Kelly Preston

Kelly Kamalelehua Smith, known professionally as Kelly Preston, was a talented American actress born in Honolulu, Hawaii. Her professional journey started with small roles in commercials and her first film audition for the role of Emmeline in The Blue Lagoon in 1980. Despite losing the part to Brooke Shields, Kelly didn't lose heart and eventually stole the limelight with prominent film roles. In 1985, she starred as Marilyn McCauley in a romantic teen flick comedy 'Mischief'. This was followed by equally memorable roles in 'Twins (1988)', 'Jerry Maguire (1996)', 'Sky High (2005)', and 'Old Dogs (2009)'. She also collaborated with her spouse, John Travolta, on the comedy film 'The Experts (1989)' and biographical film 'Gotti (2018)'. The multi-faceted actress was also a spokesperson for Neutrogena, appearing in both print and television ads conferring her versatility. However, behind the gleaming curtain of fame, she had her share of struggles. She had a tumultuous personal life which included a brief engagement with Charlie Sheen, ending on a bitter note with an accidental gun discharge incident.

The second chapter of Kelly's life started after her marriage with John Travolta in 1991. She became a mother of three after marrying John, including son Jett who had a history of seizures and suffered from Kawasaki disease. Tragically, Jett passed away in 2009 during a family vacation. Kelly's own health deteriorated after she was diagnosed with breast cancer which remained largely away from public knowledge for two years. She breathed her last on July 12, 2020, at her home in Clearwater, Florida. Her final film role was in the comedy-drama 'Off the Rails', which was released posthumously in late July 2021 in the UK. Despite her passing, Kelly Preston's remarkable career, resilience, and contributions to the film industry continue to inspire many.