Olivia Newton-John, who skyrocketed to international fame thanks to her role as Sandy in the 1978 movie Grease, passed away on Monday morning at her home in Southern California after a long battle with breast cancer. She was surrounded by her family.
Instead of receiving flowers, John Easterling, her husband, disclosed that the actress’ last wish was for contributions to be made to the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund.
The organization finances studies on botanical medicine and comprehensive therapies for cancer.
Meanwhile, most of the posts on Instagram Newton-John’s were made up of rare candid photos of the star herself, but it was believed to be her last on the 18th of April.
It depicts the 73-year-old woman standing in her backyard, beaming with joy.
‘Sending everyone my best wishes for a joyful Easter on this stunning Spring day,’ she wrote alongside the picture.
In a final video posted just prior to the holiday season, Newton-John conveyed her appreciation to her followers for their unwavering support over the years.
‘I simply wanted to seize this chance to wish everyone a mainly healthy, joyful, tranquil Christmas,’ Newton-John expressed.
I know that it has been a very, very, very difficult time for everybody on this planet – a time in which we can express our faith and celebrate together with our families and believe in whatever it is that is important to each other.
I want to thank you for all the support you have given me over the years, and I wish you all the best and send you light and love.
Newton-John’s struggle with breast cancer initially started in 1992 when she was only 44 years old.
She was extremely transparent about her diagnosis and treatment, which famously involved the utilization of medicinal cannabis.
Her cancer resurfaced in 2013 and once more in 2017.
Newton-John and Easterling crossed paths during an ayahuasca retreat in Peru.
One of the celebrity’s initial prominent acquaintances to honor her was her Grease co-star John Travolta.
He captioned an Instagram post alongside a photo of Newton-John, saying that we will be together again and you will see us down the road. I love you so much. Your impact was incredible. Olivia, you have made all of our lives so much better, my dearest.
‘Yours from the initial moment I laid eyes on you and eternally! Your Danny, your John!’.
Meanwhile, Richard Wilkins teared up on the Today show as he talked about the passing of his longtime companion.
Wilkins, 68, started to cry as his final interview with Olivia was broadcasted.
Today, Karl Stefanovic, the host, vacated his position on the panel to console his coworker, gently wiping away their tears.
‘I didn’t wish to do this,’ Wilkins sobbed.
“It’s fine,” Stefanovic said while embracing the presenter. “This woman was remarkable.”
Among other acknowledgements, Australian vocalist Delta Goodrem paid tribute to her cherished ‘mentor and friend’.
Delta, 37, posted images of herself embracing Olivia and mentioned that she was ‘like kin’ to her.
Powerful and compassionate. An unstoppable phenomenon. A catalyst for positivity. The global community experienced Olivia’s unparalleled radiance as everyone will experience this profound sadness today, as expressed by Delta in her heartfelt message. I will love you eternally.
My mentor, my comrade, my wellspring of inspiration, someone who unfailingly guided me… She was always there for me. Like kin to me.
She added: “I hope everyone will join in celebrating our beloved Olivia. I would like to say today, I forever love you with grace, courage, talent, soul, and heart, but I don’t have all the words.”
The ‘Lost Without You’ vocalist famously portrayed the Australian symbol in the 2018 television miniseries, Olivia Newton-John: Hopelessly Devoted to You.
Olivia’s 36-year-old daughter Chloe Lattanzi is the one who remains after Olivia shared a heartfelt homage to her mother on Instagram three days ago, expressing: ‘I adore this lady. My mother. My closest companion.’
The actor gained fame for successfully overcoming breast cancer on two occasions but unfortunately received a diagnosis again in 2017.
She spent the past few years at her residence, advocating for animal welfare and collecting funds for her charitable organization.
She expressed that the disease had been a significant aspect of her life for a considerable amount of time during a chilling interview with The Guardian in 2020.
‘I sensed that something was amiss. It’s disconcerting when it resurfaces, but I reassured myself that I would overcome it once more.’
“I truly do not. I possess no grievances, hence I am leading an extraordinary existence and I have experienced,” she conveyed when questioned about her brave fight against the illness in previous interviews.
‘Every individual experiences difficulties. We all have obstacles that we must face in life. This has been my personal struggle.’
Born in England to an MI5 agent father, she returned to the UK as a teenager to pursue a singing career and starred in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974. She was six when her family moved to Melbourne, Australia, along with her and Newton-John.
The character was considered too mature for her. Initially, Allan Carr, the producer, faced rejection. She famously declined the role. Her major opportunity in Grease arrived four years later.
He convinced her, and modified the screenplay to portray the character as an Australian expatriate in order to suit her accent.
When the film premiered, it was a worldwide success and she became a global icon of beauty.
Released in 1981, Physical, her most triumphant album and single, she exaggerated her newfound icon of sexuality by capitalizing on the triumph she achieved from starring in Grease.
It was devoted to her ex-husband, Matt Lattanzi, to whom she was united in matrimony from 1984 until 1995.
At the box office, it was not able to make a strong impact, but she starred alongside Lattanzi in the film Xanadu in 1980. Newton-John’s performance career struggled following her involvement in Grease.
In 1992, at the age of 44, she received her initial cancer diagnosis after taking a three-year break from work following the arrival of her daughter in 1986.
Following her initial diagnosis, she dedicated much of her professional life to philanthropy and humanitarian endeavors.
In 2008, they came back to the nation to tie the knot. She encountered her second spouse on an ayahuasca getaway in Peru and was famously transparent about consuming substances, especially for curative intentions.
On Monday, as word of her death circulated, praise poured in from notable figures in Australia, as well as celebrities in the movie business.
‘Furthermore, I always will. Additionally, expressing: ‘Ever since I was ten years old, I have adored and admired Olivia Newton John. Kylie Minogue posted a nostalgic picture featuring herself and Olivia.’
She will always be an inspiration to me in so many ways, as she was loved by her family and loved ones. My deepest condolences to ONJ4EVER.
Bindi Irwin, the iconic actress, shared a photo of herself holding hands with one of the world’s most wonderful and kindest souls during a charity event.
‘Love and Light ONJ. You were a genuine symbol and I completely admired you,’ Rebel Wilson also expressed.
Barbra Streisand posted on Instagram: ‘Too young to depart from this world. May she rest in peace.’
Antonio Banderas expressed his condolences to the family and loved ones of Olivia Newton-John, wishing her to rest in peace.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which presents the Oscars, shared a photo from 1978 featuring Newton-John and Travolta.
‘Grease’ is the term (and will always be), demonstrating that ‘Grease’ is the most financially successful movie of 1978, which subsequently transformed Sandy and Danny into ‘Grease’ – they captivated the globe as Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta at the 50th Academy Awards (April 3, 1978) a few months afterward.
The Australian Embassy in the UK shared a picture of Newton-John near the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
‘We are profoundly saddened by the demise of Dame Olivia Newton-John AC DBE,’ they tweeted.
Olivia Dame, an Australian by birth and raised in Britain, brought us together and inspired us with her song. We send our deepest condolences to her loved ones and remember her with our British friends.
