He made some bad judgment calls by turning down the major roles of Officer and a Gentleman, Days of Heaven, American Gigolo, which became a major boost in Richard Gere's career. During this time period he had faced a lot of tabloid rumors that he was gay, bisexual, fat and under the influence of a mind-controlling cult (Church of Scientology).
He was even involved in a gay lawsuit by Michael Pattison (age 44) and later Paul Barresi (who appeared in the movie Perfect) claimed to be his male lover, which John supposedly ended in 1990. In The Guide an article by Jim D'Entremont eludes that the Church of Scientology was forcing John to promote the "church" under threat of his sexual history. Rumors are rumors, but it did get Paul Barresi $100,000 from the National Enquire.
Although one must wonder about a church whose founder, L. Ron Hubbard, author of Dianetics, is quoted in Reader's Digest reprint, May 1980, p.1: "Writing for a penny a word is ridiculous. If a man really wants to make a million dollars, the best way would be to start his own religion"
John has maintained a lavish lifestyle with a 20-bedroom waterfront home in Maine, a home in Florida, and apartments in Carmel, Santa Barbara, and Hollywood. He owns several luxury automobiles and he is the pilot of three personal jets. His wealth has been stable from the percentages of profits from the blockbusters of Saturday Night Fever and Grease. Then the talking baby movies: Look who's Talking (1989), Look Who's Talking Too (1990), and Look Who's Talking Now (1993).
In 1991 he married Kelly Preston (actress) and now has a son, Jet (1992), and a daughter Ella Blue (2000). Travolta's movies have become high impact and intense characters: the heroin-addicted hit man Vincent Vega in Pulp Fiction (1994), Get Shorty (1995), Broken Arrow (1996), Phenomenon (1996), Michael (archangel - 1996), Face/Off (1997) and Mad City (1997).
He spoofs President Clinton in Primary Colors (1998), and then The Thin Red Line (1998), A Civil Action (1998) and a military murder mystery The General's Daughter (1999). All in all, he is a tremendous actor who deserves due credit and is staying alive at the box office.
Thanks to Angela's John Travolta Website for the use of photos to illustrate this article.
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