In his career, spanning five decades, John Travolta has seen both ups and downs. After a period of working in TV during his early days, Travolta bagged a major role in Brian De Palma’s renowned 1976 horror movie, Carrie. At the same time, he gained recognition for playing Vinny Barbarino in the beloved TV show Welcome Back, Kotter. However, he credits his fame to a Hollywood legend, Sean Connery.
Travolta rose to fame in the 1970s, but in the 1980s, his popularity declined. Going through a struggling time in his career, Travolta witnessed a revival of his career with Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction in the mid-1990s. However, the next 25 years brought both challenges and success.
How Sean Connery Made John Travolta Famous
During an appearance on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, John Travolta recalled an incident where they shook a leg with a Hollywood legend at a party held in honor of Frank Sinatra. The actor recalled that he was about to leave the party, and suddenly, Sean Connery insisted he dance with him. Travolta believes that moment contributed a lot to his popularity.
Travolta told Jonathan Ross (via YouTube):
“I danced with Sean Connery once, you know. There was a party about 10 years ago for Frank Sinatra’s, before he passed away obviously, but I was about to leave with my wife and he said, John where are you going? And I said we got to go home, I’m going to work tomorrow morning, he said ‘not before you dance with me you’re not.’ But it was then everybody wanted to dance with me. After that he made popular.”
Many would believe that the surge in John Travolta’s popularity came after he played a heroin-addicted hitman, Vincent Vega, in Quentin Tarantino’s classic film Pulp Fiction. The role not only showcased his ability to take on complex roles, but it also came at a time when his career hit rock bottom. But from Travolta’s point of view, it was Sean Connery who made him famous.
John Travolta Wasn’t The First Choice For Vincent Vega
Travolta was great in the role, skillfully playing his part in the two episodes of the film. However, Harvey Weinstein, the head of Miramax, the studio that produced Pulp Fiction, wasn’t in favor of casting the actor. However, Quentin Tarantino was persistent in casting, refusing to accept Weinstein’s rejection.
Weinstein did not see Travolta, who was going through a tough phase in his career, as the right choice for the role of Vincent Vega. Weinstein didn’t view Travolta, who was experiencing a challenging period in his career, as the perfect choice for the role.
Mike Simpson, Tarantino’s agent at William Morris Endeavor, told Weinstein (via Vanity Fair), “You’re going to agree to it right now, or there’s no deal.“
Travolta’s exceptional performance in the movie earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor, with Tarantino giving his career a significant boost.
