John Travolta opens up about son Jett’s shock death

JOHN Travolta’s son Jett died suddenly in 2009 aged just 16 years old. Now the actor reveals what a toll it took on his family - and how they healed.

ACTOR John Travolta has opened up about the shocking loss of his son Jett in 2009 and how his family healed after his passing.

Sixteen-year-old Jett died while on a Christmas holiday in the Bahamas, with his cause of death attributed to a seizure. He suffered from Autism and Kwwasaki disease and had a long history of seizures.

Travolta with wife Kelly Preston at last week’s Emmy Awards. Picture: Robyn Beck / AFP

Travolta and wife Kelly Preston had a daughter, Ella Bleu, in 2000, and added another child to their family following Jett’s death, with the birth of son Benjamin in 2010.

Now, 62-year-old Travolta credits that new addition to the family with helping them all to heal.

“We certainly have bonded together. Certainly having little Ben has been a beautiful kind of glue for us to rebond after a tremendous loss.”

Travolta has previously spoken out about the death of his son, saying he didn’t know if he’d make it through.

“[That was] the worst thing that’s ever happened in my life. The truth is, I didn’t know if I was going to make it. Life was no longer interesting to me, so it took a lot to get me better. [I] didn’t want to wake up,” said Travolta, who credited his Scientology faith with helping him.

Jett had a history of health problems leading up to his 2009 death. Picture: Rogers & Cowan / AFP

“I will forever be grateful to Scientology for supporting me for two years solid, I mean Monday through Sunday. They didn’t take a day off, working through different angles of the techniques to get through grief and loss, and to make me feel that finally I could get through a day,” he said.

Father and son.

Originally published as John Travolta opens up about son Jett’s shock death