John Travolta's wife Kelly Preston dies of breast cancer aged 57 as he pays tribute to her 'courageous' two-year fight and distraught daughter Ella, 20, says 'I love you so much mama'
- The actor confirmed her death in an Instagram post overnight Sunday
- Actress and model Preston and Travolta, 66, had been married for 29 years
- They have children, Ella, 20 and Benjamin, nine; son, Jett, died in 2009 aged 16
- Paying tribute Ella called her mom 'courageous, strong, beautiful and loving'
- Travolta said: 'It is with a very heavy heart that I inform you that my beautiful wife Kelly has lost her two-year battle with breast cancer'
John Travolta's wife Kelly Preston has died of breast cancer aged 57, the actor announced 'with a very heavy heart' last night.
Preston died on Sunday morning having 'fought a courageous fight with the love and support of so many', Travolta said, while their 20-year-old daughter Ella said she had 'never met anyone as courageous'.
The couple also have a son Benjamin, who is nine years old, and had an older son Jett who died aged 16 after a seizure at a Bahamas holiday home in 2009. The tragedy was followed by a legal row with an ambulance driver accused of trying to extort the couple by threatening to reveal sensitive details about the death. Actress and former model Preston and Travolta had been married for 29 years and were both practicing Scientologists.
The actor confirmed his wife's death in an Instagram post overnight Sunday, writing: 'Kelly's love and life will always be remembered.
'I will be taking some time to be there for my children who have lost their mother, so forgive me in advance if you don't hear from us for a while.
'But please know that I will feel your outpouring of love in the weeks and months ahead as we heal.'
Daughter Ella paid tribute to her mom in a moving post, writing: 'I love you so much mama.'
Kelly Preston has died aged 57. She is pictured with husband John Travolta in 2018
The actor confirmed her death in an Instagram post overnight Sunday
John Travolta and his wife Kelly Preston on February 24 this year in one of the last pictures taken of the couple before her death
Kelly Preston as Avery Bishop in the 1996 movie Jerry Maguire
A spokesman for the family told People: 'On the morning of July 12, 2020, Kelly Preston, adored wife and mother, passed away following a two-year battle with breast cancer.
'Choosing to keep her fight private, she had been undergoing medical treatment for some time, supported by her closest family and friends.
'She was a bright, beautiful and loving soul who cared deeply about others and who brought life to everything she touched. Her family asks for your understanding of their need for privacy at this time.'
Daughter Ella wrote: 'I have never met anyone as courageous, strong, beautiful and loving as you.
'Anyone who is lucky enough to have known you or to have ever been in your presence will agree that you have a glow and a light that never ceases to shine and that makes anyone around you feel instantly happy. Thank you for being there for me no matter what.
'Thank you for your love. Thank you for your help and thank you for making this world a better place. You have made life so beautiful and I know you will continue to do so always. I love you so much mama.'
John Travolta, his wife Kelly Preston and their children Jett and Ella. Jett died at the age of 16 after a seizure at the family's vacation home in the Bahamas in 2009 
Daughter Ella shared this tribute to her mom overnight Sunday
Her final post to Instagram was one to celebrate Father's Day in June. The picture is thought to have been taken the previous year
Actress and former model Preston and Travolta are pictured with their two children Maria Shriver was among those to pay a heartfelt tribute last night, saying she was 'shocked by this sad news'.
'Kelly was such a bright loving soul, a talented actress, and a loving mom and wife,' Shriver said. 'My heart breaks for her family who have already known such sadness and grief. Join me in sending them love and strength.'
Actress Chloe Bennett said: 'Kelly Preston was enormously kind and unbelievably lovely. Can't believe this.'
She added: 'My thoughts are with her sweet Ella and the rest of her incredible family. RIP.'
Actor Josh Gad also paid tribute, saying: 'I’m in absolute shock. What a beautiful and amazing actress and person.
'So sad to hear of her passing at such a young age. My heart goes out to John Travolta and the entire family. What a loss.'
Preston got engaged to Travolta in 1991 in Switzerland. The pair married in September
Jerry Maguire star Preston was born in Honolulu, Hawaii before going onto to study at the University of Southern California.
Kelly and John met while making the 1987 film The Experts and while Preston was married to actor Kevin Gage; they divorced that year after two years of marriage.
Preston then got engaged to Travolta in 1991 in Gstaad, Switzerland. Preston and Travolta were married at a midnight ceremony in Paris later that year while the couple were expecting their first son, Jett.
Preston had her own lengthy acting career in movies and television, at times appearing in films with her husband, as they did in Battlefield Earth in 2000.
They last starred together in the 2018 film Gotti, with Travolta playing John Gotti and Preston playing the crime boss's wife, Victoria.
Separately, Preston starred opposite Kevin Costner in the 1999 film For the Love of the Game, and in 2004 appeared in the music video for Maroon 5's She Will Be Loved.
She also had frequent guest-starring roles on TV series such as Medium, CSI: Cyber and Joey.
John Travolta and wife Kelly Preston at the opening of the Church of Scientology Museum in Los Angeles in 1991
Preston's final post to Instagram was one to celebrate Father's Day in June.
On their 28th wedding anniversary last year Kelly called Travolta 'the most wonderful man I know'.
She added: 'You have given me hope when I have felt lost, loved me patiently and unconditionally… made me laugh harder than any other human being possible… shared the most beautiful highs and at times low.
'You're a dream Daddio and make life so much fun!! I trust my love with you implicitly… with you I know I will always be okay no matter what happens… I love you forever and completely. Happy 28th Anniversary @johntravolta.'
The couple's son Jett died in January 2009 during a family trip to the Bahamas when he hit his head on a bathtub after suffering a seizure at their home on Grand Bahama Island.
The death touched off a court case after an ambulance driver and his attorney were accused of trying to extort $25million from the actors in exchange for not releasing sensitive information about their son's death.
Travolta testified during a criminal trial that ended in a mistrial and was prepared to testify a second time, but decided to stop pursuing the case. He cited the severe strain the case and his son's death had caused the family.
They had two other children, daughter Ella Bleu in 2000 and son Benjamin in 2010.
Kelly Preston and John Travolta in the 1989 movie The Experts - the film which led to their romance and eventual marriage
Actress Kelly Preston attends the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards in 2017
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