Enlarge image
Flowers and souvenir photos for Olivia Newton-John on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Photo:
ETIENNE LAURENT v EPA
The death of American actress and singer Olivia Newton-John has sparked shock in Hollywood and beyond.
Her former film partner John Travolta, with whom Newton-John celebrated worldwide success in the musical film "Grease" in 1978, expressed his admiration for the "incredible influence" of his colleague.
"My dear Olivia, you have made our lives so much better," Travolta wrote on Instagram alongside a picture of Newton-John.
"I love you so much."
Travolta made a farewell reference to Grease, in which he played the character Danny: "Yours from the moment I saw you and forever!
Your Danny, your John!”
Australian singer Kylie Minogue also took part.
“I've looked up to Olivia Newton-John since I was ten.
And always will," Minogue wrote on Twitter.
Minogue, who died at the age of 73, will "always be an inspiration to me in so many ways."
Newton-John was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992.
Since then she has been committed to cancer research and early detection.
In 2017, the singer and actress was diagnosed with breast cancer metastases in the spine.
In 2018 another relapse became public.
On Monday evening, it was announced via her Instagram account that Newton-John passed away peacefully in the morning surrounded by her family.
Australian actor Hugh Jackman was upset.
"I'm devastated," wrote the 53-year-old ("X-Men") on Facebook.
“It's no secret that Olivia was my first crush.
I kissed her poster every night before bed.” “Guardians of the Galaxy” director James Gunn also announced on Twitter that Newton-John was his first big crush.
According to the director, he loved their music.
US singer Barbra Streisand wrote on Instagram about a joint photo with Newton-John from the 1970s: »Too young to leave this world.
May she rest in peace."
Singer Melissa Etheridge mourned the loss of a "wonderful woman" and a "special talent".
Newton-John was one of the first to give encouragement after Etheridge's own cancer diagnosis became known, the singer wrote on Twitter.
A cancer center founded by Newton-John in Australia thanked Newton-John for her efforts in fighting the disease.
"Olivia touched the lives of many across Australia and around the world, but especially those of our staff and patients at the Olivia Newton John Centre, whom she encouraged, inspired and supported every day," the center said.
Singer Dionne Warwick called Newton-John "another voice added to the choir of heaven."
"Olivia was not only a good friend, but one of the nicest people I've had the pleasure of recording and performing with," the multiple Grammy winner wrote on Twitter.
fek/dpa
