Ellen Travolta

Ellen M. Travolta (born October 6, 1939) is an American actress.

Ellen Travolta
Ellen Travolta in 2004
Born
Ellen M. Travolta

(1939-10-06) October 6, 1939
Englewood, New Jersey, U.S.
Alma materCarnegie Mellon University
OccupationActress
Years active1976–present
Spouse(s)
James Fridley
​
​
(m. 1964; div. 1977)​

​
​
(m. 1983; died 2017)​
[1]
Children2
RelativesJoey Travolta (brother)
Margaret Travolta (sister)
John Travolta (brother)

Early years

Ellen M. Travolta was born on October 6, 1939 in Englewood, New Jersey [2] to Salvatore ("Sam") Travolta and Helen Cecilia (née Burke) Travolta. Her father was a semi-professional football player[3] before becoming a tire salesman and a partner in a Firestone franchise called Travolta Tires.[4] Helen Travolta was an actress and singer who appeared with "The Sunshine Sisters", a radio vocal group.[3] She later became a drama coach, actress, and director of student productions.[5]

Travolta has five younger siblings: Joey, Margaret, Sam, Ann, and John Travolta.

Travolta attended Dwight Morrow High School in Englewood, New Jersey and Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[6]

Career

She is probably best known for her portrayal of Louisa Arcola Delvecchio, the aunt of Fonzie (Henry Winkler) and mother of Chachi Arcola (Scott Baio) in the 1950s-based sitcom Happy Days, and the spin-off Joanie Loves Chachi. She also played the mother of Baio's character on the syndicated comedy series Charles in Charge from 1987-90. She had already portrayed Jimmy Baio's mother on a 1978 episode of The Love Boat. Travolta played Mrs. Horshack-O'Hara in three episodes of Welcome Back, Kotter, on which her brother, actor John Travolta, starred as Vinnie Barbarino in the series. Later in the 1970s, she played Dorothy Manucci in the short-lived television series Makin' It. She played Marion Keisker in John Carpenter's renowned 1979 television film Elvis.

Personal life

Travolta has been a longtime performer and supporter of the Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre[7] where she appeared in a production of Hello, Dolly! in the Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre in 2000 and 2012 playing the star role opposite her husband's portrayal of Horace Vandergelder.[8] The theatre is the beneficiary of the Helen Burke Travolta Memorial fund, established in honor of Travolta's mother. Travolta has stated, "My mother was the beginning of all of this for us. She loved the theater, and she was always involved with the community theater and she encouraged all of us to be in it."[9]

Travolta married James Fridley in May 1964.[10] They had two children, a son, Tom Fridley, an actor and a daughter, Molly Allen Ritter.[11]

Travolta and Fridley divorced in 1977. She then married actor Jack Bannon on April 9, 1983. In 1994, the couple moved to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.[8][12] They remained together until Bannon's death in 2017.

Selected TV and filmography

References
  1. Skipper, Richard. "Jack Bannon : Horace Vandergelder (opposite Ellen Travolta) Coeur D'Alene Summer Theater' 2000 and 2012 productions of Hello, Dolly!". Richard Skipper's Celebrities. Retrieved October 13, 2013.
  2. "Ellen Travolta: Biography". TV Guide. Retrieved October 13, 2013.
  3. Saks, Diane (August 2011). Overcoming Celebrity Obsession. iUniverse. p. 217. ISBN 978-1-45022-847-3.
  4. Reeves, Michael. "John's mom gave him introduction to acting". The Milwaukee Journal. Journal Communications. Retrieved October 13, 2013.
  5. Holmes, Abby (September 15, 2010). "Dear Ellen". The Wenatchee World. Retrieved October 13, 2013.
  6. Kerschner, Jim (May 23, 2004). "Travolta family to put on a show". The Spokesman-Review Mobile. Retrieved June 6, 2015.
  7. Skipper, Richard. "Ellen Travolta - Call on Dolly: Celebrating The First Fifty Years of Hello, Dolly!". Retrieved October 14, 2013.
  8. Kershner, Jim (February 22, 1998). "Keillor And Radio Show Here In June". The Spoksman-Review Mobile. Retrieved October 13, 2013.
  9. Saks, Diane (June 2001). Ellen Travolta. ISBN 9780595182763.
  10. "Dear Ellen". Wenatcheeworld.com. October 15, 2010. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
  11. Bannon, Ellen Travolta and Jack. "Excitement of Summer Theater (video)". YouTube.
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