Early Life and Education of Olivia Newton-John: A Complete Timeline

How education and upbringing influenced the life of Olivia Newton-John. A timeline of key moments.

Dame Olivia Newton-John (1948-2022) was a highly successful British-Australian singer and actress. Renowned for her iconic role in the film "Grease" and numerous hit songs like "Physical," she sold over 100 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time and the highest-selling female Australian recording artist. Her career spanned decades and included accolades such as multiple Grammy Awards and American Music Awards. She was also a dedicated activist for cancer awareness, having battled the disease for many years.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Legacy & Impact

1914: Birth of Brinley Newton-John and Irene Helene

In 1914, both Brinley "Brin" Newton-John, Olivia's father, and Irene Helene, Olivia's mother, were born.

1933: Family Escapes Nazi Regime

In 1933, Olivia Newton-John's mother's German Jewish academic family escaped the Nazi regime by moving to the UK.

1939: Birth of brother Hugh

In 1939, Olivia Newton-John's brother, Hugh, was born.

1941: Birth of sister Rona

In 1941, Olivia Newton-John's sister, Rona, was born.

September 1948: Olivia Newton-John's birth

On 26 September 1948, Olivia Newton-John was born in Cambridge to Brinley "Brin" Newton-John and Irene Helene.

1954: Emigration to Melbourne

In 1954, when Olivia Newton-John was five, her family emigrated to Melbourne, Victoria, on the SS Strathaird.

1963: Meeting Ian Turpie

In 1963, Olivia Newton-John met Australian actor and singer Ian Turpie, when he visited the coffee shop where her group Sol Four performed.

1966: Return to England

In 1966, Olivia Newton-John ended her relationship with Ian Turpie and returned to England.

1968: Engagement to Bruce Welch

In 1968, Olivia Newton-John was engaged to Bruce Welch, one of her early producers.

1972: Ending relationship with Bruce Welch

In 1972, Olivia Newton-John ended her relationship with Bruce Welch.

1973: Meeting Lee Kramer

In 1973, Olivia Newton-John met British businessman Lee Kramer, who became her boyfriend and manager, while vacationing on the French Riviera.

1973: Purchase of London flat

In 1973, Olivia Newton-John purchased a modest one-bedroom flat in northwest London.

1974: Relocation to Malibu, California

In late 1974, Olivia Newton-John relocated from England to the United States, setting up residence in Malibu, California.

1978: Canceled Japan concert tour

In 1978, Olivia Newton-John canceled a concert tour of Japan to protest the slaughter of dolphins caught in tuna fishing nets. She subsequently rescheduled the tour when the Japanese government assured her that the practice was being curbed.

1979: End of relationship with Lee Kramer

In 1979, Olivia Newton-John ended her turbulent relationship with Lee Kramer.

1980: Meeting Matt Lattanzi

In 1980, Olivia Newton-John met Matt Lattanzi while filming Xanadu.

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1980: Purchase of Dalwood Estate

In 1980, Olivia Newton-John paid $622,000 for the Dalwood estate

1981: Pursuing Australian Citizenship

In 1981, Olivia Newton-John initially pursued Australian citizenship.

1983: Addition of land to Dalwood Estate

In 1983, Olivia Newton-John added additional land to her Dalwood Estate.

December 1984: Marriage to Matt Lattanzi

In December 1984, Olivia Newton-John married actor Matt Lattanzi, her long-time partner.

January 1986: Birth of daughter Chloe Rose

In January 1986, Olivia Newton-John and Matt Lattanzi's daughter, Chloe Rose, was born.

1986: Performed at 1986 VFL Grand Final

In 1986, Olivia Newton-John performed the Australian national anthem at the VFL Grand Final between Carlton and Hawthorn.

1990: John Easterling founded the Amazon Herb Company

In 1990, John Easterling founded the Amazon Herb Company.

1991: Became National Spokesperson for CHEC

In 1991, Olivia Newton-John became the National Spokesperson for the Colette Chuda Environmental Fund/CHEC (Children's Health Environmental Coalition) following the death of Colette Chuda.

