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The youngest of six children,<ref name="Travoltaref1">{{cite news|last=Pearce|first=Garth|title=On the move: John Travolta|work=Times Online|date=July 15, 2007|url=http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/driving/article2068940.ece|access-date=July 17, 2007 | location=London}}</ref> Travolta was born<ref name=filmref /> and raised in [[Englewood, New Jersey]], an inner-ring suburb of [[New York City]] in [[Bergen County, New Jersey]].
His father, Salvatore "Sam" Travolta, was a semiprofessional [[American football]] player turned tire salesman and partner in a tire company, Travolta Tire Exchange.<ref name="vf2013">{{cite magazine |last1=Kashner |first1=Sam |title=Fever Pitch: The Making of Saturday Night Fever: John Travolta and the Cast's Retelling |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2007/12/saturday-night-fever |access-date=April 6, 2020 |magazine=Vanity Fair |date=August 15, 2013
He grew up in an Irish-American neighborhood and said that his household was predominantly Irish in culture.<ref name="Travoltaref4">{{cite news|title=Celebetty: John Travolta|publisher=BeatBoxBetty.com|year=2000|url=http://www.beatboxbetty.com/celebetty/johntravolta/johntravolta2/johntravolta2/johntravolta2.htm|access-date=July 17, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070809132502/http://www.beatboxbetty.com/celebetty/johntravolta/johntravolta2/johntravolta2/johntravolta2.htm|archive-date=August 9, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Travoltaref3">{{cite magazine|last=Grant |first=Meg |title=Night Moves |magazine=Reader's Digest |date=February 2005 |url=http://www.rd.com/your-america-inspiring-people-and-stories/face-to-face-with-john-travolta/article26272-1.html |access-date=July 17, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211165554/http://www.rd.com/your-america-inspiring-people-and-stories/face-to-face-with-john-travolta/article26272-1.html |archive-date=December 11, 2008 }}</ref> He was raised [[Catholic Church|Catholic]], but later converted to [[Scientology]] in 1975 at age 21.<ref name="TSMH" /><ref name="Travoltaref5">{{cite news|title=The Big Question: John Travolta |publisher="THE BIG QUESTION" BBC1 |date=January 28, 2004 |url=http://cosmedia.freewinds.cx/media/articles/bbc250198.html |access-date=July 17, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071006124942/http://cosmedia.freewinds.cx/media/articles/bbc250198.html |archive-date=October 6, 2007 }}</ref> Travolta attended [[Dwight Morrow High School]], but dropped out as a junior at age 17 in 1971.<ref>Reeves, Michael. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KpZjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bHoNAAAAIBAJ&pg=1134%2C4174140 "Travolta recalls lonely high schooldays"], ''[[The StarPhoenix]]'', September 28, 1978. Accessed June 12, 2011. "As far as academics were concerned, John was not the best student at Dwight Morrow High School. He confesses that 'I was only an average student.'"</ref>
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On January 2, 2009, Jett died at age 16 while on a Christmas vacation in [[The Bahamas]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Actors' son Jett Travolta dies at 16 |work=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Movies/01/02/obit.jett.travolta/ |date=January 2, 2009 |access-date=January 2, 2009}}</ref><ref name='bbcnews20090102'>{{cite news |title=John Travolta's teenage son dies |url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7809172.stm |work=BBC News Online |publisher=BBC |access-date=January 2, 2009 | date=January 2, 2009}}</ref> A Bahamian death certificate was issued, attributing the cause of death to a [[seizure]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/MindMoodNews/story?id=6576215&page=1 |title=Death Certificate: John Travolta's Son Died of a Seizure |work=ABC News |date=January 5, 2009 |access-date=January 5, 2009}}</ref> Jett, who had a history of seizures, reportedly had had [[Kawasaki disease]] since the age of two.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20249865,00.html |title=John Travolta's 16-Year-Old Son Dies |work=[[People (American magazine)|People]] |date=January 2, 2009 |access-date=January 4, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Errico |first=Marcus |url=http://uk.eonline.com/uberblog/b77259_john_travoltas_son_jett_dead_16.html |title=John Travolta's Son Jett Dead at 16 |publisher=[[E!]] Online |date=January 2, 2009 |access-date=January 2, 2009}}</ref> Travolta confirmed that Jett was [[autistic]] and had regular seizures, and immediately made his public statements while giving testimony at the trial of two defendants (a paramedic and a former Bahamas senator) who Travolta alleged tried to blackmail him with a multimillion-dollar extortion plot involving private information in connection with the death of his son Jett.