Actor and producer John Travolta was born February 18, 1954, in Englewood, New Jersey, to Salvatore and Helen Travolta. His father, Salvatore Travolta, co-owned a tire shop and was a former semiprofessional football player. His mother, Helen Travolta, was a high school drama teacher. The youngest of six children, John grew up in a family that encouraged creativity and expression. In fact, his father built the children a theater in the basement and by the age of 12 John had joined an acting workshop and was soon appearing in musicals and plays. John's sister, Ellen, and brother Joey have also worked as actors.