The Soap Opera Connections You Never Knew Olivia Newton-John Had
On Monday, August 8, activist and Hollywood legend Olivia Newton-John died at 73 years old from cancer complications. Her husband John Easterling announced the heartbreaking news in a Facebook tribute, and highlighted the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund's dedication to cancer research and plant medicine.
While Newton-John's standout performance in "Grease" made her a household name, it was far from her greatest (or only) accomplishment. The Emmy and Grammy winner regularly advocated for research into effective treatments that improve the immune system, reports AMC's "Good Morning America." She even started the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre in Australia in order to support this work, per The New York Times.
Newton-John told NBC's "TODAY" that her experience after her first cancer diagnosis is what sparked the center's creation. "When I went through cancer the first time, I did chemotherapy, even though I was very afraid of doing it," she explained. "But I also did a lot of supportive things for myself. To have a place that supports the people that are going through it and their families is my dream. It's here. And I'm so thrilled."
Newton-John had a varied career in the entertainment industry, which explains her $60 million net worth at the time of her death. Her decades of experience even led her to soap opera world.
Olivia Newton-John's ties to daytime television
"Grease" fans pride themselves on knowing everything there is to know about the legendary film and its star Olivia Newton-John. But one thing people may not know about her is that her experience wasn't strictly in film or music, and that she also had soap opera connections. Newton-John's first husband, Matt Lattanzi, starred as photographer Cooper Hart on Australian soap opera "Paradise Beach," per AmoMama. In 1993, Newton-John and their daughter Chloe Lattanzi made a brief appearance in an episode (via YouTube).
Two years later, Newton-John guest starred on Australian soap opera "Snowy River: The McGregor Saga" as Joanna Walker. Another famous face that fans will recognize from the soap opera is Emmy, Grammy, and Tony award winner Hugh Jackman. Newton-John is an integral part of soap opera history. Alongside Earl Rose, the singer-songwriter helped pen the iconic track "This Is Our Moment (Love Is A Gift)" for CBS' "As the World Turns," per CMT. The wedding song for supercouple Lily and Holden went on to win an Emmy for "Outstanding Original Song," per AceShowbiz.