Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Connie Rusk

John Travolta pens moving tribute to late son Jett on what would have been 30th birthday

John Travolta paid tribute to his late son Jett on what would have been his 30th birthday on Wednesday.

The actor, 68, was devastated when Jett suffered a seizure and died aged 16 during a family holiday to the Bahamas in 2009.

John took to Instagram to share a sweet throwback photo of him cuddling his eldest child alongside a moving caption.

He wrote: "My dearest Jetty, I miss you more than words can say. I think about you everyday. Happy Birthday. Love, your Dad."

Fans took to the comment section to wish Jett a 'happy heavenly birthday'.

John Travolta paid tribute to his late son Jett on what would have been his 30th birthday on Wednesday (Instagram)

One wrote: "Precious pictures and memories", while another added: "Nothing worse than losing a child. I feel your pain. So sorry."

"Happy Birthday to your beautiful son Jetty. He is celebrating with the angels and his mama", a different follower typed.

John and his wife Kelly, who passed away in 2020 following a battle with breast cancer, were on holiday with their children in 2009 when the trip turned into tragedy.

Jett, who had autism, had a history of seizures and had collapsed in the bathroom and hit his head, later being declared dead in hospital.

The actor, 68, was devastated when Jett suffered a seizure and died aged 16 during a family holiday to the Bahamas in 2009 (pictured in 1997) (Corbis/VCG via Getty Images)

John’s late wife Kelly previously revealed Jett suffered from seizures due to autism.

During an episode of The Doctors after her son’s tragic death, she explained: "Jett was autistic. He had seizures and when he was very young, he had Kawasaki Syndrome."

Jett was the eldest of three children, with the couple having daughter Ella Bleu, 22, and Benjamin, 11, who was born after his older sibling's death.

In 2009, John and Kelly set up the Jett Travolta Foundation, a charity which funds assistance and support for children with special needs.

John and Kelly had been married for more than 20 years when she tragically lost her two-year battle with breast cancer in 2020 (Getty Images)

The Grease star and Kelly had been married for more than 20 years when she lost her two-year battle with breast cancer aged 57.

John a posted on Instagram in July 2020 to share the heart-breaking news with his fans.

Alongside a photograph of her, he wrote: "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. She fought a courageous fight with the love and support of so many.

"My family and I will forever be grateful to her doctors and nurses at MD Anderson Cancer Centre, all the medical centres that have helped, as well as her many friends and loved ones who have been by her side.

"Kelly’s love and life will always be remembered. I will be taking some time to be there for my children who have lost their mother, so forgive me in advance if you don’t hear from us for a while.

"But please know that I will feel your outpouring of love in the weeks and months ahead as we heal. All my love, JT."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.