"Jerry Maguire" star Kelly Preston battled breast cancer for two years before passing away on Sunday, but it never stopped her from being a dedicated actress, loving mother, and wife to John Travolta during her brave final days.
Preston secretly fought her cancer while putting on a brave face to film "Off the Rails" in 2019, Fox News noted in a tribute to the late actress. While ill, Preston also starred alongside Travolta in the 2018 movie "Gotti," the premier of which turned out to be her last red carpet appearance.
When she was not on set filming, Preston was championing her family. She stood by her 20-year-old daughter, Ella, who was an aspiring actress, and in 2019 she gushed when she landed a role alongside Travolta in "The Poison Rose."
"Still in absolute awe of my stunning daughter @ella.travolta I just re-watched all of her interviews from this past week doing press for #thepoisonrose and she has jumped into 'the family business' as an absolute natural," she wrote in a heartfelt Instagram post.
"It floored me how poised, confident, elegant, sweet, gorgeous (I don't think there are actually enough adjectives in the English language for me to properly articulate how perfectly she held her own)... I am beyond proud of her and all of her accomplishments, but most of all I am proud and honored to have her as my daughter. I love you and congratulations @ella.travolta," Preston added.
Tragedy struck in 2009, when Preston's son Jett, who had autism, died at age 16 following a seizure. His memory lived on in her heart and in April she paid tribute to him in a birthday message.
"Happy Birthday to our sweetest Jetty, we love you!!" Preston wrote in the caption of a photo of her hugging Jett as a baby.
Despite her illness, Preston also used her son's death to advocate for people with autism.
"I have a special place in my heart for those with autism and special needs. Sending love to some of my favorite people in the world," she wrote in April for the caption of an Instagram photo of her and Travolta sitting alongside Jett and their second on Brett. "My son Jetty was one of the most playful and wonderful souls you've ever met. Love to all of you with autism and special needs around the world."
Preston's final Instagram post was wishing Travolta, who she had been married to for 28 years, a happy Father's Day.
"Happy Father's Day to the best one I know, we love you," she wrote in the June post that included a family photo.
"I love you all so much," Travolta replied.
Zoe Papadakis ✉
Zoe Papadakis is a Newsmax writer based in South Africa with two decades of experience specializing in media and entertainment. She has been in the news industry as a reporter, writer and editor for newspapers, magazine and websites.
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