John Travolta's son Jett died when he was only 16 years old. Here's what happened to the young boy.

In 2009, tragedy hit Grease actor John Travolta's life. The 71-year-old lost his oldest son, Jett, when the boy was only 16 years old. He's not the only public figure who has had to say goodbye to their child.

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He recently paid tribute to his son, on what would've been Jett's 33rd birthday.

John Travolta made a name for himself thanks to his roles in landmark movies such as Saturday Night Fever and Pulp Fiction, but he also took the time to be at home with his wife and kids. The actor married Kelly Preston in 1991, and the couple welcomed three children together: Jett, Ella Bleu, and Benjamin.

John Travolta has had to deal with grief in his life, like so many others. In 2020, he lost his 57-year-old wife of thirty years to breast cancer. The actor paid tribute to his late wife, writing on Instagram:

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.