John Travolta's sister on the moment she knew she would be a star

Ellen Travolta, the comedy star and older sister of John Travolta, always suspected that her brother went to faraway places.

“I think I knew he was a good actor,” the “Happy Days” actress told Fox News Digital. “He was 12… I came home and my mom said, 'Let's go to this little theater.' We went down and I thought, 'Wow, this kid is good.' And then I left. He was on tour. Then I I got married. He was always working. We went back and saw him on Broadway playing Doody in 'Grease'. And then when 'Kotter' came out, he was adorable and funny. But when 'Saturday Night Fever' came out and you saw him on the big screen , I said, 'Oh, when did that happen?' “We never knew it. We never saw it coming. It was a surprise.”

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“There was no [talk of] “John is going to be famous,” he said. “I mean, it's possible his managers said that.… [But] when 'Saturday Night Fever' came along with the Bee Gees songs and all that, oh my God. He had been around for a few years, but with 'Saturday Night Fever' was when he was nominated for his first Academy Award. And he was awesome. He was this little brother of mine. And he was a very, very important star.”

John Travolta in “Saturday Night Fever”, circa 1977. (Michael Ochs Archives)

Travolta, one of six siblings, has led a decades-long career in Hollywood.

She recently appeared as a guest on the second season of Pure Flix's “Going Home.” The show chronicles the lives of nurses who help guide patients in palliative care.

“One of the true gifts of a show like 'Going Home' is working with exceptional and experienced guest stars each week,” the show's creator and director Dan Merchant told Fox News Digital in a statement. “Ellen is a great professional and a pleasure to be with. It was wonderful to see her connect and flow with the young co-stars in her scenes, Cozi Zuehlsdorf and Cayden Boyd.”

Ellen Travolta, who has made her mark on beloved comedies over the years, appeared as a guest on Pure Flix's “Going Home.” (Jim Britt/American Broadcasting Companies)

Travolta said offering family programming has been crucial for her as an actress.

“My career was always focused on family shows,” he said. “We always had kids in them, so we were always careful. The scripts, everything I did was appropriate. I love being able to discuss good, healthy, fun, important topics that need to be discussed, issues that need to be handled, anything that has a component familiar with a solution that handles well. I love that.

“My character, Ida [in ‘Going Home’]”He has a sense of humor,” he said. “When people think about palliative care, they think about a terrible death, about unfinished business. Well, Ida has a grandson that she raised…she meets this lovely nurse who takes care of her. And she decides right away that she's going to take care of him. arrange with him [grandson] before she dies, so she will have someone. Here they like each other. And the three of them spent time together. …And then she was ready to go. She goes calmly. Now this isn't true for everyone, but it can be.”

From left to right: Scott Baio, Henry Winkler and Ellen Travolta appear in a scene from the television series “Joanie Loves Chachi.” (American broadcasting companies)

Travolta said the story hit close to home.

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“I remember when my dad was dying, we were all in the room with him, laughing and talking,” she said. “Finally, the nurse said, 'He doesn't want to miss this. You should really keep him quiet for a little while.' I stayed… He left in five minutes. He really wanted to stay. I knew it was time. But we told stories and We laughed. We held it in a little longer than we should have, but death doesn't always “You have to be sad all the time. It can be peaceful and loving.”

Over the years, Travolta has maintained a close bond with his family, including 70-year-old John. She described how it was her “little brother” who helped her land a surprising role in the 1978 film “Grease.”

John Travolta and Ellen Travolta arrive at the 28th Annual Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on May 17, 1976. (International Photos/Getty Images)

“I was on the Paramount lot filming something and I came to say hi to him on set,” he recalled. “He said, 'Hey Ellen, do you want to be in the movie?' He then he turned to [the filmmakers] and said, 'Can my sister be in this?' They said, 'Well, okay.' And I said, 'If I can wear one of those cute waitress outfits, I will.' I think I only worked one day and I had a few lines. But I collected waste for almost 50 years.”

Travolta left with a check and a new friend: his brother's co-star, Olivia Newton-John.

“She was a very dear friend of John's,” Travolta said of the late singer. “She was such a lovely woman. I can't emphasize it enough. She was as lovely as his voice.”

Olivia Newton-John died in 2022 at age 73. (Paramount Pictures/International Photos)

Travolta has made guest appearances on numerous hit television shows, including “One Day at a Time,” “CHiPs,” and “All in the Family,” just to name a few. Travolta noted that he never gave his brother advice on how to become an actor.

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“He said he watched me and learned,” he chuckled. “He said, 'Oh, Ellen, I thought that's how it's done.' I never said anything to him. He was with me on the road. He was my babysitter. He took care of my little boy when he was 11 years old. [and] 14. He traveled with me and came to see all the shows I did. And he stayed with me. We may have been separated for 15 years, but we were always great friends. We talked about that the other day. We were like, 'It's just this bond we have, it's there.' “We appreciate each other and respect each other.”

Travolta said one of his favorite memories was appearing on “Happy Days.” She then left her mark in the spin-off “Joanie Loves Chachi”.

Ellen Travolta said she was easily impressed by her co-star Scott Baio. (ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content)

“I've known Scotty since I was 12,” he said of his co-star Scott Baio. “His mom was one of my best friends. I watched him grow up. But what really impressed me most about Scotty is that he was a great team player, especially at such a young age. That impressed me and surprised me. He was absolutely wonderful. “If you wanted to try something, he was all for it. If it meant he didn't laugh and you laughed, he would always do it. Anything that would make the show even better, he would do it. “I really respected him for that. “.

Travolta said she is grateful to be a part of “Going Home,” which deals with death in “a respectful and loving way.” She's hopeful that more networks and streaming giants will consider offering more family-friendly programming that focuses on heartfelt stories.

From left: John Travolta, Ellen Travolta and Ann Travolta perform during the opening night of the New York play “Bus Stop” at the Westchester Playhouse in Tuckahoe, New York. (Galella Rum/Galella Rum Collection)

“The work being done today on television and on Netflix is ​​quite extraordinary for the production value,” he said. “It's outstanding. However, the subject matter sometimes goes over my head… We could really use more stories that are moving, encouraging and uplifting… They just don't make them anymore, or at least, not as much. There's a certain levity. That's missing in movies these days. All the explosions, it just gets so old. As far as cartoons go, I'm old. I don't care about them. I think we could all use some positive, uplifting entertainment.” .

In 2023, Ellen Travolta returned to “General Hospital” after 27 years. (Christine Bartolucci/Disney)

Today, Travolta has no plans to slow down. And she's always looking for the next great story to tell.

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“I'll be 85 in October,” he said. “I love being included and feeling like 'I can do this.' It's all fun and wonderful. And what a beautiful way to live your life doing something you love and getting paid for it.”