Olivia Newton-John Dead at 73

Olivia Newton-John has died at age 73. The cause of death was breast cancer. The following statement was issued by her husband John Easterling on social media:

Dame Olivia Newton-John (73) passed away peacefully at her Ranch in Southern California this morning, surrounded by family and friends. We ask that everyone please respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time.

Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer. Her healing inspiration and pioneering experience with plant medicine continues with the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, dedicated to researching plant medicine and cancer. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be made in her memory to the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund (ONJFoundationFund.org).

Olivia is survived by her husband John Easterling; daughter Chloe Lattanzi; sister Sarah Newton-John; brother Toby Newton-John; nieces and nephews Tottie, Fiona and Brett Goldsmith; Emerson, Charlie, Zac, Jeremy, Randall, and Pierz Newton-John; Jude Newton-Stock, Layla Lee; Kira and Tasha Edelstein; and Brin and Valerie Hall.

Olivia Newton John was born September 26, 1948, in Cambridge, England, Olivia Newton-John was raised in Melbourne, Australia.  Her career started performing in clubs and television in the 1960s. In the 1970s, she had a string of hits including: I Honestly Love You (1974) , Have You Never Been Mellow (1975), and Please Mr. Please (1975).

Her huge breakthrough came in 1979, when she starred opposite John Travolta in the motion picture adaption of Grease where she played Sandy Olson. She also had a string of this from the soundtrack including Hopelessly Devoted to You, You’re the One That I Want, and Summer Nights.

Another film Xanadu followed in 1980 where she starred opposite Gene Kelly, but was not as successful, but spurned the hit Magic.

In 1981, Newton-John released her most commercially successful album, Physical. Much like the good girl gone edgy transformation she made in Grease, she did the same thing with her musical image. The provocative lyrics of the title track surprised many, but it also went on to become of the 1980s biggest hits of the decade.

Newton-John re-teamed with Travolta in 1983 for the film Two of a Kind. While it featured the hit single Twist of Fate, the film and soundtrack were considered failures critically and commercially.

She was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992 and had become an advocate for fighting the disease and raising awareness. Newton-John actively supported various environmental causes and charities. Several times since then the cancer had re-occurred.

In her personal life, she married Matt Lattanzi (who’s starred in Xanadu) in 1984. They had a daughter Chloe in 1986. The couple split in 1995. In 2008 she married her current husband John Easterling. Perhaps the most bizarre relationship occurred in-between her marriages. In 2005, her boyfriend of nine years, Patrick McDermott vanished on a fishing trip off the California coast. There were much made into this mysterious disappearance with reports he was still alive an living in Mexico.

Photo Credit: Olivia Newton-John Social Media