Olivia Newton-John, best known for her role as Sandy in the film Grease, passed away at 73. The role of Sandy in the 1978 film “Grease” made the Australian-born, British-born singer and actress a global superstar.
On August 12, the singer passed away in the California farmhouse she called home, surrounded by family members and other loved ones.
In his career as a country singer, Newton-John sold millions of records around the world. However, the role of high school student Sandy in the film “Grease” brought him international fame. The musical film genre was a box office success in 1978, and the film featured three hits for Newton-John, including “You’re the One That I Want” and “Summer Nights” with John Travolta. Rod Stewart, popular American talk show host Oprah Winfrey, “Grease” director Randal Kleizer, artist Kylie Minogue, and Dionne Warwick, among others, lamented her passing.
Newton-John was diagnosed with cancer for the first time in 1992; she became one of the most prominent advocates for cancer research. Her Olivia Newton-John Foundation has also raised millions of dollars for cancer research.
After her death, the hospital that operates the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Center in Melbourne said, “She inspired, encouraged, and supported staff and patients daily.”
Newton-John was included on Queen Elizabeth’s New Year’s Honors List in 2020.
Newton-John was born on September 26, 1948, in Cambridge, England.
His father served as a British spy during the Second World War. His mother was the daughter of German Nobel laureate Max Born, who fled Nazi Germany with his family in 1933.
His family relocated to Australia in 1954, where he grew up.
Before the release of “Grease,” Newton-John had won four Grammys.
After performing Bob Dylan’s “If Not for You” in 1971, she achieved widespread recognition. The song reached number seven on the UK charts and was later included on the self-titled album.