American actor John Travolta, known for films such as Saturday Night Fever e Grease: In the Times of Grease, has deep roots in Sicily, in southern Italy.
In 2024, during the Sanremo Festival, he expressed his connection with Italian culture, highlighting his family origins. “I have always felt at home in Italy,” he said.
Italian ancestry
John Joseph Travolta (baptismal name) was born on February 18, 1954, in Englewood, New Jersey, USA. His father, Salvatore Joseph Travolta (1912–1995), was the son of Italian immigrants.
His paternal grandfather, Salvatore Samuel Travolta (1879–1950), was born in Palermo, Sicily, and immigrated to the United States in January 1904. His paternal grandmother, Giuseppina Marsala (1883–1956), was also Sicilian.
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Genealogy
- Paternal great-grandparents: Francisco Travolta and Rosa Marsala, both Italians
- Paternal grandparents: Salvatore Samuel Travolta and Giuseppina Marsala, both Italians
- Country: Salvatore Joseph Travolta and Helen Cecilia Burke
- Brothers: Joey, Ellen, Ann, Margaret and Sam Travolta
Connection with Godrano
Although there are no official records of the surname Travolta in Godrano — city in the province of Palermo —, the actor has already stated that his paternal grandparents came from this mountainous region of Sicily.
Family influence on artistic career
His passion for the arts was encouraged from an early age by his mother, Helen Cecilia Burke (1912–1978), an actress and singer of Irish origin. All of John's siblings pursued careers in the arts, which highlights the strong family influence in this path.
Personal life
Travolta was married to actress Kelly Preston, with whom he had three children: Jett (1992–2009), Ella Bleu (born 2000), and Benjamin (born 2010).
The family faced the tragedy of Jett's death in 2009, after suffering a seizure while on vacation in the Bahamas.
In his career, John Travolta has received a Primetime Emmy Award and three Golden Globe Awards. He has also been nominated for two Academy Awards, a BAFTA Award and three Screen Actors Guild Awards.
This article is part of the series “Made in Italy: World Stars”, in Italianism, celebrating international personalities with Italian roots.
