John Travolta's Career Regrets

Reuters has a Q&A with John Travolta to promote his animated film "Bolt." At the end, they ask him about his biggest career regrets.

Tom Hanks listen up!

Q: Which parts do you most regret turning down?

A; "'Chicago' probably (Travolta was offered the role of Billy Flynn). I wasn't all that into the stage show. It was a lot of women who hated men and I like women who like men. (laughs) The stage show was kind of vicious but the movie had a heart. 'Green Mile' I probably should have said yes to and 'An Officer and a Gentleman'. But I gave Richard Gere and Tom Hanks a career! What you turn down can be a gift to someone else. There is enough to go around."

Whole interview here.

Comments

[goldcoastsailor]

Ah, the new religion of John Travoltology.

[DavidMiscav]

Battlefield Earth was not a science fiction film; it is a documentary. Most people's awareness has not risen enough to recognize that fact.

[mingjia]

Just about every movie Travolta makes--and he makes a LOT of them--is bad. He's seemingly been in about 40 movies in the last 10 to 15 years--ever since his career was resurrected--and maybe two of them were good. He climbs back into the public eye with an edgy indie movie--then proceeds to make nothing but commercial crap for a decade. Not a fan.

[lilsongbird101]

My daughter is crazy about John Travolta... shhhhhhh she's married! lol
She thinks he's hot!

[RaisingAwareness]

This article that the HuffPo reposted is little more than another attempt to spread a little more hate and some libelous misinformation. Each and every day I lose just that much more respect for this website.

So let me clear a couple things up. Travolta turned Tom Hank's: Splash, Apollo 12, Forest Gump and The Green Mile. He also turned down Richard Gere's: Days of Heaven, American Gigolo, Officer and Gentleman and Chicago. So you see that John Travolta wasn't being egotistical he was just making a point that roles he declined became other artist's big breaks.

The article also implies that John Travolta believes turning down "The Green Mile" made Tom Hanks career. Anyone using just an ounce of common-sense would realize that John Travolta knows that Splash, Apollo 12 and Forest Gump all occured before The Green Mile.

Sometimes the Huffington Post can make Fox News look stellar.

[DavidMiscav]

Lets be truthful here RA, the real reason Travolta didn't take the part in the Green Mile was because
Michael Clarke Duncan (John Coffey -the convicted murderer) was given super OT powers in the movie and his part wouldn't get them. By the way, how is Jett doing these days? Do you see him over there at Celebrity Center?
http://www.hollywoodinterrupted.com/archives/a_plea_from_hollywood_john_travolta_open_your_heart.phtml

[DavidMiscav]

By the way, this article first appeared in the New York Daily News. The current link to this story is Reuter News. If the the Celebrity Center doesn't still put kiddie blockers on your computer, you can link to those sites and post comments there too.

[NicePerson1]

I am a huge fan of Mr. Travolta since his sweathog Vinnie Barbarino days of "Welcome Back Kotter". Things happen for a reason. But Richard Gere and Tom Hanks were well on their way before Travolta said "No". We all love you John, but turn the ego down a tad.

[whit4brains]

I'm surprised your "church" lets you come on to such a liberal site RA. But then you are working for them spreading PR for the CoS and the members discussed in these articles, right? Do you get free auditing sessions for your work?

scientoology is a CULT:
http://www.factnet.org/Scientology/scgen3.htm

[ivoteforsmartpeople]

Oh no....HAIRSPRAY!!! That was definitely his Worst part!

I adored the original, non-musical Jon Waters version. The musical was fair....I mostly just didn't care for John as Mrs. Turnblatt...his accent and tone of voice were Atrocious!

[PhyllisJane]

Why is this article still on here???? It's soooo ridiculous.

[SimonOne]

I wonder if Scientology has anything to do with your remarks.... Hmm...

[rbspickles]

Why do all of you keep ragging about Scientology? If you don't like it, don't practice it. The last time I remembered, we still had freedom of religion in this country and we were still very proud of that right.....right?

[Clavis]

There's nothing wrong with ragging on a group that engages in harassment and blackmail, that brainwashes vulnerable people and that spreads a fundamentalist religion.

Sure, we have freedom of religion. We also have freedom of speech. So eat me.

[epitomized]

LOL, if the Republicans had their way, we would have no freedom of religion.

I couldn't resist the opportunity. I apologize.

[catfsm]

I really like John in Phenomenon, Michael, Saturday Night Fever, Pulp Fiction, and others. He is an excellent dancer and a pretty good actor.

I wonder what the complaints about Scientology are based on. Is it media craziness? There is no data to support the concept that John is egotistical or any other negative thing. He seems to be a great guy and very handsome.

I did not like Battlefield Earth, but that does not condemn John. He just was not ready to be a director of that movie. The BOOK, Battlefield Earth, is classic Sci Fi, and one of the best of its kind! Too bad John did not do it well at all.

I like the fact that John's life is so lacking in scandal! I wonder if Scientology has any part in making it that way? He seems to be happily married and quite strong and stable!

[SimonOne]

catfsm... I wonder if Scientology has anything to do with your remarks.... Just curious.

[rbspickles]

Yeah, I agree that Battlefield Earth was HORRIBLE! (the movie, not the book). But there are many other great movies that Travolta has made that were very moving and entertaining. Thanks, Mr. Travolta for the many hours of removing me from reality for a while and entertaining me with great stories. Heck , I stll remember him in Welcome Back Kotter and I loved him back then too :)

[whit4brains]

catfsm must be the new PR poster for the CoS.

Scientology is a CULT!
http://www.factnet.org/Scientology/scgen3.htm

[TrevorAlan]

Woah, woah woah. He's asked about regrets and Battlefield Earth doesn't come up?

Glad he turned down those films he mentioned (unless he was never offered them and he is claiming this as a personal ego boost), whatever part of me likes Travolta in certain roles, he would have been AWFUL in Chicago, Green Mile, or Officer. Those movies, whatever else is right or wrong about them, would not have been good with him in the lead.

[whit4brains]

Because Battlefield Earth was about his "religion" of scientology.

[ConcernedAboutRFuture]

Ok...I'm still laughing.... "gave Tom Hanks and Richard Gere a career"...... LOL!! OK Vinny Babarino.

Gere was great in Officer and Gentleman, Pretty Woman, Unfaithful, and he can pretty much ace any role he is cast for.

I KNOW I don't even need to tout Tom Hanks' career. He was better in "Bosom Buddies" than Travolta in any of his movies.... and THAT was just the beginning of his career.

Another ARROGANT Science...um, I mean Scientology egomaniac. He and Tom MUST be best friends.

[TrevorAlan]

yeah, that Hanks guy was a loser before Green Mile. What, he only had like a bajillion movies on his resume by then?

[ConcernedAboutRFuture]

He was great in Pulp Fiction, but nevertheless, he's a Tom Cruise -like lunatic.

[Verified]

Never understood this man's appeal. Is it the narcissism, the sexism, the love of violence, the ridiculous ego-inflating ideology, the inability to act, not to mention ongoing hair obsession? I just don't get it.

[gallimaufry03]

ditto

[DemKing]

1981's BLOW OUT is John's Best Movie :) Check it out - really cool film ;)

[TrevorAlan]

perhaps true, but that's a long time ago to have peaked. Maybe Scientology hasn't done as much for Johnny as he thinks.

[plzchuteme]

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I actually posted a comment about an article about John Travolta, which meant that I actually read an article about John Travolta. Have to run now. The weather has changed and it's making my brain tumor act up.