John Travolta
Acting • Born 1954-02-18
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.
Filmography
186 credits
Lonely Hearts
Movie • 2006
Elmer Robinson
Grease
Movie • 1978
Danny Zuko
Pulp Fiction
Movie • 1994
Vincent Vega
Face/Off
Movie • 1997
Sean Archer
Die Hart
Movie • 2023
Ron Wilcox
The General's Daughter
Movie • 1999
Warrant Officer Paul Brenner
Michael
Movie • 1996
Michael
Be Cool
Movie • 2005
Chili Palmer
Hairspray
Movie • 2007
Edna Turnblad
Lucky Numbers
Movie • 2000
Russ Richards
Basic
Movie • 2003
DEA Agent Tom Hardy
Staying Alive
Movie • 1983
Tony Manero
Ladder 49
Movie • 2004
Captain Mike Kennedy
Saturday Night Fever
Movie • 1977
Tony Manero
Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon
Movie • 2005
Jim Irwin
Battlefield Earth
Movie • 2000
Terl
Wild Hogs
Movie • 2007
Woody Stevens
Old Dogs
Movie • 2009
Charlie
I'm Still Here
Movie • 2010
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Carrie
Movie • 1976
Billy Nolan
Domestic Disturbance
Movie • 2001
Frank Morrison
Get Shorty
Movie • 1995
Chili Palmer
Blow Out
Movie • 1981
Jack Terry
White Man's Burden
Movie • 1995
Louis Pinnock
The Punisher
Movie • 2004
Howard Saint
Look Who's Talking Now!
Movie • 1993
James Ubriacco
The Thin Red Line
Movie • 1998
Brig. Gen. David Quintard
A Civil Action
Movie • 1998
Jan Schlichtmann
Primary Colors
Movie • 1998
Jack Stanton
Shout
Movie • 1991
Jack Cabe
Swordfish
Movie • 2001
Gabriel
Look Who's Talking
Movie • 1989
James
From Paris with Love
Movie • 2010
Charlie Wax
Two of a Kind
Movie • 1983
Zack
Phenomenon
Movie • 1996
George Malley
Mad City
Movie • 1997
Sam Baily
A Love Song for Bobby Long
Movie • 2004
Bobby Long
Look Who's Talking Too
Movie • 1990
James
Bolt
Movie • 2008
Bolt (voice)
The Boy in the Plastic Bubble
Movie • 1976
Tod Lubitch
She's So Lovely
Movie • 1997
Joey Germoni
Chains of Gold
Movie • 1991
Scott Barnes
The Devil’s Rain
Movie • 1975
Danny
Urban Cowboy
Movie • 1980
Bud Davis
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
Movie • 2009
Ryder
Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The 1970s
Movie • 2002
Self - Interviewee (archive footage)
The Shepherd
Movie • 2023
Johnny Kavanagh
Cash Out
Movie • 2024
Mason Goddard
Perfect
Movie • 1985
Adam Lawrence
Casting By
Movie • 2012
Self
Eyes of an Angel
Movie • 1991
Bobby
That's Amore!
Movie
Nick Venere
Savages
Movie • 2012
Dennis
John Travolta Remembers James Cagney
Movie • 2003
Self
The Experts
Movie • 1989
Travis
Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen
Movie • 2012
(archive footage)
Killing Season
Movie • 2013
Emil Kovac
High Rollers
Movie • 2025
Mason Goddard
Close Encounters with Vilmos Zsigmond
Movie • 2016
Self
Moment by Moment
Movie • 1978
Strip
Tony Bennett: An American Classic
Movie • 2006
Self
John Travolta: The Inside Story
Movie • 2004
Self
Basements
Movie • 1987
Ben (segment "The Dumb Waiter")
Bio.
Movie • 2005
Self
Mob Land
Movie • 2023
Bodie Davis
Rona Barrett Looks at 1978
Movie • 1979
Self
The Forger
Movie • 2014
Raymond Cutter
Off the Menu: The Last Days of Chasen's
Movie • 1998
Self
American Badass: A Michael Madsen Retrospective
Movie • 2022
Self
In a Valley of Violence
Movie • 2016
The Marshal
Pattern Recognition
Movie • 2017
Self (archive footage)
Hot Potato: The Story of The Wiggles
Movie • 2023
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Criminal Activities
Movie • 2015
Eddie
Orientation: A Scientology Information Film
Movie • 1996
Self
Seriously... Phil Collins
Movie • 1990
Self
James Bond: The First 21 Years
Movie • 1983
Self
Close Up
Movie • 2012
Self (archive footage)
David Blaine: Beyond Magic
Movie • 2016
Self
Nos Bastidores de Hollywood
Movie • 2005
Self (archive footage)
I Am Wrath
Movie • 2016
Stanley Hill
The Grand Knockout Tournament
Movie • 1987
Self
Life on the Line
Movie • 2016
Beau Ginner
2Everything2Terrible2: Tokyo Drift
Movie • 2010
(archive footage)
Our Friend, Martin
Movie • 1999
Kyle's Dad (voice)
Junket Whore
Movie • 1998
Self
Happy Birthday Elizabeth: A Celebration of Life
Movie • 1997
Self
Brando
Movie • 2007
Self
Austin Powers in Goldmember
Movie • 2002
John Travolta / Famous Goldmember ('Austinpussy')
Gotti
Movie • 2018
John Gotti
Stayin' Alive: A Grammy Salute to the Music of the Bee Gees
Movie • 2017
Self - Host
Quentin Tarantino: 20 Years of Filmmaking
Movie • 2013
Self
Welcome to Hollywood
