Olivia Newton-John passed away on August 8 2022, at the age of 73, at her home in the Santa Ynez Valley of California. The British-Australian actress and singer, best known for her role as Sandy in the 1978 film Grease, had battled breast cancer three times.
Career and cancer struggle
Olivia rose to fame in the 1970s with her debut solo record, and her career took off in 1971 when she landed the part of Sandy in the cinematic version of the Broadway hit Grease. She appeared opposite John Travolta, who played lead character Danny Zuko, and her performance became Hollywood legend. She went on to feature in a number of films and television programmes and also went on multiple world tours.
Behind the scenes, Olivia fought breast cancer three times, following her initial diagnosis in 1992. For 30 years she openly documented her battle and her medical care. Throughout the years, she went through chemotherapy, a mastectomy and breast reconstruction procedures.
In May 2017, it emerged that her breast cancer had returned and spread to her lower spine. She told fans that this marked her third battle with breast cancer after it returned in 2013. The cancer had spread to her bones and sadly advanced to stage IV. Despite everything, she said that she would stop cancer from consuming her life. She told NBC's Today: "Cancer can engulf your mind and engulf your being and I try not to live my life with that in my mind all the time."
Final phone call
In the days leading up to her death, Olivia's husband John Easterling contacted her close friends Amy Sky and Beth Nielson Chapman because he wanted to ensure her friends could see her one final time. Though Olivia was unable to speak during the call, her friends described the experience as "such a gift" that provided them with precious closure. Throughout the phone conversation, they serenaded her with songs and expressed their deep affection.
Reflecting on this poignant moment, Amy told HELLO!: "I'm so grateful her husband John two days before she died called Beth and I and asked if we wanted to say goodbye to her which we did over the phone." "She wasn't able to speak but we felt she was hearing. That's such a gift to have closure."
Heartbreaking loss and statement
Following her passing, John spoke to The Telegraph and assured fans that she was not in any discomfort. He said: "She was very clear and very alive and very conscious and not in pain. So there was a quality of life there at that time that I think is so critical. That was part of Olivia's great contribution with the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Center... providing a real quality of life for people was close to her heart." "That's a lot of the focus there and was with Olivia too through her entire journey."
Later, John issued a statement to announce her passing. Extracts from the statement read: "Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer." "Her healing inspiration and pioneering experience with plant medicine continues with the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, dedicated to researching plant medicine and cancer." Tributes also poured in from fans worldwide and Olivia's celebrity friends.
