What happened to the original cast of Grease?
Can it really be almost forty whole years since the release of iconic musical sensation Grease? Yes it can - the box office smash was released in 1978 - doesn't time fly?! And while countless film classics have come into existence since, we remain 'hopelessly devoted' to the John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John hit!
After Louisa Lytton dropped into the studio earlier this week and chatted to us about her role as the feisty no-nonsense Rizzo in the upcoming Grease UK tour, it got us thinking about the original cast and what they're up to now... So we did a little research and here's what we found out...
Olivia Newton John
After her role of Sandy in Grease, Olivia Newton-John's musical career blossomed. She went on to have chart hits including Physical, which was at the top of the Billboard charts for 10 whopping weeks. The actress and singer was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 44, but made a full recovery. The long-time activist for environmental and animal rights issues was a guest judge on an episode of RuPaul's Drag Race in 2015, and in the same year she hit the top spot on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart with YouHave To Believe with daughter Chloe!
John Travolta
After his role of Danny in Grease, John Travolta went on to enjoy an incredible Hollywood movie career. He is an award-winning actor who played iconic roles in blockbusters such as Look Who's Talking, Pulp Fiction and Face/Off, most recently garnering accolades for his role of Robert Shapiro in the Golden Globe-winning People v OJ Simpson: American Crime Story.
Jeff Conaway
Jeff Conaway, who played Kenickie, was nominated for two Golden Globes for his role in movie Taxi. After a well-documented battle with substance abuse, Jeff died in 2011 from pneumonia.
Barry Pearl
Originally Doody, one of the three supporting T-Birds, Pearl appeared as Mr Weaver in the Grease: Livetelevision special, which aired in 2016. The actor has had various cameo roles in shows such as Murder, She Wrote, Beverly Hills, 90210, ER and Even Stevens.
Stockhard Channing
Stockard Channing, who played Betty Rizzo, has enjoyed a fantastic Broadway and TV career, with her most notable role as the First Lady Abbey Bartlet on The West Wing for seven years, which earned her an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in 2002. She was also nominated for an Academy Award forSix Degrees of Separation in 1993 but lost out to Holly Hunter for her role in The Piano.
Didi Conn
Didi Conn, who played Frenchie, has had multiple television roles since Grease, including The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang, Benson and Shining Time Station. She also appeared alongside Carly Rae Jepson in 2016's TV special Grease: Live. And fans will also remember that she revived her original role as Frenchie in Grease 2 in 1982.
Dinah Manoff
The multi-talented Dinah, who played Marty, went on the direct shows as well as a win a Tony Award for her role in stage adaptation, Ought to Be in Pictures. On screen, though, she appeared in two series of US show State of Grace, as well as films The Amati Girls and A Carol Christmas. According to online sources, she now teaches acting and is writing a novel.
Jamie Donnelly
After Grease, Jamie Donnelly, who played Jan, took a 20-year hiatus from acting. However, in 1998 she returned to the showbiz world and has since appeared in Cyrus, the TV series Monk and most recently Johnny Depp's film Black Mass. She has also worked as an acting coach away from the camera.