1992: Breast cancer diagnosis

In 1992, Olivia Newton-John was diagnosed with breast cancer, forcing her to cancel publicity for her third hits collection, Back to Basics: The Essential Collection 1971–1992, and her planned tour. She received her diagnosis the same weekend her father died.

1992: Death of Brinley Newton-John

In 1992, Olivia Newton-John's father, Brinley Newton-John, passed away.

1993: Meeting John Easterling

In 1993, Olivia Newton-John met John Easterling, founder of the Amazon Herb Company.

1994: Becoming an Australian Citizen

In 1994, Olivia Newton-John became an Australian citizen.

April 1995: Separation from Matt Lattanzi

In April 1995, Olivia Newton-John and Matt Lattanzi announced their separation.

1996: Divorce from Matt Lattanzi

In 1996, Olivia Newton-John and Matt Lattanzi divorced.

2002: Addition of land to Dalwood Estate

In 2002, Olivia Newton-John added additional land to her Dalwood Estate.

2003: Death of Irene Helene

In 2003, Olivia Newton-John's mother, Irene Helene, passed away.

2005: Founding of Gaia Retreat & Spa

In 2005, Olivia Newton-John co-founded Byron Bay's Gaia Retreat & Spa.

2005: Disappearance of Patrick McDermott

In 2005, Olivia Newton-John's boyfriend, Patrick McDermott, vanished during a fishing trip off the Californian coast; Newton-John was in Australia at her Gaia Retreat & Spa at the time.

2007: Starting relationship with John Easterling

In 2007, Olivia Newton-John started dating John Easterling.

June 2008: Legal Marriage to John Easterling

On 30 June 2008, Olivia Newton-John legally married John Easterling on Jupiter Island, Florida, following an Incan spiritual ceremony in Peru on June 21, 2008.

2008: United States Coast Guard investigation released

In 2008, The United States Coast Guard investigation was released after Patrick McDermott disappearance in 2005. It suggested that "McDermott was lost at sea".

June 2009: Purchase of Jupiter Inlet home

In June 2009, Olivia Newton-John and her second husband, John Easterling, purchased a new $4.1 million home in Jupiter Inlet, Florida.

April 2010: Report of Patrick McDermott being alive

In April 2010, a private investigator claimed that Olivia Newton-John's former boyfriend, Patrick McDermott, who disappeared in 2005, was alive and had faked his death, although this claim was unsubstantiated.

2012: John Easterling sells Amazon Herb Company

In 2012, John Easterling sold the Amazon Herb Company to TriVita, Inc.

2013: Recurrence of breast cancer

In 2013, Olivia Newton-John had a recurrence of breast cancer.

2013: Death of sister Rona

In 2013, Olivia Newton-John's sister, Rona, passed away.

2013: Suicide on Jupiter Inlet property

In 2013, while Olivia Newton-John and John Easterling were not present, a contractor named Christopher Pariseleti committed suicide on their Jupiter Inlet estate, which was up for sale at the time.

2015: Purchase of Santa Ynez Valley Horse Ranch

In 2015, Olivia Newton-John and John Easterling purchased a $5.3 million, 12-acre horse ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley outside Santa Barbara.

2015: Sale of Jupiter Inlet Home

In 2015, Olivia Newton-John and John Easterling sold their Jupiter Inlet home to a Swedish advertising executive for $5.1 million.

May 2017: Breast cancer recurrence

In May 2017, it was announced that Olivia Newton-John's breast cancer had returned and metastasized to her lower back.

2017: Identity as Australian

In 2017, Olivia Newton-John stated "I am still Australian" when asked about her citizenship.

2017: Death of Lee Kramer

In 2017, Olivia Newton-John's former boyfriend and manager, Lee Kramer, died.

November 2019: Julien's Auctions Sale

On 2 November 2019, Julien's Auctions held an auction of Olivia Newton-John's memorabilia, raising $2.4 million, with her Grease outfit fetching $405,700. Her black skintight pants were bought by Sara Blakely for $162,000, and her leather jacket was returned to her after being purchased for $243,200, with all proceeds donated to her Cancer Wellness and Research Centre in Australia.

2019: Sale of Australian Farm

In 2019, Olivia Newton-John sold her 187-acre Australian farm located near Byron Bay in New South Wales for $4.6 million, having owned the property for nearly 40 years.