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Kelly Preston, star of 'Jerry Maguire', wife to John Travolta dies at 57

Kelly Preston, star of movies like Jerry Maguire and Twins and wife of John Travolta, has died at the age of 57 following a two-year fight with breast cancer.

In a statement to People magazine, a representative for the family said: “On the morning of July 12, 2020, Kelly Preston, adored wife and mother, passed away following a two-year battle with breast cancer.

“Choosing to keep her fight private, she had been undergoing medical treatment for some time, supported by her closest family and friends.

“She was a bright, beautiful and loving soul who cared deeply about others and who brought life to everything she touched. Her family asks for your understanding of their need for privacy at this time.”

Actress Kelly Preston poses for photographers during a photo call for the film 'Gotti' at the 71st international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 15, 2018. (Photo by Arthur Mola/Invision/AP)
Kelly Preston poses for photographers at Cannes in 2018 (Credit: Arthur Mola/Invision/AP)
Actors Kelly Preston, left, and John Travolta from the film 'Gotti' pose for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'Solo: A Star Wars Story' at the 71st international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 15, 2018. (Photo by Arthur Mola/Invision/AP)
Kelly Preston and John Travolta at the premiere of Solo: A Star Wars Story in 2018 (Credit: Arthur Mola/Invision/AP)

She is survived by her husband, with whom she was married for 28 years, and her children Ella, 20, and Benjamin, aged nine.

Travolta and Preston's other son Jett died in 2009 when he was 16.

Born Kelly Kamalelehua Smith in Hawaii, she lost her father at the age of three.

With her mother’s new partner, who later adopted her, she briefly moved to Iraq aged five, and then to Australia.

She began acting after returning to the US, studying theatre and drama at the University of Southern California.

Los actores y esposos en la vida real Kelly Preston, izquierda, y John Travolta de la película “Gotti” posan para retratos a su llegada al estreno de “Solo: A Star Wars Story” con sus hijos Benjamin Travolta y Ella Bleu Travolta en la 71ª edición del Festival de Cine de Cannes, en Francia el martes 15 de mayo de 2018. (Foto Arthur Mola/Invision/AP)
Kelly Preston and John Travolta with Benjamin Travolta and Ella Bleu Travolta at Cannes in 2018 (Credit: Arthur Mola/Invision/AP)

Making her movie debut in the Charles Bronson movie 10 to Midnight in 1983, she went on to appear in kid's space adventure Space Camp and then opposite Danny DeVito and Arnold Schwarzenegger in the comedy Twins.

In 1996 Oscar-winner Jerry Maguire, she played Avery, the fiancee with whom Tom Cruise's sports agent splits.

Preston in Jerry Maguire (Credit: Sony)
Preston in Jerry Maguire (Credit: Sony)

Other notable credits included the Dr. Seuss adaptation The Cat In The Hat with Mike Myers, and Old Dogs with Travolta and the late Robin Williams.

Her last movie appearance was in 2018's Gotti, in which Travolta played mobster John Gotti, Preston playing his wife, Victoria.

In her last post to Instagram, she celebrated Father's Day with Travolta three weeks ago, wishing a happy day to 'the best one I know'.