Olivia Newton-John Dead at 73: John Travolta, George Takei and More Celebrities React

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Olivia Newton-John Dead at 73: John Travolta, George Takei and More Celebrities React

Goodbye to a legend. Tributes to Olivia Newton-John poured in after the actress' death at age 73 following a lengthy cancer battle. "My dearest Olivia, you made all of our lives so much better," John Travolta wrote via Instagram on Monday, August 8, after news of his former costar's death broke. "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!" The late actress and the Pulp Fiction star, 68, appeared together in 1978's iconic Grease, playing star-crossed high school couple Sandy Olsson and Danny Zuko, respectively. The duo remained friendly for years after the film's debut, though they were near strangers the first time they kissed on screen. “I was nervous of course,” Newton-John told Us Weekly in January 2021. "But it was a very special day and it was really a nice way to get to know John a little bit because we hadn’t spent all that much time together." [jwplayer tnoa8M1x-zhNYySv2] The "Physical" singer's family announced the news of her death on Monday, noting that she "passed away peacefully" at her home in Southern California. "We ask that everyone please respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time," Newton-John's husband, John Easterling, wrote in a statement shared via Facebook and Instagram. Kathy Griffin, who tapped the Xanadu actress for a 2009 appearance on her reality show My Life on the D-List, paid tribute to the late star via Twitter. "Olivia Newton-John rolled with EVERYTHING ❤️🙏💔," the comedian, 61, wrote alongside a clip from the episode, which showed Griffin and Carson Kressley ribbing the Grammy winner about her Australian heritage. Newton-John's passing came after a years-long battle with breast cancer. The Glee alum was first diagnosed in 1992, when she underwent a partial mastectomy and reconstruction surgery. Her illness returned in 2013 and for a third time in 2017. In January 2021, the American Music Award winner told Us that she was "doing really well" amid her ongoing health struggles. "Plant medicine has been incredibly healing for me," she explained at the time. "But I think it's just keeping a positive attitude and believing that I will be OK and talking to my body and doing all the things that I can to support myself emotionally and mentally, which is probably the most important part." Keep scrolling for more celebrity reactions to Newton-John's death. [podcast_block]

Credit: Shutterstock (2)

Olivia Newton-John Dead at 73: John Travolta, George Takei and More Celebrities React

Goodbye to a legend. Tributes to Olivia Newton-John poured in after the actress' death at age 73 following a lengthy cancer battle. "My dearest Olivia, you made all of our lives so much better," John Travolta wrote via Instagram on Monday, August 8, after news of his former costar's death broke. "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!" The late actress and the Pulp Fiction star, 68, appeared together in 1978's iconic Grease, playing star-crossed high school couple Sandy Olsson and Danny Zuko, respectively. The duo remained friendly for years after the film's debut, though they were near strangers the first time they kissed on screen. “I was nervous of course,” Newton-John told Us Weekly in January 2021. "But it was a very special day and it was really a nice way to get to know John a little bit because we hadn’t spent all that much time together." [jwplayer tnoa8M1x-zhNYySv2] The "Physical" singer's family announced the news of her death on Monday, noting that she "passed away peacefully" at her home in Southern California. "We ask that everyone please respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time," Newton-John's husband, John Easterling, wrote in a statement shared via Facebook and Instagram. Kathy Griffin, who tapped the Xanadu actress for a 2009 appearance on her reality show My Life on the D-List, paid tribute to the late star via Twitter. "Olivia Newton-John rolled with EVERYTHING ❤️🙏💔," the comedian, 61, wrote alongside a clip from the episode, which showed Griffin and Carson Kressley ribbing the Grammy winner about her Australian heritage. Newton-John's passing came after a years-long battle with breast cancer. The Glee alum was first diagnosed in 1992, when she underwent a partial mastectomy and reconstruction surgery. Her illness returned in 2013 and for a third time in 2017. In January 2021, the American Music Award winner told Us that she was "doing really well" amid her ongoing health struggles. "Plant medicine has been incredibly healing for me," she explained at the time. "But I think it's just keeping a positive attitude and believing that I will be OK and talking to my body and doing all the things that I can to support myself emotionally and mentally, which is probably the most important part." Keep scrolling for more celebrity reactions to Newton-John's death. [podcast_block]

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Mariah Carey

"I first fell in love with Olivia's voice when I was a little girl and heard 'I Honestly Love You,'" the Grammy winner began in a series of tweets shared after Newton-John's death. "Songs like 'Magic,' 'Suddenly' and 'Have You Never Been Mellow' showcased her beautiful airy tone and signature sound. And THEN there was GREASE. I was obsessed. I dressed up as Bad Sandy for Halloween in 5th grade and thought I was everything."