<ref>{{cite web |first=Mary Rose |last=Abraham |title=From John Travolta: I Ran Down the Stairs To Help My Son |work=ABC News |date=September 23, 2009 |access-date=September 23, 2009 |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/john-travolta-bahamas-testify-extortion-case/story?id=8649816}}</ref> After a mistrial, Travolta dropped the charges and has credited his immediate family and Scientology with helping him to cope with Jett's death and move forward with his career.<ref>{{cite news|last=Usborne |first=David |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/judge-declares-mistrial-in-travolta-extortion-case-1807653.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220613/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/judge-declares-mistrial-in-travolta-extortion-case-1807653.html |archive-date=June 13, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Judge declares mistrial in Travolta extortion case |work=The Independent |date=October 23, 2009 |access-date=June 28, 2011 |location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Allen |first=Nick |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/7985783/John-Travolta-to-drop-charges-in-extortion-case.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/7985783/John-Travolta-to-drop-charges-in-extortion-case.html |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=John Travolta to drop charges in extortion case |work=The Telegraph |date=September 6, 2010 |access-date=June 28, 2011 |location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/28/john-travolta-scientology_n_441399.html |title=John Travolta: Scientology Helped Me Heal |work=HuffPost |date=January 28, 2010 |access-date=June 13, 2011}}</ref> In memory of Jett, Travolta created the Jett Travolta Foundation, a nonprofit organization to help children with special needs.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.jett-travolta-foundation.org/ |title=The Jett Travolta Foundation |publisher=jett-travolta-foundation.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925194147/https://jett-travolta-foundation.org/ |archive-date=September 25, 2015 |access-date=August 8, 2017 }}</ref> It has contributed to organizations such as the [[Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy]], [[The Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential|Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential]], and [[Simon Wiesenthal Center]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.jett-travolta-foundation.org/donated/index.html |title=The Jett Travolta Foundation Donated |publisher=jett-travolta-foundation.org }}</ref>
On July 12, 2020, Travolta's wife, Kelly Preston, died at the age of 57, at their home in [[Anthony, Florida]],<ref name=ET-death>{{cite web |date=July 12, 2020| access-date=July 13, 2020 |last=Seemayer |first=Zach |url=https://www.etonline.com/kelly-preston-actress-and-wife-of-john-travolta-dead-at-57-149535|title=Kelly Preston, Actress and Wife of John Travolta, Dead at 57 |work=Entertainment Tonight}}</ref><ref name=ABC13>{{cite news |date=July 14, 2020 |url=https://abc13.com/entertainment/kelly-preston-dies-at-57-after-battle-with-breast-cancer/6314467/ |title=Kelly Preston dies at 57 after battle with breast cancer|work=ABC13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200713114248/https://abc13.com/entertainment/kelly-preston-dies-at-57-after-battle-with-breast-cancer/6314467/ |agency=[[Associated Press|AP]]|access-date=July 14, 2020|archive-date=July 13, 2020 }}</ref> two years after she was diagnosed with breast cancer.<ref name=NYT_death>{{cite news|last=Ramzy|first=Austin|date=July 13, 2020|title=Kelly Preston, 'Jerry Maguire' Star, Dies at 57
===Scientology===
Travolta joined the Church of [[Scientology]] in 1975. He converted after being given the book ''[[Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health|Dianetics]]'' from former actress [[Joan Prather]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-13 |title=How Scientology Helped John Travolta Overcome Dyslexia and Anxiety - Fifa world cup katar |url=https://fifaworldcupkatar.com/how-scientology-helped-john-travolta-overcome-dyslexia-and-anxiety/ |access-date=2023-07-17
