Can you believe that Grease came out in 1978?! It is still one of the best films ever made in my opinion. The songs, the characters, the acting is second to none and will be remembered fondly by so many for so long!
Have you seen what they look like recently? I am guessing not so take a look below…
1. Danny Zuko – John Travolta (Then)
John Travolta played the boy that we all wanted to date. He had the looks, the charm, the bad boy cool.
Since playing Danny, John has had a successful acting career; barely even leaving our screens! He played the infamous Vincent Vega in Pulp Fiction, Sean Archer/Caster Troy in Face/Off and, of course, Edna Turnblad in Hairspray. He was just fabulous, darling!
Lately he has turned to TV, producing American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson – he won his first ever Primetime Emmy Award for it! He also starred in the production, as lawyer Robert Shapiro.
Did you know that he originally was in a touring version of Grease the musical? The stars were aligned, amma right?
John Travolta – Danny Zuko (Now)
2. Sandy Olsson – Olivia Newton-John (Then)
Olivia Newton-John was already a pretty well-established actress by the time Grease came along. Can you believe that she was 28 when she was cast?! I wanna know her secrets for ageing gracefully.
Her music career blossomed and she released 15 albums post-Grease. She has had five number one singles as well as ten others that have been in the top ten! Did I also mention that she’s won four Grammys? That’s right FOUR! Some people get all the luck, don’t they?
In 2015, Olivia and her daughter, Chloe, became the first mother-daughter duo to reach number one on the Billboard Dance Club Charts with their single: You Have To Believe.
Olivia Newton-John – Sandy Olsson (Now)
3. Doody – Barry Pearl (Then)
Doody is one of three T-Birds that support Danny. His movie star career did not take off like his other co-stars, however, he did make a cameo appearance in the live version of Grease (2016).
He is big in the world of television, starring in the primetime special, Barney’s Imagination Island as Professor Tinkerputt. He even ended up doing the US tour of the stage play: Barney’s Big Surprise!
He has also had other odd jobs in the showbiz world. for example, he was in an episode of Even Stevens and was in the 2014 series Summer With Cimorelli!
Barry Pearl – Doody (Now)
4. Marty Maraschino – Dinah Manoff (Then)
Grease was Dinah’s first ever movie role! Although she had previously been on the ABC show, Soap, as Elaine Dallas. As if TV and film wasn’t enough, Dinah then decided she wanted to try Broadway and got cast on I Ought to Be in Pictures as Libby Tucker. For which she a Tony award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play. And a Theatre World Award. Naturally.
Apart from Grease, Dinah is perhaps best known for her role as Carol Weston in the Golden Girls spin off, Empty Nest. She was on the show for seven years where she appeared in every single episode of the series!
She also directed an episode of Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Is there anything this girl can’t do?
Dinah Manoff – Marty Maraschino (Now)
5. Jan – Jamie Donnelly (Then)
By the time Grease was released in the movie theatres, Jamie Donnelly was 31 years old! She was the only person to be cast as the same character she played in the stage production. However, she had to keep dying her hair in order to appear young enough for the role – it was going grey!
She has also appeared in a musical version of Tarzan and in The Rocky Horror Show as Magenta and Usherette.
Nowadays, however, Jamie prefers to be an acting coach in California. Her husband, Stephen Foreman, is a big novelist.
Jamie Donnelly – Jan (Now)
6. Putzie – Kelly Ward (Then)
Kelly Ward started to receive attention after his role in the television film, The Boy in the Plastic Bubble. Which also starred John Travolta! What a small world, huh?
However, John went on to get the leading role in Grease BUT Kelly’s role as Putzie was SPECIFICALLY made for him. How’s that for the A-List treatment?
After 1986, Kelly decided that he wanted to work more behind the camera; as a story editor and dialogue director. He has worked on the shows such as the Back To The Future TV series, The Pink Panther TV series, Jake and the Never Land Pirates and All Dogs Go To Heaven.
Kelly Ward – Putzie (Now)
7. Eugene Felnic – Eddie Deezen (Then)
Grease was Eddie’s first ever movie role! It is probably his most well-known role to date. He was then predominantly cast as a similar role to his one in Grease: a geek. For example he was in, I Wanna Hold Your Hand, Steven Spielburg’s 1941 and WarGames. Eddie was becoming so popular that he had to start turning down roles. That’s when you know that you’ve made it, right?
Eddie was one of only seven actors who returned for the sequel, Grease 2! (What a name).
Since the mid-80’s, Eddie has mainly been a voice actor. lending his voice to roles in Sesame Street Presents Follow That Bird, Kim Possible and What’s New, Scooby-Doo?.
Eddie Deezen – Eugene Felnic (Now)
8. Frenchie – Didi Conn (Then)
Is there anyone who didn’t love Frenchie? She was the best! Not only did she star in Grease, she was also in Grease: 2 and made a cameo as Vi in Grease: Live, hence making her the only actress in the franchise to have starred in all three!
She leant to voice to Raggedy Ann in the animated film: Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure (1977). She is best known for her voice.
Most recently, she appeared on the UK show, Dancing on Ice. She is the oldest person to have ever been on the show – you wouldn’t tell that she is 67! Unfortunately, she was knocked out in week 4.
Didi Conn – Frenchie (Now)
9. Sonny – Michael Tucci (Then)
Michael is perhaps best known for his role as Sonny in Grease. He has gone on to do other things though, such as playing Gerald Golden in the TV series, The Paper Chase and starring alongside Dick Van Dyke in Diagnosis Murder. He played Norman Briggs.
Like many of his other Grease co-stars, Michael has expanded into the world of stage. He toured with various companies of Chicago, but he always portrayed the same character: Amos, Roxy Hart’s hubbie. However, his best work on stage most probably comes in the play Destination where he played the Green Apple.
Recently, Michael has reverted back to his roots and is teaching an Introduction to Fine and Theatre Arts.
Michael Tucci – Sonny (Now)
10. Betty Rizzo – Stockard Channing (Then)
Has there ever been a more badass character than Rizzo? Her sass – yes please! Did you know that Stockard was 33 when she starred in Grease? For her role as Rizzo, she received the People’s Choice Award for Favourite Motion Picture Supporting Actress.
Her best known role on TV is probably as First Lady Abbey Bartlet in The West Wing. However, for the first two seasons she was only a recurring guest star! Finally, she was cast as a regular member of the cast in 2001!
Fun fact: Stockard Channing is actually a stage name. She was born Susan Antonia Williams Stockard. Channing comes from her first marriage to Walter Channing.
Stockard Channing – Betty Rizzo (Now)
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