The "Butterfly" songstress also recalled a time when Newton-John joined her on stage in Australia for a "Hopelessly Devoted to You" duet. "This is a moment I will never ever forget," Carey wrote. "I was also blessed to be in her presence on many other occasions and she was one of the kindest, most generous and lovely people I've ever met. She will be missed. She will be remembered. She will be loved. Olivia, I honestly love you."

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Dolly Parton

"So sad to have lost my special friend Olivia Newton-John," the country music icon wrote in a statement shared via Twitter. "So happy that our lives crossed paths. I know her voice is singing beautifully with the angels."

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Suzanne Somers

“Everyone would want an Olivia Newton-John in their life,” the Three’s Company alum, 75, told the Daily Mail. “Olivia taught me not to be afraid when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. … Olivia provided great comfort for me when diagnosed 25 years ago. Her fight was my fight, as she won, I won.”

Somers, who met the late star at a birthday party, recalled Newton-John being “exactly what you would expect.” The actress revealed, “She was kind and sweet. I never heard her say a bad word about anyone.”

The Step by Step alum, who felt she had a “sister” in Newton-John after battling cancer herself, added: “She taught all of us so much through her bravery and ‘never give up’ philosophy. We got strength through Olivia and her example of life. As a ‘70s icon she lived a full life. I loved her and will miss my ‘sister’ forever.”

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Rebel Wilson

Wilson, who starred with Newton-John in A Few Best Men, gushed over the late actress via Instagram. “You were the most gorgeous lady inside and out, you are a true Aussie icon and to play your daughter on screen in A FEW BEST MEN was beyond an honour," the Pitch Perfect actress, 42, wrote. "Seeing you star in the huge Hollywood blockbuster GREASE with your natural accent was so instrumental to me as a little girl, helping me to believe that it was possible for an Aussie girl to star in huge international musicals.”

The Isn’t It Romantic star concluded: "You were so kind to me and it was such a blessing to know you Olivia. I'll never forget us singing at the piano in our lunch break on set together — what a complete legend you are! I am so sad you are gone 💗 Love and Light always to you ONJ, Rebel xoxo."

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Jane Seymour

"She was beyond a fighter. She always said she's a thriver. That was her word, 'Not a survivor, a thriver,'” the Wedding Crashers actress, 71, told Entertainment Tonight of her late friend. “And I think she taught me and everyone I know so much about living with and passing with cancer. We're all gonna go one day, but [are you] gonna go, 'Ugh, I'm so terrified, I'm angry, I'm gonna isolate. I'm not gonna let anyone know, I'm gonna be all alone and go through it' — or do you do what she did and just be brave and say, 'Hey, I'm going through something a lot of people go through.'"

Seymour recalled bonding with Newton-John over motherhood after becoming friends through her father. "That was the magic of our relationship," the Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman alum explained. "She was the only other celebrity I knew that was very down to earth and had a child. All the ups and downs and marriages and everything we shared, she was very open and I could confide in her things that I didn’t tell anyone else. She was a confidant for me and I for her."

She added: "[Olivia] showed you could be all of the above. You could be the full package. You can be a good wife, you can be a good mother, you can be an amazing superstar, and you can be an icon of philanthropy."

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Julianne Hough

"Like so many, Olivia has always been my hero. Discovering her magnetic energy as an artist and actress came first but it was her heart that truly captured mine," the Grease Live! actress wrote via social media. "Forever an icon and legend!"

