Tragedy Strikes Travolta Family, Son Jett Passes Away

Travolta's attorney Michael Ossi told gossip news website TMZ that Jett Travolta suffered a seizure at his family's vacation home at the Old Bahama Bay Hotel on Grand Bahama Island. Attempts to revive him were unsuccessful and he died on scene this morning.

John Travolta and family were vacationing in the Bahamas when son Jett died Friday.

The cause of death is not known, Ossi said. An autopsy will be conducted. His body will be transferred to Ocala, Florida, for burial, he said.

Jett's death "was completely out of the blue," Ossi stated. "John and Kelly are happy when their children are happy. This is the worst day of John's life."

The Travoltas also have a daughter, Ella, 8.

CNN reports that Bahamian police said a caretaker at the West End resort where the Travoltas were vacationing found the teenager unconcious in the bathroom. Jett Travolta was taken by ambulance to Rand Memorial Hospital in Freeport and was pronounced dead on arrival.

Jett Travolta had a developmental disability that his parents, John Travolta and Kelly Preston, have linked to Kawasaki disease, an inflammatory disorder of the artery walls that most commonly occurs in young children and can lead to heart disease.

According to the American Heart Association, "About 80 percent of the people with Kawasaki disease are under age 5. Children over age 8 are rarely affected."

The causes of Kawasaki disease are unknown. Some scientists think it's caused by an infectious agent, such as a virus. Some studies have noted a link between the disease and carpet cleaning chemicals.

John Travolta portrayed Edna Turnblad in the musical film adaptation of "Hairspray," bringing to the production a bevy of stage and screen credits including the big screen version of the long-running musical "Grease" and the wildly successful "Urban Cowboy."

Travolta is the recipient of two Academy Award nominations, including one for his turn in Quentin Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction." He most recently starred in the comedy "Wild Hogs" and will next be seen opposite Robin Williams and wife Kelly Preston in "Old Dogs."

All of us here at BroadwayWorld.com are deeply saddened to hear of the tragic loss. Our thoughts are with the entire Travolta family.

 

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