Cast & creator
John Travolta
Best known for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
John Joseph Travolta (born February 18, 1954) is an American actor. He began acting on television before transitioning into a leading man in film. His accolades include a Primetime Emmy Award, three Golden Globe Awards, and nominations for two Academy Awards, a British Academy Film Award, and three Screen Actors Guild Awards. Travolta came to prominence starring in the sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter (1975–1979), followed by leading roles in Carrie (1976), Grease (1978), Urban Cowboy (1980), and Blow Out (1981). He earned nominations for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his roles in Saturday Night Fever (1977) and Pulp Fiction (1994). His other notable films include Get Shorty (1995), Broken Arrow (1996), Michael (1996), Face/Off (1997), A Civil Action (1998), Primary Colors (1998), The General's Daughter (1999), The Punisher (2004), Wild Hogs (2007), Hairspray (2007), Bolt (2008), and Savages (2012). Travolta returned to television, portraying lawyer Robert Shapiro in the series The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story. He received an Emmy Award as a producer and nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie. He was also Emmy-nominated for his role in the action-comedy web series Die Hart (2021). Travolta has released nine albums outside of acting, including four singles that charted on the Billboard Hot 100's Top 40. His albums typically accompanied films he starred in, such as Grease: The Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture (1978), which topped the Billboard 200. Travolta is also a private pilot.
Also known as: John Joseph Travolta
152
film credits
65
television credits
203
1944–2026 · acting roles
6.3
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (217)
Showing 217 of 217 credits
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self - Guest
2014
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self - Guest
2015
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962
The Kelly Clarkson Show
Self
2019
The Mike Douglas Show
Self - Guest
1961
Saturday Night Live
Self - Host
1975
The View
Self
1997
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self - Guest
2003
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
1988LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Self - Guest
1988
Top of the Pops
1964
El hormiguero
Self - Guest
2006
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1992
Great Performances
Self
1971
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Self
2003
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Presenter
1944Golden Globe Awards
Self - Nominee / Presenter
1944Golden Globe Awards
Self - Nominee
1944Golden Globe Awards
Self - Presenter / Nominee
1944
Sacrée soirée
Self
1987
Tony Awards
Self - Performer
1956
Champs-Elysées
Self
1982
Good Day Live
Self
2001
Panorama
Himself (archive footage)
1953
Variety Studio: Actors on Actors
Self
2014
Emergency!
Chuck Benson
1972
MTV Video Music Awards
Self
1984
Wetten, dass..?
Self
1981
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
Self
1975
Pulp Fiction
Vincent Vega
1994
American Crime Story
Robert Shapiro
2016American Crime Story
Producer
2016The Reichen Show
Self
2005
Sanremo Music Festival
Self - Special Guest
1951Film '72
Self
1971
Medical Center
Danny
1969
The Rookies
1972
The Oscars
Self
1953
The Jay Leno Show
Self - Guest
2009
Parkinson
Self - Guest (archive footage)
2004Parkinson
Self - Guest
2004Goldene Kamera
Self
1984
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
1971
Face/Off
Sean Archer
1997Where Are They Now?
Self
1999
Entertainment Tonight
Self
1981
Fifth Gear
Self
2002
Grease
Danny
1978
Bolt
Bolt (voice)
2008
Jay Leno's Garage
Self
2015
Carrie
Billy Nolan
1976
Fear Factor
2001
From Paris with Love
Charlie Wax
2010
Rove
Self
1999
The Thin Red Line
Brig. Gen. David Quintard
1998
The Punisher
Howard Saint
2004
The Early Show
Self
1999
Swordfish
Gabriel
2001
Broken Arrow
Vic Deakins
1996
The True Story of...
Self (archive footage)
2017
Die Hart
Ron Wilcox
2020
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
Ryder
2009
Austin Powers in Goldmember
John Travolta / Famous Goldmember ('Austinpussy')
2002
Look Who's Talking
James
1989
High Rollers
Mason Goddard
2025
The Captain and Tennille
Self - Guest
1976
Hart to Heart
Self - Interviewee
2021
The Gentleman Thief
Mason Goddard
2026
Blow Out
Jack Terry
1981
Hairspray
Edna Turnblad
2007
Saturday Night Fever
Tony Manero
1977
Wild Hogs
Woody Stevens
2007
Il était une fois Champs-Élysées
Self (archive footage)
2022
Primary Colors
Jack Stanton
1998
Fat Actress
John Travolta
2005
Welcome Back, Kotter
Vinnie Barbarino
1975
Phenomenon
George Malley
1996
Look Who's Talking Now!
