John Travolta kept things quiet for his 71st birthday celebrations yesterday, February 18, taking some time off social media to mark the day with his loved ones.
However, the day after his birthday, his daughter Ella Bleu Travolta, 24, took to social media to share a special tribute alongside a throwback photo.
She posted a snap of her and her dad, seemingly at a wedding, with her adorable younger self sporting shoulder-length hair and dressed in a lavender tutu, with her dad sweetly doting over her.
"Happy birthday to the kindest, most loving, special person I know. I love you so much," Ella lovingly penned in her caption, with all her followers reciprocating with birthday wishes for the actor.
Last year for his birthday, John flew to Brazil on his private plane. A historical city in the Pernambuco region of Brazil, named Olinda, even honors the actor by parading a 12-foot tall puppet of his Saturday Night Fever-era style down the streets during their famed carnivals each year around his birthday, having done so for 46 years now.
© InstagramThe star shared some outtakes from his trip on social media while making sure to pay homage to the people of Olinda. "My trip to Brazil to celebrate my birthday. Also to thank 'Olinda Brazil' which yearly dedicates a carnival to me! I thank you my friends!!"
John and Ella are particularly close, with the former also acting as a producer on her debut EP Colors of Love and sharing it often with his own followers on social media. John and his late wife Kelly Preston also welcomed sons Jett, who tragically passed away in 2009 at the age of 16, and Benjamin, now 14.
© Instagram"He's amazing and he's so protective because he's been in this industry — in the movie industry, in the music industry — forever, so he knows how to protect me in that sense," Ella said during an appearance on the Third Hour of Today last year.
She also spoke about working with him as an actress, recalling some of her first ever acting roles as a child beside him. "I love working with my dad, if I could always do it, I would."
© Getty ImagesWhen the idea of a duet was thrown around, Ella confessed that she wanted that to happen as well, particularly a Christmas duet. "I love Christmas music," she bashfully responded. "We'll get in there right after this!"
John Travolta: 5 top roles
© Getty Images1. Grease (1978)
John made his Broadway debut in Grease, initially replacing a supporting role. When the film adaption was made, he was upgraded to the lead role of Danny Zuko. He starred alongside Olivia Newton-John in this timeless, high-school romance musical.
2. Saturday Night Fever (1977)
John embraced his disco era, where he played a 19-year-old Brooklyn boy who works in a hardware store in the day and is king of the disco dancefloor by night. The film, featuring songs by the Bee Gees, had one of the most successful soundtracks of all time.
3. Pulp Fiction (1994)
In Quentin Tarantino's iconic Pulp Fiction, John played a hitman, a role which earned him major acclaim.
4. Carrie (1976)
John played the dim-witted boyfriend of Carrie's main tormenter in this adaptation of Stephen King's novel. The film became an instant horror classic.
5. Hairspray (2007)
In the 60s-style movie musical Hairspray, John played Edna, the mother of a young girl determined to dance on a local TV show and help integrate its predominately white cast.
Ella also explained during a separate conversation with People that when she wanted advice about life in the spotlight and the entertainment industry, she always turned to her father, who has been a Hollywood mainstay since the '70s. "I run things by him a lot."
© Getty Images"He's a complete role model for me and one of the biggest things also that he does is he'll give me advice. The best advice that I've gotten obviously is from him, but he also really leaves it up to me, which I really appreciate. He very much so trusts me and my instincts."
