Grease Cast Curse: 10 Stars’ Shocking Real-Life Tragedies

When Grease hit theaters in 1978, it wasn’t just a movie; it was a phenomenon. This adaptation of a 1971 musical unexpectedly soared, with John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John charming audiences as Danny and Sandy. The vibrant supporting cast at Rydell High, catchy tunes, and iconic costumes made it an instant classic. Critics and fans adored it.

Shortly after its release, Grease became the highest-grossing musical film of its time. Its soundtrack was the second-best-selling album of 1978. Despite its massive success, it received only one Oscar nomination for “Hopelessly Devoted to You.”

Years later, the film’s magic endures. The American Film Institute named Grease one of the 100 best love stories in 2002, and in 2020, the National Film Registry selected it for preservation. However, a shadow seems to hang over its beloved cast. So many misfortunes have struck those who starred in this iconic film, it’s as if a curse followed them. Here are ten tragic tales that unfolded for the stars of Grease after its success forever changed their lives.

10. John Travolta’s Terrible Losses

John Travolta rocketed to stardom in the 1970s with hits like Saturday Night Fever and Grease. Films like Pulp Fiction later cemented his A-list status. Off-screen, however, Travolta faced unimaginable family tragedies. In 1993, John and his wife, actress Kelly Preston, welcomed their first child, Jett. Jett battled Kawasaki disease, which inflames arteries and can lead to asthma and seizures. Tragically, in 2009, while vacationing in the Bahamas, 16-year-old Jett had a seizure, hit his head, and passed away.

A decade later, another devastating blow struck Travolta. In 2018, Kelly Preston was diagnosed with breast cancer. The couple kept her illness private as she fought the disease. Sadly, she succumbed in the summer of 2020. Travolta shared the heartbreaking news on social media. It’s a cruel irony that Preston reportedly told a friend she knew she’d marry Travolta after seeing him on a Grease poster years before her death. ^[1]

9. Olivia Newton-John’s Valiant Fight

Olivia Newton-John became Hollywood’s darling after her role in Grease. But life dealt her some tough hands. Her father, Brinley, died of cancer in 1992. Just weeks later, Olivia herself received a breast cancer diagnosis. Fortunately, early screenings caught it. After surgery, it seemed she had beaten the disease.

However, in 2013, the cancer returned, and by 2017, it had spread. Olivia chose to keep her health struggles private, undergoing conventional treatments and using cannabis oil for pain relief. She fought courageously for five long years. In August 2022, she lost her battle. Fans remembered her vibrant portrayal of Sandy, making her long, hard fight even more poignant. ^[2]

8. Dinah Manoff’s Family Tragedy

Dinah Manoff, who played the memorable Marty Maraschino in Grease, enjoyed a long career in television, film, and theater, even winning a Tony Award. Her life took a tragic turn in 2017 when her son, Dashiell Mortell, died in a car accident. Dashiell was an aspiring actor, starring in high school productions, sometimes directed by his mother.

After high school, Dashiell attended Washington State University and joined its theater productions. In 2017, while returning to campus after a holiday break, the car he was in collided with another vehicle during an icy pile-up, and a truck then struck their car. Dashiell perished in the accident. Heartbroken, Manoff dedicated her time to grieving support and giving back by teaching acting to women in prison. ^[3]

7. Jeff Conaway’s Drug Downfall

Jeff Conaway, famous as Kenickie, also had success in shows like Taxi. However, the fast life took its toll. By the 2000s, he was battling addiction to cocaine, alcohol, and prescription pills. Friends noted a back injury from the Grease set led to his painkiller dependency. His addiction worsened, leading to an appearance on Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, which unfortunately didn’t halt his decline.

Conaway fought his demons for years, with multiple rehab stints and five back surgeries. His manager noted in 2011 that he tried “so hard to get clean and sober.” But severe back pain kept him tethered to opiates. In May 2011, Conaway was placed in a medically-induced coma due to severe pneumonia, complicated by sepsis from long-term opiate use. After 17 days in ICU, his family made the heartbreaking decision to remove life support. ^[4]

6. Didi Conn’s Parenting Challenge

Didi Conn, beloved as Frenchy in Grease, charmed audiences with her bubbly persona. In the 1990s, she adopted a baby boy, Danny. Soon, challenges arose. As a toddler, Danny showed severe sound sensitivity. Pediatricians initially dismissed it, but Conn persisted. Eventually, a specialist diagnosed Danny as being on the autism spectrum.

