Where is the cast of Grease today after death of Olivia Newton-John

Fans of Grease are mourning the loss of the 1978 musical’s lead Olivia Newton-John after it was announced that she died on Monday at age 73. 

The actress has been remembered in a series of heartfelt tributes from her former costars and friends after her husband, John Easterling, shared the news of her death on Facebook. 

Newton-John was best known as a singer and already had three Grammys under her belt when she took on the role of sweet and innocent Sandy Olsson in Grease. She won her fourth Grammy for her 1981 hit single Physical.

The Australian native is best known for playing sweet and innocent Sandy Olsson in the 1978 musical

In the wake of the star’s death, FEMAIL has taken a look back at everything she and the rest of the Grease cast have accomplished over the last four decades

The Australian native spoke candidly about her breast cancer battle after first being diagnosed with the disease in 1992. She underwent a mastectomy and nine months of chemotherapy before going into remission until 2013. 

After beating the disease for a second time, she was told in 2017 that the cancer had metastasized and spread to her bones. It’s unclear what was the exact cause of her death.

Among the first to pay tribute to Newton-John on Monday was her Grease co-star John Travolta, who lost his wife, Kelly Preston, to breast cancer in 2020. 

In the wake of the star’s passing, FEMAIL has taken a look back at everything she and the rest of the Grease cast have accomplished over the last four decades.  

OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN 

Olivia Newton-John was best known as a singer and already had three Grammys under her belt when she took on the role of Sandy in the 1978 musical. She battled cancer three times before she died on August 8, 2022 

The Australian native was best known as a singer and already had three Grammys under her belt before taking on the role of sweet and innocent Sandy Olsson in Grease.

Her music career hit even more heights after the role, winning another Grammy and achieving huge success with her 1981 single Physical. 

She starred in a number of other films after the release of Grease such as Xanadu and Two of a Kind — in which she was reunited with Grease co-star John Travolta — but never found the same success on the big screen. 

Newton-John married her first husband, actor and dancer Matt Lattanzi, in December 1984. A year later, they welcomed their only child together, Chloe Rose Lattanzi. 

Newton-John is pictured in 1974 competing in the Eurovision Song Contest for Britain (left), four years before starring in Grease. She won her fourth Grammy for her 1981 song Physical. She is pictured promoting her 1980 album (right) 

Newton-John married her first husband, actor and dancer Matt Lattanzi, in December 1984 (left). A year later, they welcomed their only child together, Chloe Rose Lattanzi (right), who is now 36. They divorced in 1995 

Just days before her death, Newton-John posted a heartwarming photo of herself with her second husband, John Easterling, whom she had been married to since 2008 

The couple was married when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992. She underwent a mastectomy and nine months of chemotherapy before going into remission. 

Newton-John and Lattanzi amicably divorced in 1995, and she went on to marry her second husband, businessman John Easterling, more than a decade later in 2008. 

She overcame cancer a second time in 2013, but the disease returned four years later. In 2017, she was told the cancer had metastasized and spread to her bones.

Newton-John died peacefully at her home in Southern California on August 8, 2022, at age 73. She was surrounded by her family and friends, according to her husband, who announced her passing on her Facebook page. 

Easterling did not confirm the cause of her death. The actress is survived by her 36-year-old daughter, Chloe, and her siblings. 

JOHN TRAVOLTA 

John Travolta played Danny Zuko in Grease (left), and he went on to have an incredibly successful career. He has two upcoming projects slated for release 

Travolta married fellow actor Kelly Preston in 1991, and they welcomed three children together: Jett, Ella Bleu, and Benjamin. Jett tragically died in 2009 at age 16 as a result of a seizure

The couple had been married for nearly 30 years when Preston died at age 57 in July 2020, two years after she was diagnosed with breast cancer

Travolta (pictured with Ella and Benjamin in 2021) took a brief hiatus from acting while mourning his late wife 

The late 1970s was a life-changing time for John Travolta, who was made a movie superstar by his appearances in films like Saturday Night Fever and Grease, in which he played the bad boy lead, Danny Zuko.