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Rod Stewart

"My great friend Olivia Newton John has passed away. She was the perfect Lady, gorgeous, with great poise and with a certain Aussie sophistication," he wrote via Twitter. "Her spandex trousers in Grease were my inspiration for my ‘Da ya think I’m Sexy‘ era. RIP Olivia."

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Hilarie Burton

"There is no blonde Peyton Sawyer in a leather jacket without Olivia Newton John. Queen Bad Girl. Such an icon," the One Tree Hill alum captioned a frame from Grease via her Instagram Story.

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John Stamos

"What an angel. Always very kind to me. SANDY!!" the former Full House star wrote via Twitter.

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Chris Colfer

"Olivia Newton-John was one of the nicest people I was lucky enough to meet and work with on Glee. Such an amazing talent and beautiful soul. ❤️," the Golden Globe winner wrote via Twitter.

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Luann de Lesseps

"The beautiful #OliviaNewtonJohn will forever be a part of my youth & her memory will always live on. RIP #ICON 💔," the Real Housewives of New York star shared via Twitter.

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Kathy Griffin

"Olivia Newton-John rolled with EVERYTHING ❤️🙏💔," the comedian tweeted alongside a video of the late star's appearance on her reality show Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List.

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Robin Roberts

"Very sad news," the Good Morning America host wrote via Twitter. "Great admiration for how she bravely faced breast cancer. Condolences to her loving family and friends."

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Marlee Matlin

"I am SO saddened at the news of the passing of Olivia Newton John," tweeted the Oscar winner. "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."

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Mario Lopez

"Today we lost an inspiring icon of the film & music industry," the Saved by the Bell alum wrote via Twitter. "Fly high Olivia Newton-John."

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Andy Cohen

"Hopelessly Devoted to YOU, Olivia Newton John," the Bravo exec wrote via Instagram. "Rest In Peace, Queen. Thank you for the music."

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Billy Eichner

"Along with having one of the most gorgeous, effortless voices in pop music. One of my first pop obsessions," tweeted the comedian. "RIP icon."

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Barbra Streisand

"Too young to leave this world," the Funny Girl actress wrote via Instagram. "May she RIP."

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Richard Marx

"My heart is broken. Rest now, sweet friend," tweeted the "Right Here Waiting" singer. "You were as kind and loving a person as there’s ever been. I’ll miss you every day."

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Dionne Warwick

"Another angelic voice has been added to the Heavenly Choir," the pop legend wrote via Twitter. "Not only was Olivia a dear friend, but one of the nicest people I had the pleasure of recording and performing with. I will most definitely miss her. She now Rests in the Arms of the Heavenly Father."

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Kristin Chenoweth

"For Olivia ❤️ I love you. You were everything to me," the Tony Award winner tweeted. "Thank you for all you did for the world. I’m so sorry you’re gone too soon. I’ll forever cherish the note you left me backstage at Wicked."

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John Travolta

"My dearest Olivia, you made all of our lives so much better," the actor wrote via Instagram. "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!"

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Sasha Farber

The Dancing With the Stars pro left several red heart emojis in the comments section of the Instagram post confirming the actress' death.

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James Gunn

"Really sad to hear about the passing of Olivia Newton-John," tweeted the Guardians of the Galaxy director. "My first real crush as a kid. I loved Grease & her music & I coincidentally also bought & lived in for a while the wonderful home she built in Malibu. May she Rest In Peace."

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Yvette Nicole Brown

"Olivia Newton-John has died. 💔 That’s it. I’m done guys," the Community alum wrote via Twitter. "Heartbroken doesn’t even BEGIN to cover it. I ADORED her. I hate this so much. She was only 73. What is going on?!"

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Michael Rosenbaum

"This is crushing. I absolutely loved this woman," the former Smallville star tweeted. "What a damn shame. so young. so talented. RIP Olivia Newton John."

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George Takei

"We have lost a great, iconic artist in Olivia Newton John, gone too soon from us at age 73," the Star Trek veteran wrote via Twitter. "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."

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Danica McKellar

The Wonder Years alum left three broken heart emojis in the comments section of the Instagram post announcing Newton-John's death.

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The Vivienne

"What a sad day," tweeted the RuPaul's Drag Race UK winner. "Olivia Newton John may you rest well Angel x."