After the [[2010 Haiti earthquake]], joining other celebrities in helping with the relief efforts, Travolta reportedly flew his [[Boeing 707]] full of supplies, doctors, and Scientologist [[Volunteer Ministers]] into the disaster area.<ref>{{cite news |title=John Travolta's mercy flight to Haiti |url=http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2010/01/25/john-travoltas-mercy-flight-to-haiti/?hpt=T2 |publisher=Douglas Hyde – CNN Entertainment Producer |date=January 25, 2010 |access-date=January 26, 2010 |archive-date=January 27, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100127233639/http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2010/01/25/john-travoltas-mercy-flight-to-haiti/?hpt=T2 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
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|first=Matthew
|last=Stibbe
}}</ref> and rated to fly [[Boeing 707]], [[Boeing 737|737]], and [[Boeing 747|747]] planes.{{efn|FAA [http://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/airmen_certification/releasable_airmen_download/ Airmen Certification Database] of September 1, 2014, lists Travolta as ID A1927078, with [[private pilot licence]] ratings P/ASEL (Private Airplane Single Engine Land), P/AMEL (Private Airplane Multi-Engine Land), P/INSTA (Private Instrument Airplane), and eight aircraft: P/B-707 ([[Boeing 707]]), P/B-720 ([[Boeing 720]]), P/CE-500 ([[Cessna 500]]), P/CL-600 ([[Bombardier Challenger 600]]), P/EA-500S ([[Eclipse 500]]), P/G-1159 ([[Gulfstream II]]), P/HS-125 ([[British Aerospace 125]]), P/LR-JET ([[Learjet]]).}} He owns four aircraft. Travolta owned an ex-Qantas Boeing 707-138B (Ex-VH-EBM) which bears an old livery of [[Qantas]], and Travolta acted as an official goodwill ambassador for the airline wherever he flew.<ref>{{cite web |title=John Travolta Qantas Ambassador-at-large |url=http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/john-travolta/global/en |work=Qantas – Ambassadors |publisher=Qantas airlines official website |access-date=March 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219085129/http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/john-travolta/global/en |archive-date=February 19, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Travolta named his 707 "Jett Clipper Ella", in honor of his children. The "Clipper" in the name refers to the use of that word by [[Pan American World Airways|Pan Am]] as the company's [[call sign]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://123atc.com/call-sign/PAA | title=PAA Call Sign CLIPPER }}</ref> as well as in the names of their aircraft.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://blog.flightstory.net/45/john-travoltas-boeing-707/ |title=John Travolta's Boeing 707 at Flightstory.net – Aviation Blog |website=blog.flightstory.net |date=April 5, 2007 |access-date=May 27, 2017}}</ref> In 2017, Travolta donated the Boeing 707 to the [[Historical Aircraft Restoration Society]] (HARS) near [[Wollongong]], Australia. This was expected to be flown to Australia in November 2019,<ref name=ABC_20190619>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-06-27/john-travolta-plane-set-for-november-arrival-in-wollongong/11253868|title=John Travolta's luxury Boeing 707 cleared for November relocation to Wollongong|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|author=Justin Huntsdale|date=June 27, 2019|access-date=June 27, 2019}}</ref> but was later delayed to sometime in 2020 due to condition of the aircraft.<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 9, 2019|title=HARS pushes back arrival of John Travolta Boeing 707 to 2020 |url=https://australianaviation.com.au/2019/10/hars-pushes-back-arrival-of-john-travolta-boeing-707-to-2020/ |access-date=August 12, 2020|website=Australian Aviation
On November 24, 1992, Travolta was piloting his [[Gulfstream II|Gulfstream]] N728T at night above a solid [[undercast]] when he experienced a total electrical system failure while flying under [[instrument flight rules]] into [[Washington National Airport]]. During the emergency landing, he almost had a [[mid-air collision]] with a [[US Airways|USAir]] [[Boeing 727]], an event attributed to a risky decision by an air traffic controller.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1995-03-27/news/9503270179_1_joseph-travolta-actor-john-travolta-mid-air-collision |title=Travolta Lucky To Live Through Incident |work=Orlando Sentinel |date=March 27, 1995 |access-date=April 27, 2012 |archive-date=October 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002163823/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1995-03-27/news/9503270179_1_joseph-travolta-actor-john-travolta-mid-air-collision |url-status=dead }}</ref>
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