Inside the Actors Studio
Guests 
John Travolta
Season 9, Episode 914
Original Airdate: April 6, 2003
Bravo will celebrate the career and craft of one of Hollywood's greatest icons, John Travolta, with an honor previously bestowed to only four of the past 130 guests - a special two-hour episode of “Inside the Actors Studio”.
By the end of the 70s, there was no bigger star than John Travolta. Fueled by the success of back-to-back hits “Saturday Night Fever” and “Grease,” Travolta emerged from his role as the swaggering Vinnie Barbarino on the sitcom “Welcome Back, Kotter,” to join Hollywood royalty. On this special edition of “Inside the Actors Studio,” John Travolta shares his experiences, as the youngest of six children, growing up in what he refers to as a 'slightly affected' Englewood, New Jersey home.
We learn how he began acting at the age of twelve and took tap dancing lessons from Gene Kelly's brother. Travolta goes on to discuss his earlier experience working on films such as “Carrie,” “Urban Cowboy” and “Staying Alive,” as well as the television feature “The Boy in the Plastic Bubble.”
Travolta reveals Quentin Tarantino's role in his career resurrection following a decade of disappointment. Through a meeting at Tarantino's apartment, which happened to have coincidentally been an earlier residence of Travolta's, he was offered a role that was specifically written for Michael Madsen. However, after the meeting, Tarantino could not picture anyone but Travolta playing the role.
Co-starring with Samuel L. Jackson, “Pulp Fiction” aided in what could be called one of the greatest comebacks in entertainment history. Travolta gives an in depth description of how he became the character Vincent Vega, including how he learned what it feels like to be on heroin.
At the conclusion of this special episode of “Inside the Actors Studio,” Travolta demonstrates his famed dancing talent by performing the 'twist contest' scene from “Pulp Fiction” with a student member of the audience. Travolta also dazzles the audience with his mimicry of Nicholas Cage and Marlon Brando, among others.