Since then, Travolta has proven to have serious staying power in the industry, starring in dozens of films over the last 40 years including the likes of Pulp Fiction, Hairspray, Face Off, and Get Shorty. 

Travolta married fellow actor Kelly Preston in 1991, and they welcomed three children together: Jett, Ella Bleu, and Benjamin. Jett tragically died in 2009 at age 16 as a result of a seizure.

The couple had been married for nearly 30 years when Preston died at age 57 in July 2020, two years after she was diagnosed with breast cancer. 

Travolta took a hiatus from acting to grieve his wife’s death before returning to work.

Now 68, he stars in the upcoming action films Paradise City and American Metal, the latter of which is slated for release in 2023. 

STOCKARD CHANNING

Stockard Channing played Rizzo in Grease (left). The actress went on to have an illustrious career after the film and won an Emmy for her role as Abbey Barlet in the political drama The West Wing

Channing was already in her 30s when she landed the role of the feisty Rizzo

The actress most recently returned to the London stage in October 2021 to play Thelma in Night, Mother at Hampstead Theatre

When she took on the role of feisty teenager Rizzo, Channing was already in her early 30s, making her the oldest member of the cast of students. 

Channing went on to have an illustrious career after the film, including a seven-year run as first lady Abbey Bartlet in the political drama The West Wing from 1999 to 2006. 

She won an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress for her work in the critically-acclaimed show in 2002.

The 78-year-old has been married and divorced four times over the years, but she doesn’t have any children. 

Channing was in a long-term relationship with cinematographer Daniel Gillham from 1990 until his death in 2014. 

The actress most recently returned to the London stage in October 2021 to play Thelma in Night, Mother at Hampstead Theatre.

DIDI CONN

Didi Conn played Frenchy in the movie (left). She reprised the role for Grease 2 and also had a part in the recent Grease: Live production

In 2019, Conn became the oldest contestant on the British television series Dancing on Ice at age 67

Conn’s memorable performance as beauty school dropout Frenchie is still her most famous role to date. She reprised her role in Grease 2, which premiered in 1982. 

While her film credits became fairly sparse after the early 1980s, Conn has had roles on TV shows such as Shining Times Station, Transparent, and Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. 

In 2016, she appeared in Grease: Live, playing a waitress who talks to Carly Rae Jepsen’s Frenchie. 

Conn was married to her first husband, actor and writer Frank Conn, from 1975 to 1978, the year Grease was released. She and her second husband, composer David Shire, have been married since 1984.

The 71-year-old actress is a stepmother to Shire’s son, screenwriter Matthew Shire, whom he shares with his ex-wife, Talia Shire. 

Conn and Shire also have a 30-year-old adopted son, Daniel Shire, who was diagnosed with autism when he was two. She was named a spokesperson for Autism Speaks in 2018.

In 2019, she became the oldest contestant on the British television series Dancing on Ice at age 67.  

JEFF CONAWAY

Jeff Conaway won many hearts as Kenickie in the film (left). In 2011, he passed away at age 60 due to drug-related pneumonia

After taking on the role of Kenickie in Grease, Conaway was cast as Bobby Wheeler in the television series Taxi in 1978. 

However, a substance abuse problem began to emerge and eventually led him to leave the show after its third season. 

Though he received treatment for his addiction in the 1980s, he would later relapse and even appeared on Celebrity Rehab in 2008.  

In 2011, Conway passed away at age 60 due to drug-related pneumonia.

BARRY PEARL 

Barry Pearl played Doody in the musical (left). He went on to appear in a number of TV shows over the years and later became an acting teacher

The man behind Doody went on to appear on plenty of TV shows over the years, including Beverly Hills, 90210, Baywatch, Criminal Minds, and more. 

Also, like Didi Conn, Barry returned to the franchise for Grease: Live, this time playing the role of Mr. Stan Weaver.

While he never quite reached the heights of Grease again, Pearl went on to become an acting teacher.