John Travolta delivered an unexpected surprise to fans at the Hollywood Bowl on Friday, June 27, when he made an unannounced appearance at a “Grease” sing-along event dressed as his iconic character Danny Zuko. The 71-year-old actor stunned both the audience and his fellow cast members by strutting onto the stage in full greaser attire, complete with a black leather jacket, T-shirt, and jeans.
The surprise appearance occurred just as the Hollywood Bowl event was getting underway. Travolta revealed on Instagram that the appearance was completely secret, stating that “No one knew. Not even the cast.” The actor sported Danny’s signature pompadour hairstyle, though he wore a grey/vintage blond wig rather than the jet-black locks his character famously had in the 1978 film adaptation.
Upon taking the stage, Travolta immediately channeled his Danny Zuko persona, greeting the packed audience with one of the movie’s most memorable lines. He addressed the crowd by saying he thought they were going back to Australia, referencing the iconic scene where Danny excitedly greets his summer sweetheart, Sandy, before quickly playing it cool in front of his T-Birds greaser squad. Travolta assured fans that he was “rockin’ and rollin’ and whatnot” before the performance continued.
The actor was joined on stage by several of his original “Grease” co-stars, including Didi Conn, who played Frenchy; Barry Pearl, who portrayed Doody; Michael Tucci, who played Sonny; and Kelly Ward, who played Putzie. The film’s director, Randal Kleiser, was also present at the event. Cast members not in attendance included Stockard Channing, who played Rizzo; Jamie Donnelly, who portrayed Jan; and Dinah Manoff, who played Marty.
The reunion was particularly poignant given the absence of Olivia Newton-John, who played Danny’s love interest, Sandy, and died from breast cancer in August 2022 at age 73. Travolta and Newton-John had maintained a close friendship following their collaboration on the beloved musical film.
During his appearance, Travolta led the audience in singing a portion of “We Go Together,” the film’s boisterous closing number. He guided the crowd through the memorable “a-womp-bop-a-looma a-womp-bam-boom” chant, creating an interactive moment that connected the original cast with the enthusiastic fans. The audience responded with cheers and a standing ovation, clearly thrilled by the unexpected appearance of the original Danny Zuko.
The Hollywood Bowl event in Los Angeles was designed as an interactive experience where attendees were encouraged to show up in costume and participate as the stars of the show. The venue advertised the evening as one where “Grease is truly the word” and where fans could watch Danny, Sandy, and the gang while singing and dancing along to lyrics displayed on screen. The surprise appearance of the original Danny Zuko elevated the experience far beyond what attendees had expected.
Following the brief stage appearance, Travolta and his fellow cast members exited the stage, allowing the scheduled sing-along to begin. The actor later shared video footage of his surprise appearance on Instagram, along with a close-up photo showing what Danny Zuko looks like in 2025. He expressed gratitude to fans for what he described as a great evening.
This marked a rare public appearance by Travolta in his Danny Zuko persona. In 2019, he and Newton-John had reprised their roles for the first time ever at a Meet n’ Grease sing-along event in West Palm Beach, Florida. At that event, Newton-John wore Sandy’s yellow poodle skirt and cardigan, while Travolta donned Danny’s signature greaser outfit, similar to his appearance at the Hollywood Bowl.
“Grease” originally began as a 1972 stage musical before receiving its film adaptation six years later. The movie tells the story of teenage bad boy Danny Zuko, who falls for Australian good girl Sandy over the summer but must navigate the challenges when she moves to the United States and joins the student body at California’s Rydell High School. The film received five Golden Globe nominations and earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song for “Hopelessly Devoted to You.”
The cultural impact of “Grease” has endured for decades since its 1978 release. Made for only six million dollars, the film became Paramount’s highest earner by the end of its run, grossing more than 130 million dollars. As of May 2025, “Grease” ranks as the fourth-highest-grossing film adaptation of a Broadway musical, trailing only “Wicked,” “Mamma Mia!” and “Les Misérables.” The film has been included in the Library of Congress National Film Registry, cementing its place in American cinema history.
