John Travolta Pays Tribute To Late Son Jett On What Would Have Been 30th Birthday

Actor John Travolta made a moving tribute to his son Jett, who died 13 years ago on what would have been his 30th birthday, in a touching post on Instagram accompanied by an old photo of the two of them.

“My dearest Jetty,” Travolta wrote. “I miss you more than words can say. I think about you every day. Happy birthday. Love, your dad.”

Jett was chronically ill. According to later statements made by Travolta, he suffered from epilepsy, was on the autism spectrum, and had a blood disorder called Kawasaki disease. Jett died in 2009 at the age of 16 when he had a seizure while the family was on vacation in the Bahamas.

Travolta’s family was unfortunately struck by tragedy again over a decade later, when his wife, Kelly Preston, died from cancer in 2020. They were married from 1991 until her death, and also had children Ella Bleu Travolta, 22, and Benjamin Travolta, 11, together.

Travolta had to give Benjamin an emotional talk after the death of Preston, and he told Kevin Hart that Benjamin admitted to him, “Because Mom passed away, I’m afraid you’re going to.” Travolta then went on to tell him, “Nobody knows when they’re going to go or when they’re going to stay… Your brother left at 16. Too young. Your mother left at 57 and that was too young. But who’s to say? … You just do your best at trying to live the longest you can!”