John Travolta
Known for: Acting
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
Series
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self - Guest
2015
Series
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self - Guest
2014
Series
The Kelly Clarkson Show
Self
2019
Series
Saturday Night Live
Self - Host
1975
Series
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962
Series
The Mike Douglas Show
Self - Guest
1961
Series
Top of the Pops
1964
Series
The View
Self
1997
Series
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self - Guest
2003
Film
Pulp Fiction
Vincent Vega
1994
Series
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Presenter
1944
Series
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Nominee / Presenter
1944
Series
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Nominee
1944
Series
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Presenter / Nominee
1944
Series
Tony Awards
Self - Performer
1956
Series
El hormiguero
Self - Guest
2006
Series
Wetten, dass..?
Self
1981
Series
Panorama
Himself (archive footage)
1953
Series
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
1988
Series
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Self - Guest
1988
Series
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1992
Series
Great Performances
Self
1971
Series
Emergency!
Chuck Benson
1972
Series
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Self
2003
Good Day Live
Self
2001
Series
MTV Video Music Awards
Self
1984
Series
Champs-Elysées
Self
1982
Series
Variety Studio: Actors on Actors
Self
2014
Series
American Crime Story
Robert Shapiro
2016
Series
Sacrée soirée
Self
1987
Film
The Punisher
Howard Saint
2004
Series
The Oscars
Self
1953
Series
Sanremo Music Festival
Self - Special Guest
1951
Film
The Gentleman Thief
Mason Goddard
2026
Film '72
Self
1971
Series
Medical Center
Danny
1969
Series
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
Self
1975
The Reichen Show
Self
2005
Series
Fear Factor
2001
Film
Face/Off
Sean Archer
1997
Series
The Rookies
1972
Film
Grease
Danny
1978
Film
Bolt
Bolt (voice)
2008
Film
From Paris with Love
Charlie Wax
2010
Goldene Kamera
Self
1984
Series
The Jay Leno Show
Self - Guest
2009
Series
Rove
Self
1999
Series
Jay Leno's Garage
Self
2015
Where Are They Now?
Self
1999
Film
Staying Alive
Tony Manero
1983
Series
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
1971
Film
Carrie
Billy Nolan
1976
Film
Austin Powers in Goldmember
John Travolta / Famous Goldmember ('Austinpussy')
2002
Film
Wild Hogs
Woody Stevens
2007
Film
Swordfish
Gabriel
2001
Film
Broken Arrow
Vic Deakins
1996
Film
The Thin Red Line
Brig. Gen. David Quintard
1998
Series
Fifth Gear
Self
2002
Film
Saturday Night Fever
Tony Manero
1977
Film
Get Shorty
Chili Palmer
1995
Series
Die Hart
Ron Wilcox
2020
Film
Old Dogs
Charlie
2009
Film
Blow Out
Jack Terry
1981
Series
Entertainment Tonight
Self
1981
Film
Be Cool
Chili Palmer
2005
Film
Propeller One-Way Night Coach
Retiring Captain / Narrator (voice)
2026
Film
Phenomenon
George Malley
1996
Film
Hairspray
Edna Turnblad
2007
Film
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
Ryder
2009
Film
Ladder 49
Captain Mike Kennedy
2004
Film
Die Hart
Ron Wilcox
2023
Film
Cash Out
Mason Goddard
2024
Film
High Rollers
Mason Goddard
2025
Film
I Am Wrath
Stanley Hill
2016
Film
Savages
Dennis
2012
Film
Paradise City
Buck
2022
Film
Killing Season
Emil Kovac
2013
Series
Il était une fois Champs-Élysées
Self (archive footage)
2022
Film
The General's Daughter
Warrant Officer Paul Brenner
1999
Film
The Poison Rose
Carson Philips
2019
Series
Fat Actress
John Travolta
2005
Film
Battlefield Earth
Terl
2000
Film
Look Who's Talking
James
1989
Film
Mob Land
Bodie Davis
2023
Series
The True Story of...
Self (archive footage)
2017
Series
Hart to Heart
Self - Interviewee
2021
Film
Look Who's Talking Now!
James Ubriacco
1993
Film
Lonely Hearts
Elmer Robinson
2006
Film
Basic
DEA Agent Tom Hardy
2003
Harty
Self
1983
Series
The Captain and Tennille
Self - Guest
1976
Series
Welcome Back, Kotter
Vinnie Barbarino
1975
Film
Domestic Disturbance
Frank Morrison
2001
Series
The Playboy Murders
Self (archive footage)
2023
Film
Life on the Line
Beau Ginner
2016
Film
In a Valley of Violence
The Marshal
2016
Film
A Civil Action
Jan Schlichtmann
1998
Film
I'm Still Here
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2010
Film
Michael
Michael
1996
Film
Look Who's Talking Too
James
1990
Film
Gotti
John Gotti
2018
Film
Welcome to Hollywood
John Travolta
2000
Series
The Early Show
Self
1999
Film
Mad City
Sam Baily
1997
Film
Speed Kills
Ben Aronoff (Don Aronow)
2018
Film
Primary Colors
Jack Stanton
1998
Film
The Forger
Raymond Cutter
2014
Series
Kirstie
Mickey Russo
2013
Film
Bio.
