Born in Englewood, NJ, of Italian-Irish descent. Highly popular young star of American TV and movies of the late 70s, and later a likeable lead of the 90s. A high school dropout at 16. he began his acting career in summer stock in New Jersey. After a period of training in acting and dancing he began doing commercials and off-Broadway. He moved to Hollywood, where he got occasional small roles on TV, then joined the national touring company of Grease, eventually making the Broadway casts of Grease and the Andrews Sisters' musical Over Here! He got his big break in 1975 when he joined the cast of the TV series 'Welcome Back, Kotter,' in the role of the dimwitted but lovable Vinnie Barbarino. Although his role in the series was secondary, he immediately attracted an enthusiastic following and soon became one of television's top stars. Film assignments quickly followed. An appealing young man with a dazzling grin, luminous blue eyes, and a characteristic cleft chin, he extended his popularity to the big screen with a convincing performance in the role of Tony Manera, king of the Brooklyn disco scene, in the film SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER (1977) and enjoyed another success with the screen version of GREASE (1978), and with URBAN COWBOY (1980), which helped popularize Western wear in the early 80s. During this period, he also released a few hit records, having done all his own singing in GREASE. Travolta's film career sagged in the 80s and he never regained the critical buzz from his first few films, but by the early 90s his popularity was rebounding thanks to the successful LOOK WHO'S TALKING series (from 1989). Other recent credits include GET SHORTY (1995), BROKEN ARROW, PHENOMENON and MICHAEL (all 1996), SHE'S SO LOVELY, FACE/OFF and MAD CITY (all 1997), PRIMARY COLORS, THE THIN RED LINE and A CIVIL ACTION (all 1998), THE GENERAL'S DAUGHTER (1999), BATTLEFIELD EARTH (2000), SWORDFISH and DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE (both 2001), AUSTIN POWERS IN GOLDMEMBER (2002), BASIC (2003), THE PUNISHER, A LOVE SONG FOR BOBBY LONG and LADDER 49 (all 2004), BE COOL (2005), LONELY HEARTS (2006), WILD HOGS and HAIRSPRAY (both 2007), and OLD DOGS, BOLT (voice), QUANTUM QUEST: A CASSINI SPACE ODYSSEY (voice) (all scheduled for 2008), and DALLAS (as J.R. Ewing, announced for 2009). He credits Scientology with his comeback and his self-actualization. Sister Ellen and brother Joey are also actors.  Nominated for Actor 1977: SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER  Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role 1994: PULP FICTION 2 nominations