Olivia Newton John, star of Grease, dies at 73 (1 Viewer)

[Jeffrey D]

She really captured something in her portrayal of Sandy. She gave a generation (actually, several generations) a vision of a wholesome young woman to be admired. And by all accounts, she was a lovely person in real life.

I suspect her life was rough for several years with treatments. RIP.

I think I read that Olivia got the part because Marilu Henner couldn’t do it, due to scheduling conflict.

 

[RobertMG]

She really captured something in her portrayal of Sandy. She gave a generation (actually, several generations) a vision of a wholesome young woman to be admired. And by all accounts, she was a lovely person in real life.

I suspect her life was rough for several years with treatments. RIP.

 

[JC Riesenbeck]

Grease on 4K is simply astounding. Previous releases were lackluster, to say the least. I would rate it in the top ten of my collection as far as transfers go. At least I'll have it whenever I want to visit Sandy and Danny.

 

[Scott Merryfield]

As a teenage boy, I fell hopeless in love with Olivia Newton-John back in the '70's, and simply adored her in Grease. It's still my favorite musical that's not from the earlier classic era for that genre. Olivia, I will always be Hopelessly Devoted to You.

RIP

 

[DarkVader]

I think I read that Olivia got the part because Marilu Henner couldn’t do it, due to scheduling conflict.

No. Marilu Henner was never under consideration for the role of "Sandy" in "Grease". The top candidates for the role were: Deborah Raffin, Susan Dey and Marie Osmond. Marie almost got the part but she was opposed to the character's transformation at the end and backed out.

 

[usrunnr]

No. Marilu Henner was never under consideration for the role of "Sandy" in "Grease". The top candidates for the role were: Deborah Raffin, Susan Dey and Marie Osmond. Marie almost got the part but she was opposed to the character's transformation at the end and backed out.

Thank goodness. Without the transformation, Grease would be severely lacking, although the Los Angeles Times reviewer at the time didn't like the transformation either as I recall (Charles Champlin I think). We especially liked Stockard Channing in "Grease", as well as Newton-John. Well, shoot, we liked everybody.

Side Bar. Years ago we had a choice when buying tickets for "The King and I". Marie Osmond at the Pantages, or later at South Coast Rep with Hayley Mills. We opted for Hayley Mills because of teenage crushes, but it was a mistake. Mills couldn't sing, forgot lyrics, had to be prompted by the conductor. Seemed distracted the entire performance. It was a sad evening. We wished we could have seen Osmond, who has a beautiful voice and a professional persona.

 

[Malcolm R]

I mostly remember ONJ for her music career. I was a little too young to care about Grease or Xanadu, but "Physical", "Heart Attack", and "Twist of Fate" are some of the earliest radio pop songs in my consciousness.

 

[Jeffrey D]

No. Marilu Henner was never under consideration for the role of "Sandy" in "Grease". The top candidates for the role were: Deborah Raffin, Susan Dey and Marie Osmond. Marie almost got the part but she was opposed to the character's transformation at the end and backed out.

Is it true that Henner was in the original play, before the film was green-lit?

 

[Malcolm R]

From Wikipedia:

While a student at the University of Chicago in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, Henner originated the role of "Marty" in the Kingston Mines production of Grease in 1971. When the show was discovered and moved to Broadway, she was asked to reprise the role; however, she chose instead to play "Marty" in the national touring company alongside John Travolta, who played "Doody".

 

[DarkVader]

From Wikipedia:

Yes, this is semi-correct. Henner actually opted not to audition for the New York production because she had no faith it would succeed and instead went to college. Katie Hanley played the role Off-Broadway (Feb - June 1972) but when it moved to Broadway in June Hanley opted not make the move uptown so that she could spend time with her baby daughter. Meg Bennett assumed the role on Broadway. By this time the show was gaining momentum and was a hit and Henner expressed regret to Jim Jacobs (they are close friends) that she passed up the opportunity to be in the show in New York. A year later Jacobs called Henner and gave her the opportunity to audition for the role in the First National Touring Company and she wound up being cast.

This and so much more may be found within the pages of this recently released book:

 

[Scott Merryfield]

No. Marilu Henner was never under consideration for the role of "Sandy" in "Grease". The top candidates for the role were: Deborah Raffin, Susan Dey and Marie Osmond. Marie almost got the part but she was opposed to the character's transformation at the end and backed out.

I couldn't imagine anyone other than Olivia in those tight pants.

 

[usrunnr]

Wasn't Katy Hanley in the original "Godspell"? Sang "Day by Day"?

 

[Keith Cobby]

Olivia (although born in England) is the second beloved Australian singer to pass away this month following the sad death of Judith Durham on 5 August.

 

[usrunnr]

Olivia (although born in England) is the second beloved Australian singer to pass away this month following the sad death of Judith Durham on 5 August.

I don't recall that name, but I do remember The Seekers and, of course, "Georgy Girl".

 

[DarkVader]

Wasn't Katy Hanley in the original "Godspell"? Sang "Day by Day"?

Yes she was in the film version of "Godspell" but she didn't sing "Day by Day", Robin Lamont sang that. Katie sang "By My Side."

 

[Guardyan]

I'm still sad about her passing. ONJ will always have a special place in my heart and I just have so many good memories from watching Grease over and over. I wasn't born when the movie came out, but I do remember the first time my parents showed it to me and it instantly became one of my favorite movies.

Interestingly I've just learned that she was in a pop duo with Pat Carroll who passed away on Jun 30th! Bewildering to say the least.

Oh, and reading this thread gave me Pretty Woman feelings: the actress who passed on playing Sandy is just like phony Molly Ringwald who declined to play the role of Vivian that turned Julia Roberts into a megastar. Though Newton-John never got paid 20M to play a part in a Hollywood movie, she sure became an international superstar after Grease. Choose wisely they say...

 

[Kevin Hewell]

I was twelve when "Grease" came out and most everyone my age or a little older in the neighborhood would walk downtown and watch the film. We wound up going eight times that Summer.

Another movie I really like her in was "Sordid Lives". She's definitely not Sandy in that film.

Sordid Lives - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[MoonstruckinMaryland]

I'm still sad about her passing. ONJ will always have a special place in my heart and I just have so many good memories from watching Grease over and over. I wasn't born when the movie came out, but I do remember the first time my parents showed it to me and it instantly became one of my favorite movies.

Interestingly I've just learned that she was in a pop duo with Pat Carroll who passed away on Jun 30th! Bewildering to say the least.

Oh, and reading this thread gave me Pretty Woman feelings: the actress who passed on playing Sandy is just like phony Molly Ringwald who declined to play the role of Vivian that turned Julia Roberts into a megastar. Though Newton-John never got paid 20M to play a part in a Hollywood movie, she sure became an international superstar after Grease. Choose wisely they say...

 

[MoonstruckinMaryland]

"Interestingly I've just learned that she was in a pop duo with Pat Carroll who passed away on Jun 30th! Bewildering to say the least."

That was a different Pat Carroll.

Pat Carroll (singer) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[ponset]

Rest In Peace Olivia Newton John.