Movie • 2000
John Travolta
Speed Kills
Movie • 2018
Ben Aronoff (Don Aronow)
Trading Paint
Movie • 2019
Sam
The Grease Story
Movie • 2017
Danny Zuko
Saturday Night Fever: The Ultimate Disco Movie
Movie • 2017
Self
The Fanatic
Movie • 2019
Moose
The Poison Rose
Movie • 2019
Carson Philips
Grease Day USA
Movie • 1978
Self
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History
Movie • 2008
Self
Forever Hollywood
Movie • 1999
Self
Urban Cowboy: The Rise and Fall of Gilley's
Movie • 2015
Self
Everyday Heroes: Real Stories from Real Firefighters
Movie • 2005
Nightmare
Movie • 1974
Man Outside Store (uncredited)
The Tenth Level
Movie • 1976
Lab Technician (uncredited)
John Travolta, le miraculé d'Hollywood
Movie • 2017
Self - Actor (archive footage)
Studio 54
Movie • 2018
Self (archive footage)
Paradise City
Movie • 2022
Buck
Boris and Natasha
Movie • 1992
Self
Quentin Tarantino: From a Movie Buff to a Hollywood Legend
Movie • 2021
Self (archive footage)
Broken Arrow
Movie • 1996
Vic Deakins
AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs: America's Greatest Music in the Movies
Movie • 2004
Host
November 1963
Movie • 2026
Johnny Roselli
Cash Out 3
Movie
Mason Goddard
Pulp Fiction: The Facts
Movie • 2002
Self (archive footage)
Be Cool, Very Cool
Movie • 2005
Self
Black Tides
Movie • 2026
Bill Pierce
Syndicate
Movie
Special Agent Felix Miller
Trailer Camp
Movie • 1995
(Archival)
Ed
Movie
Scientology: The Road to Total Freedom?
Movie • 1987
Self
The Kick That United A Nation
Movie • 2025
Self
That's Dancing!
Movie • 1985
Self (archive footage)
ABC's 50th Anniversary Celebration
Movie • 2003
Self
America's Flying Aces: The Blue Angels 50th Anniversary
Movie • 1996
Hosted by
The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story
Movie • 2016
Robert Shapiro
ED
Movie
Pulp Fiction: Behind The Scenes Montages
Movie • 2002
Welcome Back, Kotter
TV • 1975
Vinnie Barbarino
Inside the Actors Studio
TV • 1994
Self
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
TV • 2003
Self
Fear Factor
TV • 2001
The Rookies
TV • 1972
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
TV • 1988
The View
TV • 1997
Self
Fat Actress
TV • 2005
John Travolta
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
TV • 1992
The Early Show
TV • 1999
Self
Oprah's Big Give
TV • 2008
The Jay Leno Show
TV • 2009
Self - Guest
Celebrities Uncensored
TV • 2003
Self
Mr. T and Tina
TV • 1976
Vinnie Barbarino
Harty
TV • 1983
Self
Where Are They Now?
TV • 1999
Self
The Oscars
TV • 1953
Self
Good Day Live
TV • 2001
Self
The Captain and Tennille
TV • 1976
Self - Guest
The Scrat Show
TV • 2012
Hart to Heart
TV • 2021
Self - Interviewee
Saturday Night Live
TV • 1975
Self - Host
Top of the Pops
TV • 1964
Wetten, dass..?
TV • 1981
Self
American Crime Story
TV • 2016
Robert Shapiro
The True Story of...
TV • 2017
Self (archive footage)
The Mike Douglas Show
TV • 1961
Self - Guest
Rove
TV • 1999
Self
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
TV • 1962
Self
The Reichen Show
TV • 2005
Self
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
TV • 1988
Self - Guest
Goldene Kamera
TV • 1984
Self
Emergency!
TV • 1972
Chuck Benson
Panorama
TV • 1953
Himself (archive footage)
Sanremo Music Festival
TV • 1951
Self - Special Guest
Entertainment Tonight
TV • 1981
Self
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
TV • 1975
Self
Jay Leno's Garage
TV • 2015
Self
Il était une fois Champs-Élysées
TV • 2022
Self (archive footage)
Die Hart
TV • 2020
Ron Wilcox
Champs-Elysées
TV • 1982
Self
Kirstie
TV • 2013
Mickey Russo
The Playboy Murders
TV • 2023
Self (archive footage)
Behind Closed Doors with Natalie Morales
TV • 2015
Danny Zuko (archive footage)
Golden Globe Awards
TV • 1944
Self - Presenter
Golden Globe Awards
TV • 1944
Self - Nominee / Presenter
Golden Globe Awards
TV • 1944
Self - Nominee
Fifth Gear
TV • 2002
Self
Great Performances
TV • 1971
Self
Golden Globe Awards
TV • 1944
Self - Presenter / Nominee
Variety Studio: Actors on Actors
TV • 2014
Self
Sacrée Soirée
TV • 1987
Self
Medical Center
TV • 1969
Danny
MTV Video Music Awards
TV • 1984
Self
El hormiguero
TV • 2006
Self - Guest
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
TV • 1971
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
TV • 2015
Self - Guest
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
TV • 2003
Self - Guest