It is with great sadness that ComingSoon.net (via CNN) must report that actress Kelly Preston has passed away at age 57 after a two-year battle with breast cancer. Her husband, actor John Travolta, released the following statement on Instagram…
Preston began her career studying drama and theater at the University of Southern California. She became a model at age 16, and auditioned for the lead role in The Blue Lagoon eventually won by Brooke Shields. She made her big screen debut in three 1983 cult movies: The Charles Bronson crime flick 10 to Midnight, the 3D Mad Max ripoff Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn, and the John Carpenter killer car horror thriller Christine. Her first major film roles came in the teen sex comedies Mischief and Secret Admirer, both in 1985.
In 1986 she appeared in the box office dud Space Camp alongside future star Joaquin Phoenix, but finally had her first blockbuster success as Arnold Schwarzenegger’s love interest in Ivan Reitman’s 1988 smash Twins. She would work with Schwarzenegger again in 1992 in the Tales From the Crypt episode “The Switch,” one of The Governator’s only two directorial credits. She appeared in the 1989 box office bomb The Experts, but the film proved fortuitous for Preston because it was on this project that she met her future husband John Travolta, whom she married in 1991 and would remained married to for three decades. The pair went on to appear together in the comedy hit Old Dogs (2009) and the much maligned bombs Battlefield Earth (2000) and Gotti (2018).
Arguably Preston’s most well-known role was as Tom Cruise’s fiance in the romantic comedy classic Jerry Maguire (1996). Other notable roles include Alexander Payne’s debut film Citizen Ruth (1996), Robert Rodriguez’s From Dusk Till Dawn (1996), Griffin Dunne’s Addicted to Love (1997), Sam Raimi’s For Love of the Game (1999) opposite Kevin Costner, The Cat in the Hat (2003) opposite Mike Meyers, superhero comedy Sky High (2005) opposite Kurt Russell, and James Wan’s Death Sentence (2007) opposite Kevin Bacon.
(Photo Credit: Getty Images)
Here are some reactions to the death of Kelly Preston on social media…
Kelly Preston was extraordinary. I was lucky enough to star with her and direct her, and her talent was off the charts. She had such a big heart, she was a wonderful wife and mother, and my thoughts are with John and the whole family.
— Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) July 13, 2020
I’m unbelievably saddened by the news that Kelly Preston has passed and at such a young age. A beautiful and kind person I was fortunate enough to have known. My heart breaks for John and the kids pic.twitter.com/kDophIwa6y
— Shania Twain (@ShaniaTwain) July 13, 2020
Heard about Kelly Preston. Condolences to John and family.
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) July 13, 2020
IN LOVE with Kelly Preston when first saw her in Twins. Starstruck upon meeting her at first Jerry Maguire rehearsal. BLOWN AWAY by her kindness… To all of us. Rest In Peace. pic.twitter.com/VEpvjgVSf9
— Jerry O’Connell (@MrJerryOC) July 13, 2020
How tragic and sad about Kelly Preston. I shot CAT IN THE HAT with Kelly many years ago .
She remains one of the loveliest people I’ve ever worked with. Funny. Kind.
My heart goes out to John and their family.— HABFoundation (@ABFalecbaldwin) July 13, 2020