Actor Kelly Preston, wife of John Travolta, dies aged 57 after cancer battle

Film And TV
13 Jul 20

"Kelly’s love and life will always be remembered," Travolta wrote in an emotional Instagram post.

Actress Kelly Preston, star of film such as Mischief, Twins and Jerry Maguire, has died at the age of 57 after a two-year battle with breast cancer.

Her husband, John Travolta, confirmed the tragic news in an Instagram post.

“It is with a very heavy heart that I inform you that my beautiful wife Kelly has lost her two-year battle with breast cancer. She fought a courageous fight with the love and support of so many.

“My family and I will forever be grateful to her doctors and nurses at MD Anderson Cancer Centre, all the medical centres that have helped, as well as her many friends and loved ones who have been by her side," he continued.

“Kelly’s love and life will always be remembered. I will be taking some time to be there for my children who have lost their mother, so forgive me in advance if you don’t hear from us for a while. But please know that I will feel your outpouring of love in the weeks and months ahead as we heal. All my love, JT.”

Preston changed her name from Kelly Kamalelehua Smith after landing her first film role in the 1985 romcom Mischief.

Grease star Travolta met Preston in 1988 when they appeared together in The Experts, marrying on September 5, 1991, in Paris.

The couple had been together for almost 30 years, and have a daughter and son - Ella and Benjamin.

Their son, Jett, died at the age of just 16 after suffering a seizure during a family holiday in the Bahamas in 2009.

Ben was born two years later, with the couple saying that the birth of their second son as "giving the house a renewed spirit and purpose."

Travolta told Good Morning America in 2011 that the birth of "little Ben has been a beautiful kind of glue" for the family to help them re-bond after their "tremendous loss".

Ella wrote on social media that she has never “met anyone as courageous, strong, beautiful and loving as you”, speaking about her late mother.

“Anyone who is lucky enough to have known you or to have ever been in your presence will agree that you have a glow and a light that never ceases to shine and that makes anyone around you feel instantly happy. Thank you for being there for me no matter what.

“Thank you for your love. Thank you for your help and thank you for making this world a better place. You have made life so beautiful and I know you will continue to do so always. I love you so much mama.”

Last year, Preston described her husband, John Travolta, as “the most wonderful man I know”

"You have given me hope when I have felt lost, loved me patiently and unconditionally... made me laugh harder than any other human being possible... shared the most beautiful highs and at times lows.

"I trust my love with you implicitly... with you I know I will always be okay no matter what happens... I love you forever and completely.”