Learning how to play a character is a skill and something that takes years to perfect, a talent Travolta knows a lot about. He always says it’s easier to play the bad guy as opposed to the good guy. When asked about what kind of roles he preferred Travolta said he found playing the bad guys a more liberating experience.
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They are not held back by morals or restrictions, you can let loose and just not care. Good guys place these restrictions on themselves and have to navigate their behavior in line with their own moral code, which makes it more challenging to add personal touches to a character.
Gotti Get Me Some Travolta
There is no denying that John Gotti (who was head of the infamous Gambino family, one of the most ruthless criminal families) has got to be a tough role to play, but it was Travolta who was deemed talented enough to capture the character of Gotti.
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Along with other A-list stars including Stacy Keach from "Prison Break," Travolta played the role of one of the most powerful and influential mob bosses of all time. With the many twists and turns in Gotti’s life, it makes for a thrilling movie plot that Travolta has the challenge of depicting with an emotional and sometimes raw performance.
Freak Accident
When their son, Jett tragically passed away at the young age of 16 from a freak accident they must have thought that was enough sadness for a lifetime. Yet again, the Travoltas suffered a terribly sad accident when they flew to Maine airport.
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They had brought their dogs with them who had been taken for a quick walk around the grounds of the airport. A liaison was said to be left responsible for taking the dogs out, but unfortunately, during their walk, they were hit by an airport vehicle and didn’t survive the accident. The airport was very sorry and sent condolence flowers and a card to the Travoltas.
He’s an Author
If you thought being the triple threat of actor, dancer, and singer wasn’t enough then you can add author to the list of talents Travolta seems to possess. In 1984, amidst all of the "Grease" and "Saturday Night Fever" madness, Travolta released a book entitled, "John Travolta Staying Fit!" This was a complete guide to body shaping and conditioning through weight resistance training and modern dance.
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If that wasn’t enough, in 1997, he released a second book dedicated to his love of aviation which told the story of a young boy who dreamt about flying planes one day. The book was called, "Propeller One-Way Night Coach, A Fable for All Ages," which surely touched the hearts and minds of other young wannabe pilots.
A Career of a Lifetime
Travolta has had a wide and varied acting career and enjoyed the heights of success. He has a fantastic record of high box office takings with at least 10 of his films grossing over $100 million and a further eight managing to double that figure with takings of over $200 million. Producers know that having his name on the bill will help increase revenues at the box office and so he has become one of the most experienced and sought-after actors in Hollywood.
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He has had a string of hit movies which include, "Saturday Night Fever," "Grease," "Look Who’s Talking," "Wild Hogs," "Hairspray," "Bolt," "Pulp Fiction" and "Phenomenon." Amazingly, despite being nominated, John Travolta is yet to receive an Academy Award.