John Travolta is celebrating a poignant milestone this month. November 23 marked Travolta’s youngest child, Benjamin “Ben” Travolta, turning 13. To celebrate Ben officially crossing into his teenage years, the 69-year-old Grease alum shared a heartfelt video tribute along with a message of love – and mild shock.
Ben was born on November 23, 2010, in Florida, the son of Travolta and his wife Kelly Preston. Upon his birth, his parents reported him as healthy and happy – though their own joy was beyond measure following the “uplifting” addition to the family. “He’s brought us a new beginning,” Travolta said at the time. Heartbreakingly, Preston died in the summer of 2020, and so would not get to see her baby grow up. But this occasion has been, as Travolta said 13 years ago, uplifting for a family that’s still grieving.
John Travolta and his daughter Ella celebrate Ben on his 13th birthday
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Over on social media, both Travolta and his 23-year-old daughter Ella celebrated Ben as he becomes a teen. Travolta shared a beautiful video that features a montage of images of Ben throughout the years. They take the viewer on a walk down memory lane, from Ben’s earliest days to today, with the family’s new puppy, Peanut.
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“I can’t believe my baby boy is now a teenager,” Travolta marveled in the captions. “Ben turns 13 today. I love you my son!”
Similarly, Ella shared a picture from when Ben was younger, and cheered, “Happy Birthday my sweetest Benjamin, it feels like yesterday you were this young and now you’re 13!! I love you!”
Gratitude and grief
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Tragedy colored the early years of the Travolta family, even before Preston’s premature death at the age of 57. Their first child, Jett, was born in 1992, and died in 2009, at the age of only 16; he had suffered from a seizure while on vacation in the Bahamas. Jett had a history of seizures and had reportedly suffered from Kawasaki disease since he was two.
Even before Jett’s own shocking passing, Travolta and Preston had been trying for another child for years with little luck – until Benjamin.
“He’s given the house a renewed spirit and purpose,” Travolta told People magazine when Ben was born. “He’s brought us a new beginning, and his presence has brought joy to all the people who have wanted the best for us.”
Jump ahead 13 years later, and that is still the case. Happy 13th, Benjamin!
