four times: to Walter Channing Jr. from 1963 to 1967, to Paul Schmidt from 1970 to 1976, to David Debin from 1976 to 1980 and to David Rawle from 1980 to 1988. She was in a long-term relationship with cinematographer Daniel Gillham from 1990 until his death in 2014. Shutterstock (2)
Conn starred as Frenchy, the hair-obsessed Pink Lady who drops out of Rydell to attend beauty school. She was one of the only original cast members to reprise her role in the 1982 sequel, Grease 2, and in 2016, she appeared as waitress Vi in Fox's Grease: Live. The New York native also starred in Almost Summer, Violet, Frida and The Mimic. In 2019, she competed in the British reality series Dancing on Ice. The Transparent alum shares son Daniel with husband David Shire, whom she married in 1982. She was previously wed to Frank Conn from 1975 to 1978. Shutterstock (2)
Manoff played Marty Maraschino, the Pink Ladies' most flirtatious member. She went on to appear in Ordinary People, Child's Play, Bloodhounds of Broadway and Cult of Chucky. She also had a starring role in the sitcom Empty Nest from 1988 to 1995. In 1980, she won a Tony Award for her performance in the play I Ought to Be in Pictures. The State of Grace alum shares three children with husband Arthur Mortell, whom she wed in 1997. She was previously wed to Jean-Marc Joubert from 1980 to 1985. YouTube; Courtesy of Dinah Manoff/Instagram
Donnelly rounded out the Pink Ladies as Jan, the group's nerdiest member, and was the only original cast member of the stage musical to reprise the same role in the film. The New Jersey native later appeared in episodes of shows including Monk, Ray Donovan, All Downhill From Here and The Naked Brothers Band and starred in the movies Cyrus, Can't Hardly Wait, Black Mass and Cargo. Now an acting coach, she shares two children with her husband, Stephen Foreman. Shutterstock (2)
Conaway played Kenickie, Danny's second-in-command in the T-Birds. He later starred in Elvira: Mistress of the Dark, Eye of the Storm, Jawbreaker and Man on the Moon and appeared in TV series including Babylon 5, The Bold and the Beautiful and Mike Hammer. The Golden Globe nominee died in May 2011 at age 60 after a battle with pneumonia exacerbated by his addictions. Conaway was married to Newton-John's older sister, Rona Newton-John, from 1980 to 1985. He was later wed to Kerri Young from 1990 to 2000. Shutterstock (2)
Pearl starred as Doody, the T-Birds' resident troublemaker. He appeared alongside Conn as a special guest in Fox's Grease: Live. The Pennsylvania native went on to star in shows including Barney Miller, Eight Is Enough, Falcon Crest, Growing Pains, ER, Baywatch, House and Beverly Hills, 90210. Shutterstock (2)
Tucci played Sonny, the T-Bird who repeatedly tries to woo Marty. After Grease, he appeared in TV shows including Barney Miller, Night Court, Lou Grant, Diagnosis: Murder, MacGyver and JAG. He also starred in a touring production of Chicago as Amos, husband of Roxie Hart. Tucci later became a high school teacher in California. He shares daughters Kate and Kelly with wife Kathleen Tucci. YouTube; Shutterstock
The California native played Putzie, the T-Bird who eventually begins a relationship with Jan. After appearing in a handful of films and TV series, Ward began a career as a screenwriter. His credits include Popeye and Son, Crime Time and All Dogs Go to Heaven 2. He shares three children with wife Annette Foster, whom he wed in 1977. Paramount/Rso/Kobal/Shutterstock
Deezen starred as Eugene, the class nerd, reprising the role in Grease 2. He later appeared in WarGames, Beverly Hills Vamp and Mob Boss. His voice credits include The Polar Express, Rock-a-Doodle, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water, Dexter's Laboratory, Kim Possible and The Fairly OddParents. He has been married to Linda George since 1984. The comedian made headlines in 2021 when he was arrested after refusing to leave a Maryland restaurant. He was charged with second degree assault, disorderly conduct and trespassing. Deezen's legal woes continued when he was arrested for burglary and trespassing in April 2022. According to TMZ, the actor forced his way into a private nursing home in Maryland. He was charged with fourth degree burglary, two counts of trespassing and one count of disturbing the peace. YouTube; Shutterstock
Lamas played Tom Chisum, a popular jock who competed with Danny for Sandy's love. He later appeared in shows including Falcon Crest, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Air America and Jane the Virgin. In 2009, he starred on a reality show about his family called Leave It to Lamas. Lamas has been married five times: to Victoria Hilbert from 1981 to 1982, to Michele Smith from 1983 to 1985, to Kathleen Kinmont from 1989 to 1993, to Shauna Sand from 1996 to 2002 and to Shawna Craig from 2011 to 2018. He shares son Alvaro and daughter Shayne with Smith and daughters Alexandra, Victoria and Isabella with Craig. He also shares daughter Paton with ex-girlfriend Daphne Ashbrook. Shutterstock (2)
The Philadelphia native had a brief but memorable role as Teen Angel, the spirit who encourages Frenchy to return to high school. The former teen idol later played himself in Troop Beverly Hills, Full House, Christmas at Pee Wee's Playhouse and Sabrina the Teenage Witch. He shares eight children with wife Kathryn Diebel, whom he wed in 1963. Shutterstock (2)
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