Self
2005
Film
Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen
(archive footage)
2012
Film
Urban Cowboy
Bud Davis
1980
Series
Behind Closed Doors with Natalie Morales
Danny Zuko (archive footage)
2015
Film
Junket Whore
Self
1998
Film
Trailer Camp
(Archival)
1995
Film
2Everything2Terrible2: Tokyo Drift
(archive footage)
2010
Film
The Fanatic
Moose
2019
Film
Criminal Activities
Eddie
2015
Film
A Love Song for Bobby Long
Bobby Long
2004
Film
November 1963
Johnny Roselli
2026
Film
Nos Bastidores de Hollywood
Self (archive footage)
2005
Film
She's So Lovely
Joey Germoni
1997
Film
The Shepherd
Johnny Kavanagh
2023
Film
Trading Paint
Sam
2019
Film
Forever Hollywood
Self
1999
Film
David Blaine: Beyond Magic
Self
2016
Film
Shout
Jack Cabe
1991
Film
The Devil’s Rain
Danny
1975
Film
Studio 54
Self (archive footage)
2018
Film
The Experts
Travis
1989
Film
Perfect
Adam Lawrence
1985
Film
Two of a Kind
Zack
1983
Film
Lucky Numbers
Russ Richards
2000
Film
John Travolta: The Inside Story
Self
2004
ED
Film
Our Friend, Martin
Kyle's Dad (voice)
1999
Film
James Bond: The First 21 Years
Self
1983
Film
'Hairspray' Extentions
Self
2007
Film
The Boy in the Plastic Bubble
Tod Lubitch
1976
Oprah's Big Give
2008
Film
Bee Gees: One Night Only
Self - Tony Manero/Self - Danny Zuko (archive footage)
1998
Film
John Travolta, le miraculé d'Hollywood
Self - Actor (archive footage)
2017
Film
That's Dancing!
Self (archive footage)
1985
Film
ABC's 50th Anniversary Celebration
Self
2003
Film
White Man's Burden
Louis Pinnock
1995
Film
Eyes of an Angel
Bobby
1991
Mr. T and Tina
Vinnie Barbarino
1976
Film
War Journal: On the Set of 'The Punisher'
Self
2004
Film
The Fabulous Allan Carr
Self (archive)
2017
Film
The Grand Knockout Tournament
Self
1987
Film
The Kick That United A Nation
Self
2025
Film
Tony Bennett: An American Classic
Self
2006
Film
Pattern Recognition
Self (archive footage)
2017
The Scrat Show
2012
That's Amore!
Nick Venere
Film
Grease Day USA
Self
1978
Film
Hairspray: Inside the Recording Booth
Self
2007
Film
Close Up
Self (archive footage)
2012
Be Cool, Very Cool
Self
2005
Film
Close Encounters with Vilmos Zsigmond
Self
2016
Film
Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon
Jim Irwin
2005
Film
Brando
Self
2007
Film
You Can’t Stop the Beat: The Long Journey of "Hairspray"
Self
2007
Film
Quentin Tarantino: 20 Years of Filmmaking
Self
2013
The Light and The Dark: The Making of Face/Off
Self
2007
Quentin Tarantino: From a Movie Buff to a Hollywood Legend
Self (archive footage)
2021
Film
Seriously... Phil Collins
Self
1990
Film
Boris and Natasha
Self
1992
Syndicate
Special Agent Felix Miller
Film
Pulp Fiction: The Facts
Self (archive footage)
2002
Film
The Time, the Place, the Motion: Remembering Grease
Self – Danny Zuko (archive footage)
2006
Film
Moment by Moment
Strip
1978
Film
Casting By
Self
2012
Film
Off the Menu: The Last Days of Chasen's
Self
1998
Film
Scientology: The Road to Total Freedom?
Self
1987
Film
Basements
Ben (segment "The Dumb Waiter")
1987
Film
Nightmare
Man Outside Store (uncredited)
1974
Film
Hot Potato: The Story of The Wiggles
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2023
Film
Rona Barrett Looks at 1978
Self
1979
Film
Chains of Gold
Scott Barnes
1991
Pulp Fiction: Behind The Scenes Montages
2002
Series
Inside the Actors Studio
Self
1994
Film
American Badass: A Michael Madsen Retrospective
Self
2022
Film
Hairspray: The Search for Tracy Turnblad
Self
2007
Film
Stayin' Alive: A Grammy Salute to the Music of the Bee Gees
Self - Host
2017
Film
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History
Self
2008
Film
Hairspray: Transforming Travolta to Turnblad
Self
2007
Film
Saturday Night Fever: The Ultimate Disco Movie
Self
2017
Film
The Tenth Level
Lab Technician (uncredited)
1976
Film
Urban Cowboy: The Rise and Fall of Gilley's
Self
2015
Black Tides
Bill Pierce
Film
It's 'Hairspray'!
Self
2007
Film
The Grease Story
Danny Zuko
2017
Film
America's Flying Aces: The Blue Angels 50th Anniversary
Hosted by
1996
Film
AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs: America's Greatest Music in the Movies
Host
2004
Happy Birthday Elizabeth: A Celebration of Life
Self
1997
HBO First Look: Swordfish
2001
Film
Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The 1970s
Self - Interviewee (archive footage)
2002
John Travolta Remembers James Cagney
Self
2003
Everyday Heroes: Real Stories from Real Firefighters
2005
Film
Orientation: A Scientology Information Film
Self
1996
Series
Celebrities Uncensored
Self
2003
Film
Buscando a Travolta
Self
2026