James Ubriacco
1993
The Poison Rose
Carson Philips
2019The Poison Rose
Executive Producer
2019
Propeller One-Way Night Coach
Retiring Captain / Narrator (voice)
2026Propeller One-Way Night Coach
Director
2026Propeller One-Way Night Coach
Producer
2026Propeller One-Way Night Coach
Book
2026Propeller One-Way Night Coach
Screenplay
2026
Die Hart
Ron Wilcox
2023
The General's Daughter
Warrant Officer Paul Brenner
1999
I Am Wrath
Stanley Hill
2016
The Playboy Murders
Self (archive footage)
2023Harty
Self
1983
Domestic Disturbance
Frank Morrison
2001
Be Cool
Chili Palmer
2005
Old Dogs
Charlie
2009
Get Shorty
Chili Palmer
1995
Kirstie
Mickey Russo
2013
Killing Season
Emil Kovac
2013
Paradise City
Buck
2022
Ladder 49
Captain Mike Kennedy
2004
Savages
Dennis
2012
Battlefield Earth
Terl
2000
Behind Closed Doors with Natalie Morales
Danny Zuko (archive footage)
2015Battlefield Earth
Producer
2000
Lonely Hearts
Elmer Robinson
2006
Life on the Line
Beau Ginner
2016
Cash Out
Mason Goddard
2024
Staying Alive
Tony Manero
1983
I'm Still Here
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2010
Look Who's Talking Too
James
1990
Speed Kills
Ben Aronoff (Don Aronow)
2018
A Civil Action
Jan Schlichtmann
1998
The Shepherd
Johnny Kavanagh
2023The Shepherd
Executive Producer
2023
The Forger
Raymond Cutter
2014
Mob Land
Bodie Davis
2023
Basic
DEA Agent Tom Hardy
2003
The Boy in the Plastic Bubble
Tod Lubitch
1976
In a Valley of Violence
The Marshal
2016
A Love Song for Bobby Long
Bobby Long
2004
She's So Lovely
Joey Germoni
1997She's So Lovely
Executive Producer
1997
Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen
(archive footage)
2012
Criminal Activities
Eddie
2015Criminal Activities
Executive Producer
2015
Michael
Michael
1996
White Man's Burden
Louis Pinnock
1995
Gotti
John Gotti
2018
The Fanatic
Moose
2019The Fanatic
Producer
2019
Trading Paint
Sam
2019Trading Paint
Producer
2019
Urban Cowboy
Bud Davis
1980
The Devil’s Rain
Danny
1975
Lucky Numbers
Russ Richards
2000Oprah's Big Give
2008Mr. T and Tina
Vinnie Barbarino
1976
Mad City
Sam Baily
1997
Two of a Kind
Zack
1983
Welcome to Hollywood
John Travolta
2000
Trailer Camp
(Archival)
1995
Junket Whore
Self
1998
Forever Hollywood
Self
1999
November 1963
Johnny Roselli
2026
Our Friend, Martin
Kyle's Dad (voice)
1999
Inside the Actors Studio
Self
1994
Studio 54
Self (archive footage)
2018
Eyes of an Angel
Bobby
1991
ABC's 50th Anniversary Celebration
Self
2003
Shout
Jack Cabe
1991
Hot Potato: The Story of The Wiggles
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2023
The Fabulous Allan Carr
Self (archive footage)
2017
Perfect
Adam Lawrence
1985
Nos Bastidores de Hollywood
Self (archive footage)
2005
You Can’t Stop the Beat: The Long Journey of "Hairspray"
Self
2007
Casting By
Self
2012
2Everything2Terrible2: Tokyo Drift
(archive footage)
2010
David Blaine: Beyond Magic
Self
2016Quentin Tarantino: From a Movie Buff to a Hollywood Legend
Self (archive footage)
2021
AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs: America's Greatest Music in the Movies
Host
2004
Orientation: A Scientology Information Film
Self
1996
The Experts
Travis
1989
James Bond: The First 21 Years
Self
1983
That's Dancing!
Self (archive footage)
1985
The Grand Knockout Tournament
Self
1987
Brando
Self
2007
Boris and Natasha
Self
1992
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History
Self
2008
Stayin' Alive: A Grammy Salute to the Music of the Bee Gees
Self - Host
2017
Bee Gees: One Night Only
Self - Tony Manero/Self - Danny Zuko (archive footage)
1998
The Time, the Place, the Motion: Remembering Grease
Self – Danny Zuko (archive footage)
2006
Tony Bennett: An American Classic
Self
2006
Pulp Fiction: The Facts
Self (archive footage)
2002
Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon
Jim Irwin
2005
Saturday Night Fever: The Ultimate Disco Movie
Self
2017
John Travolta, le miraculé d'Hollywood
Self - Actor (archive footage)
2017John Travolta, le miraculé d'Hollywood
Thanks
2017
Quentin Tarantino: 20 Years of Filmmaking
Self
2013Pulp Fiction: Behind The Scenes Montages
2002
The Tenth Level
Lab Technician (uncredited)
1976
Heart of the Festival
Self (archive footage)
2002The Scrat Show
2012
War Journal: On the Set of The Punisher
Self
2004
Basements
Ben (segment "The Dumb Waiter")
1987
Bio.
Self
2005
Chains of Gold
Scott Barnes
1991Chains of Gold
Writer
1991
The Kick That United A Nation
Self
2025
Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The 1970s
Self - Interviewee (archive footage)
2002
Close Up
Self (archive footage)
2012That's Amore!
Nick Venere
Off the Menu: The Last Days of Chasen's
Self
1998
American Badass: A Michael Madsen Retrospective
Self
2022
Seriously... Phil Collins
Self
1990
Grease Day USA
Self
1978Happy Birthday Elizabeth: A Celebration of Life
Self
1997
Close Encounters with Vilmos Zsigmond
Self
2016
Rona Barrett Looks at 1978
Self
1979
Urban Cowboy: The Rise and Fall of Gilley's
Self
2015
Moment by Moment
Strip
1978ED
The Light and The Dark: The Making of Face/Off
Self
2007
John Travolta: The Inside Story
Self
2004
Be Cool, Very Cool
Self
2005
Hairspray: Transforming Travolta to Turnblad
Self
2007
Pattern Recognition
Self (archive footage)
2017
Scientology: The Road to Total Freedom?
Self
1987Syndicate
Special Agent Felix Miller
TRAVOLTAHON
Nightmare
Man Outside Store (uncredited)
1974
Black Tides
Bill Pierce
HBO First Look: Swordfish
2001
America's Flying Aces: The Blue Angels 50th Anniversary
Hosted by
1996
The Grease Story
Danny Zuko
2017John Travolta Remembers James Cagney
Self
2003
Hairspray: The Search for Tracy Turnblad
Self
2007Everyday Heroes: Real Stories from Real Firefighters
2005
Celebrities Uncensored
Self
2003
Buscando a Travolta
Self
2026