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'COURAGEOUS FIGHT'
Kelly Preston dead: John Travolta’s tribute to wife, 57, as she dies after secret two-year breast cancer battle
KELLY Preston has died aged 57 after a secret two-year battle with breast cancer, John Travolta announced "with a very heavy heart" last night.
The actor paid tribute to his wife's "courageous fight" as he revealed that she had battled the disease for two years, but chose to keep her illness private.
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Kelly's death came 11 years after the couple's eldest son, 16-year-old Jett died in 2009 after a seizure at the family's Bahamas holiday home.
She leaves behind her famous actor husband John and their daughter Ella, 20, and nine-year-old son Benjamin.
Sharing the sad news, John, 66, wrote on Instagram last night: "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.
"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."
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And the couple's daughter, Ella Bleu Travolta, wrote on Instagram: "I have never met anyone as courageous, strong, beautiful and loving as you.
"Anyone who is lucky enough to have known you or to have ever been in your presence will agree that you have a glow and a light that never ceases to shine and that makes anyone around you feel instantly happy. Thank you for being there for me no matter what.
"Thank you for your love. Thank you for your help and thank you for making this world a better place. You have made life so beautiful and I know you will continue to do so always. I love you so much mama."
A family representative released a statement to , confirming the actress had died yesterday morning.
They said: "On the morning of July 12, 2020, Kelly Preston, adored wife and mother, passed away following a two-year battle with breast cancer.
"Choosing to keep her fight private, she had been undergoing medical treatment for some time, supported by her closest family and friends.
"She was a bright, beautiful and loving soul who cared deeply about others and who brought life to everything she touched.
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"Her family asks for your understanding of their need for privacy at this time."
In September, Grease actor John and Kelly celebrated their 28th wedding anniversary.
The couple suffered a shocking tragedy in 2009 when their eldest son Jett, 16, after he had a seizure on a family vacation to the Bahamas at Christmas.
Describing the unimaginable pain of losing their autistic teenage son, John said he "didn't want to wake up" and didn't think he would get through it.
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John and Kelly took comfort in the Church of Scientology, which the star said had been "pivotal to his recovery" in the weeks and months afterwards.
Echoing his words, Kelly said: “Nobody should have to lose a child. It’s unfathomable.
“But I’m here to say that you can get through it. You can live again. You can want to live again.”
And the family was forced to endure further pain when an ambulance driver and his attorney were accused of trying to extort $25 million from the actors in exchange for not releasing sensitive information about their son's death.
Travolta testified during a criminal trial that ended in a mistrial and was prepared to testify a second time, but decided to stop pursuing the case and it was dismissed. He cited the severe strain the proceedings and his son's death had caused the family.
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Both Preston and Travolta returned to acting, with Preston's first role back in the Nicholas Sparks adaptation, The Last Song, which starred Miley Cyrus and her future husband, Liam Hemsworth.
Born Kelly Kamalelehua Smith in Honolulu on Oct. 13, 1962, she changed her name to Kelly Preston before securing her first film role in the 1985 romcom "Mischief," then appeared in another teen comedy, "Secret Admirer".
In the next few years Preston starred in films such as "SpaceCamp" and then "Twins" with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito.
In "Jerry Maguire", she played Tom Cruise's fiancee Avery Bishop, then co-starred opposite Kevin Costner in "For Love of the Game".
She also occasionally appeared in films with her husband, as they did in the box-office bomb Battlefield Earth in 2000.
She last starred on-screen in the 2018 film Gotti as Victoria Gotti, the wife of Mafia boss John Gotti, alongside husband John.
The couple met while making 1989 film The Experts. She was married to Kevin Gage at the time, but they divorced that year after two years of marriage.
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Kelly told The Kelly and Ryan Show: "We danced in a movie that we met in.
"I was doing a screening for a movie called The Experts many years ago. It was a fun comedy.
"That's where we met, I saw him across the room walking across the lobby and that was it."
They married in a midnight ceremony in Paris is September 1991, while Kelly was expecting Jett.
In an emotional message to her husband online celebrating their anniversary last year, Kelly said: "To my dearest Johnny, the most wonderful man I know.
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"You have given me hope when I have felt lost, loved me patiently and unconditionally… made me laugh harder than any other human being possible… shared the most beautiful highs and at times low.
"You're a dream Daddio and make life so much fun!!
"I trust my love with you implicitly… with you I know I will always be okay no matter what happens… I love you forever and completely. Happy 28th Anniversary @johntravolta."
Shocked by this sad news, Maria Shriver said on Twitter: "Kelly was such a bright loving soul, a talented actress, and a loving mom and wife. My heart breaks for her family who have already known such sadness and grief."
Hollywood star Josh Gad said he was in "absolute shock" at the news of Preston's death.
He tweeted: "I'm in absolute shock. What a beautiful and amazing actress and person. So sad to hear of her passing at such a young age. My heart goes out to John Travolta and the entire family. What a loss".
Lost star Daniel Dae Kim reminisced about working alongside Preston as he paid tribute to her.
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He tweeted: "I was lucky enough to work with her on one of my very first films, "For Love of The Game." We were shooting on cold days in Colorado, but she couldn't have been warmer or kinder to a young, nervous actor trying to make good. I'll never forget that. Thank you Kelly. #RestInPeace".
Actor Spencer Breslin, who starred alongside Preston in the 2003 film The Cat In The Hat, tweeted: "RIP to my on screen mom, #kellypreston. What a lovely woman. Such a sad loss".
Kelly Preston on how she met her husband John Travolta