This 1994 diagnosis came when autism was less understood, making it difficult for Conn to find expert help. Over the years, both Didi and Danny faced adversity dealing with his sensory issues. Thankfully, with time, effective therapies were found. Moved by her experience, Conn filmed a pilot for a television series about a child with autism, later released as a short film. ^[5]

5. Dennis Cleveland Stewart’s Sad Death

Dennis Cleveland Stewart was an openly gay actor in 1970s New York City, a challenging time for the LGBTQ+ community. His distinct pock-marked cheeks earned him the nickname “Crater Face” and brought him character actor fame. He first gained notice as a dancer in Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band in early 1978. Later that year, he shone as Leo Balmudo, leader of the Scorpions, in Grease, a role he reprised in the sequel. However, his star faded, and he mostly played similar characters thereafter.

Privately, Stewart was cautious. He moved to Los Angeles in 1993, but it wasn’t for a career revival. The shy actor was gravely ill with HIV, a fact known to close friends but not widely disclosed. Sadly, in early 1994, he succumbed to AIDS, a few months before his 47th birthday. His ashes were scattered at sea. ^[6]

4. Annette Charles’s Cancer Battle

Annette Charles played the fiery Cha-Cha DiGregorio. While successful in theater, film roles were sporadic after Grease. Charles, also known as Annette Cardona, found her calling as a popular professor at California State University, Northridge, teaching Chicano studies. Many students were unaware of her acting past but admired her passion and dedication. She was so successful she even mentored Ph.D. candidates.

Tragically, this ended abruptly in 2011. What she thought was pneumonia turned out to be lung cancer. The disease progressed rapidly, and she passed away a month after hospitalization at age 63. Colleagues mourned her deeply. “My life is forever changed in knowing her, and the world is a little less without her,” said fellow professor Renee Moreno. ^[7]

3. Sid Caesar’s Long Period of Suffering

If anyone was a star before Grease, it was Sid Caesar, a comic legend known for Your Show Of Shows. By the time Grease (where he played Coach Calhoun) was released, his star was dimming, not due to fewer opportunities but his off-camera lifestyle. In 1980, he described himself as emotionally broken, surrounded by opportunists, depressed, and unhealthy. In the same year Grease came out, he infamously collapsed mid-performance. This period was his lowest point.

This scare motivated Caesar to overcome his addictions to alcohol and pills. He cut out drugs and detrimental associations. By 1982, he was clean and released his autobiography, Where Have I Been. He lived for three more decades, finally healthy and happy. When he died in 2014 after a short illness, he was celebrated as a true comic genius. ^[8]

2. Eddie Deezen’s Disturbing Decline

Eddie Deezen’s role as the nerdy Eugene Felsnic inGrease might have been small, but it was certainly memorable. His quirky attire and persona perfectly captured the high school nerd. Off-camera, Deezen has faced significant mental health struggles and legal issues. In 2021, he was arrested at a Maryland restaurant for causing a disturbance, reportedly throwing plates at officers.

More trouble followed in April 2022. Police in Cumberland, Maryland, alleged he forced his way into a nursing facility, trying to enter a resident’s room. When staffers intervened, he refused to leave. Police recognized him from prior incidents. He was arrested for trespassing and burglary. In August, a judge ruled him mentally incompetent to stand trial on these charges. ^[9]

1. Alice Ghostley’s Lonely Death

Alice Ghostley, who played the auto shop teacher Mrs. Murdock in Grease, never expected stardom. She once remarked on her unconventional looks, saying, “My nose was too long, I had crooked teeth, I wasn’t blond. But I also knew I’d find a way.” And she did, becoming an exceptional character actor. She won a Tony Award and had memorable TV roles on Bewitched and Designing Women.

For 52 years, she was happily married to fellow character actor Felice Orlandi. His death in 2003 left her alone for the first time in five decades. Sadly, she was also battling severe health issues. In her final years, Ghostley suffered multiple strokes and was diagnosed with colon cancer. Alone and ill, she passed away in 2007. ^[10]

The dazzling success of Grease brought joy to millions, but for many of its stars, personal lives were marked by profound sadness and struggle. These stories remind us that behind the bright lights of Hollywood, real people face real-life challenges, often far removed from the characters they portray.