Actress Kelly Preston, who starred in such films as Jerry Maguire (1996) and Twins (1988), died Sunday (July 12). The news was revealed by her husband of 28 years, John Travolta. Preston had battled breast cancer for two years. She was 57.
“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,” Travolta wrote on his Instagram account. “She fought a courageous fight with the love and support of so many. My family and I will forever be grateful to her doctors and nurses at MD Anderson Cancer Center, all the medical centers that have helped, as well as her many friends and loved ones who have been by her side. 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. But please know that I will feel your outpouring of love in the weeks and months ahead as we heal.”
The couple met on the set of 1989’s The Experts. They were married two years later.
Preston was born Kelly Smith on Oct. 13, 1962, in Honolulu, Hawaii. Her breakout role was in the teen comedy, Mischief (1985). That led to roles in the adventure film, SpaceCamp (1986), and the smash hit, Twins (1988) opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito.
In 1996, she portrayed the title character’s fiancée in the Tom Cruise-starrer, Jerry Maguire.
Another notable role was opposite Kevin Costner in For Love of the Game (1999). In 2018, she starred with her husband in the mob biopic, Gotti.
Preston is also survived by two children, Ella and Benjamin. A third, Jett, died in 2009.
Related: Travolta appeared with his Grease co-star Olivia Newton-John in 2019
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