Actress Kelly Preston, after a two-year battle with breast cancer, died on Sunday at age 57.
What We Know:
- In an Instagram post on Monday, husband John Travolta announced that Preston had died from breast cancer. “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,” he wrote. “She fought a courageous fight with the love and support of so many.”
- “Choosing to keep her fight private, she had been undergoing medical treatment for some time, supported by her closest family and friends,” a representative for the family says. “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.”
- Preston, who was born Kelly Kamalelehua Smith on October 13, 1962, in Honolulu, Hawaii, studied acting at the University of Southern California. In 1985, she launched her career with her first major movie role in Mischief after several minor roles in television shows, including For Love and Honor. In the next few years, Preston starred in films such as SpaceCamp (1986), Twins (1988), Jerry Maguire (1996), and For Love of the Game (1999).
- Preston met Travolta in 1988, while they worked on the film The Experts. The couple later married in 1991 and throughout their marriage continued working on films, often together. Preston’s final film role was in the 2018 film Gotti in which she played Victoria Gotti, the wife of Mafia boss John Gotti, who was portrayed on screen by Travolta.
- The actress had not been photographed publicly at a major event since June 2018 when she walked the red carpet with Travolta for the premiere of Gotti but has shared images of her life and family on social media.
In addition to her husband, Preston is survived by their daughter, Ella Bleu (20) and son, Benjamin (9). Our thoughts and condolences go out to the family and friends of Kelly Preston.
