2012 | Reunited with "Grease" co-star Olivia Newton-John to record holiday album This Christmas |
2012 | Featured in Oliver Stone's ensemble crime drama "Savages" |
2010 | Played an FBI Agent opposite Jonathan Rhys Meyers in "From Paris with Love," co-written by Luc Besson |
2009 | Co-starred with Robin Williams in the comedy "Old Dogs"; also starred wife Kelly Preston and daughter Ella Travolta |
2009 | Played the villainous role in Tony Scott's remake of "The Taking of Pelham 123" |
2008 | Lent his voice to the title character, a small white German Shepherd in the animated feature "Bolt"; earned a Golden Globe nomination for performing the song "I Thought I Lost You" |
2007 | Cast in gender-bending role as 1950s housewife Edna Turnblad (originally played by Divine in John Waters' 1988 film) in the big screen adaptation of the Broadway musical "Hairspray"; earned a Golden Globe nomination for Supporting Actor |
2007 | Cast in the comedy-adventure "Wild Hogs" as one of four middle-aged friends who take a freewheeling motorcycle trip |
2005 | Again played Chili Palmer, his charater from the hit film "Get Shorty" in its sequel "Be Cool" |
2004 | Co-starred with Scarlett Johansson in "A Love Song for Bobby Long" |
2004 | Cast as Chief Kennedy in the drama "Ladder 49" opposite Joaquin Phoenix |
2004 | Cast opposite Thomas Jane in "The Punisher" |
2003 | Played a DEA agent in dramatic thriller "Basic" |
2001 | Portrayed a spy in the thriller "Swordfish" |
2000 | Starred opposite Lisa Kudrow in the Nora Ephron directed "Lucky Numbers" |
2000 | Realized dream project of starring in the feature adaptation of L. Ron Hubbard's sci-fi novel "Battlefield Earth"; film and performance was panned by critics |
1998 | Played attorney Jan Schlichtman who battles powerful companies on behalf of the victims of toxic poisoning in "A Civil Action," based on the book by Jonathan Harr |
1998 | Portrayed Governor Jack Stanton in the political feature "Primary Colors," helmed by Mike Nichols |
1997 | Starred opposite Nicolas Cage in second film with director Woo "Face/Off" |
1996 | First film with John Woo, "Broken Arrow" |
1995 | Cast as Chili Palmer in Barry Sonnenfeld's "Get Shorty"; starred with Gene Hackman, Rene Russo and Danny DeVito |
1994 | Revitalized feature acting career with an acclaimed portrayal of a junkie hitman in Quentin Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction"; earned second Best Actor Academy Award nomination |
1990 | Co-wrote screenplay and starred in "Chains of Gold" |
1989 | Initially revived career with comedy "Look Who's Talking" but did not follow up on movie's success |
1987 | Returned to TV to co-star in Harold Pinter's "The Dumb Waiter," a one-act play directed by Robert Altman |
1983 | Reprised Tony Manero in the "Saturday Night Fever" sequel "Staying Alive" |
1981 | Reteamed with De Palma for "Blow Out" |
1980 | Starred with Debra Winger in "Urban Cowboy" |
1978 | Reprised stage role for the feature version of "Grease" opposite Olivia Newton-John |
1977 | First starring role in a feature, as Tony Manero in "Saturday Night Fever"; earned Best Actor Oscar nomination |
1976 | Landed featured role in Brian De Palma's "Carrie" |
1976 | TV-movie debut, "The Boy in the Plastic Bubble" (ABC) |
1975 | Cast as Vinnie Barbarino on "Welcome Back, Kotter" (ABC); began appearing with less frequency toward the end of its run |
1975 | Made feature film debut in a bit part in "The Devil's Rain" |
1972 | Appeared in the original Broadway production of "Grease"; also toured with show for 10 months |
1974 | Made Broadway debut in "Over Here!"; acted opposite the Andrews Sisters for 10 months |
| Acted in off-Broadway productions |
| Began acting career in summer stock in New Jersey |
1970 | Dropped out of high school at age 16 |
1966 | Made stage debut in "Who Will Save the Plowboy?" at age 12 |
