“They’ve touched our hearts, they’ve made us smile, and became dear friends, who we will always remain hopelessly devoted to,” he said.
At the 2023 Oscars, John Travolta paid his tributes to his longtime friend and co-star, Olivia Newton-John. At the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, the actor took to the platform to introduce the in-memoriam presentation of professionals from the industry who had passed away in the previous year.
Though Newton-John was not specifically mentioned by Travolta, he talked about meeting friends in the business and how actors often meet their soul mates while doing what they love to do on set. Sadly, he continued, those individuals eventually pass away, leaving their loved ones with a hole in their hearts. Introducing the late celebrities being celebrated, Travolta said, “Each of them left an indelible mark that shared and informed us. They’ve touched our hearts, they’ve made us smile, and became dear friends, who we will always remain hopelessly devoted to,” per Independent.
John Travolta choked up when referencing his late 'Grease' co-star Olivia Newton-John while introducing the #Oscars In Memoriam segment, featuring Lenny Kravitz pic.twitter.com/JwQkZMY1hp
— NowThis (@nowthisnews) March 13, 2023
When he urged the audience to think of "those dear friends who we will always remain hopelessly devoted to," he was quoting Olivia Newton-John's well-known Grease song Hopelessly Devoted to You. Newton-John, who portrayed Sandy Olsson in the cult classic, was pictured singing the song in the movie while she was contemplating her intense love for Travolta, who played Danny Zuko, per Harper's Bazaar.
john travolta and olivia newton-john at the 50th oscar ceremony (1978) pic.twitter.com/83wnbd6trq
— NOSTALGIA (@notgwendalupe) March 13, 2023
Following Travolta's moving address, Lenny Kravitz sang Calling All Angels while a slideshow of recently deceased Hollywood luminaries in black and white appeared on the stage screen. Ray Liotta, James Caan, and French New Wave pioneer Jean-Luc Godard were some of the people whose names and work was being paid tribute to. The moving video is a very emotional section every year as people pay tributes to their colleagues and loved ones.
Who doesn’t have a crush on this man? #lennykravitz #Oscars @LennyKravitz pic.twitter.com/CbRLxXwEr2
— Damon Gonzalez (@TheyCallMeDaymz) March 13, 2023
Travolta and Newton-John have been very close, being industry counterparts and very good friends. When Newton-John passed on August 8, 2022, after a protracted 30-year battle with breast cancer, Travolta wrote a moving tribute to the actor on Instagram. "My dearest Olivia, you made all of our lives so much better. Your impact was incredible. I love you so much. We will see you down the road and we will all be together again. Yours from the first moment I saw you and forever! Your Danny, your John!" he wrote alongside an old photo of the beloved actress.
On September 26, which would have been Newton-John's 74th birthday, he paid tribute to her once more by posting a flashback image to his Instagram Story of the two dressed in their recognizable skintight all-black ensembles while filming Grease. "Happy birthday my Olivia," he wrote over the image.
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Cover Image Source: (L) Getty Images | Kevin Winter; (R) Getty Images | Robert Cianflone
