Grease star Olivia Newton-John dies age 73 after long battle with breast cancer

8 August 2022, 20:36 | Updated: 8 August 2022, 22:30

Olivia Newton-John starred in Grease
Olivia Newton-John starred in Grease. Picture: Alamy

By Emma Soteriou

Grease star Olivia Newton-John has died at the age of 73 after a long battle with breast cancer.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The actress was best known for her iconic role as Sandy in the hit musical Grease, starring alongside John Travolta.

The 1978 film and its accompanying soundtrack - still much loved more than 40 years later - catapulted Newton-John to international fame, although she had already scored a healthy level of success in her native Australia and in the UK.

She also had hit songs including Physical, A Little More Love and Long Live Love, which she performed for the UK at the 1974 Eurovision Song contest.

Newton-John was first diagnosed with breast cancer in the 90s before it returned in 2013 and 2017.

She starred alongside John Travolta
She starred alongside John Travolta. Picture: Alamy

Her family said in a statement that she "passed away peacefully at her ranch in southern California this morning, surrounded by family and friends".

"Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer," they added.

"Her healing inspiration and pioneering experience with plant medicine continues with the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, dedicated to researching plant medicine and cancer."

The singer said she was treating the illness "naturally", using cannabis oil made from marijuana her husband grows in California to alleviate the pain.

She also underwent radiation treatment and cut sugar from her diet in a bid to overcome the cancer.

She said: "I believe I will win over it."

Hopelessly Devoted to You remains one of the film's most popular songs
Hopelessly Devoted to You remains one of the film's most popular songs. Picture: Alamy
The actress immortalised the role of goody-goody high school student Sandy
The actress immortalised the role of goody-goody high school student Sandy. Picture: Alamy

Newton-John became a Dame in 2020 for services to charity, cancer research and entertainment.

It came after she received an OBE in the 1979 New Year Honours list.

She appeared in several other films as well as Grease, such as the musical Xanadu with Gene Kelly and Two of a Kind.

Olivia Newton-John performed in Eurovision in 1974
Olivia Newton-John performed in Eurovision in 1974. Picture: Alamy

The Hollywood Chamber Of Commerce said flowers will be laid on Dame Olivia's star on the Walk Of Fame in LA in her memory.

The singer and actress was honoured with the star almost 41 years ago to the day, on August 5 1981.

Newton-John toured the UK later in her career
Newton-John toured the UK later in her career. Picture: Alamy

Tributes have since flooded in for the musical icon.

Her Grease co-star John Travolta posted a tribute to the actress, signing off "your Danny".

"My dearest Olivia, you made all of our lives so much better," he wrote.

"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!"

Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta in Grease
Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta in Grease. Picture: Alamy
The pair reunited for Two of a Kind in the 80s
The pair reunited for Two of a Kind in the 80s. Picture: Alamy

Star Trek actor George Takei said: "We have lost a great, iconic artist in Olivia Newton John, gone too soon from us at age 73.

"I trust she is now in the great Xanadu beyond.

"Know that we are forever hopelessly devoted to you, Olivia. Rest in song and mirth."

Newton-John starred in Xanadu
Newton-John starred in Xanadu. Picture: Alamy

American actress Rosanna Arquette, who won a best supporting actress Bafta for her performance in 1985's Desperately Seeking Susan, was among those paying tribute.

She tweeted: "Fly with the angels Olivia Newton John."

Sandy and Danny in Grease
Sandy and Danny in Grease. Picture: Alamy

Oscar-winning actress Marlee Matlin recalled starring alongside Dame Olivia Newton-John in the 1996 film It's My Party, one of the first films to address the topic of Aids patients dying with dignity.

She said on Twitter: "I am SO saddened at the news of the passing of Olivia Newton John. I remember being so star struck when I met her at my first Hollywood gathering for Paramount.

"She was the sweetest and brightest light and I loved getting to know her on It's My Party.

"RIP dear, sweet Olivia."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Exclusive
Starmer has vowed to resurrect Boris Johnson's 'Levelling Up' policy

Failure to ‘level up’ Britain would be ‘catastrophic’, Wes Streeting admits, as Starmer vows to resurrect Johnson policy

Border Force staff will walk out from April 11

Hundreds of Border Force officers at Heathrow Airport to stage four-day strike

Stephen Bear was ordered to pay Ms Harrison £5,000.

Disgraced reality TV star Stephen Bear ordered to pay £27,000 over revenge porn conviction or face nine months in jail

Sam Bankman-Fried

FTX founder Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prison for crypto fraud

Exclusive
Covid no excuse for death of Finley Boden who was murdered by drug-addled parents, child protection chief says

Covid no excuse for death of Finley Boden who was murdered by drug-addled parents, child protection chief says

Israel Palestinians UN Security Council

Russia ‘abolishes’ monitoring of sanctions on North Korea with UN veto

France Valentino

Former Gucci designer Alessandro Michele named Valentino creative director

Know your limits this summer, Brits have been warned

‘Know your limits’: Brits heading to the Euros this summer warned against drinking ‘too much German beer’

Russia Shooting

Russia arrests another suspect in concert hall attack that killed 143

Sam Bankman-Fried has been jailed for 25 years for a $8bn crypto fraud

'Crypto King' Sam Bankman-Fried jailed for 25 years for stealing billions of dollars from his customers

Michael Gove has been urged to 'get on with' passing the rental reforms

Ministers accused of making 'major concessions to landlords' after renters reforms 'watered down'

Supermarket opening times for Easter 2024: Trading hour revealed for Sainsbury's, Asda, Tesco, Morrisons and Aldi

Supermarket opening times for Easter 2024: Trading hours revealed for Sainsbury's, Asda, Tesco, Morrisons and Aldi

It is believed the litter picking tool was mistaken for a firearm, Northumbria Police said

Schools locked down by police after litter picker mistaken for firearm

Lewes prison

Medical incident declared at Lewes prison after several inmates hospitalised with food poisoning

Sandro Tonali

Newcastle United star charged with breaching FA gambling rules 50 times

The protesters staged a bike collision to gain entrance into the department

Pro-Palestine protestors chant 'from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free' as they occupy British Ministry