'Grease' and 'Grease 2': Where Are They Now?

It's been a long time since they rock-and-rolled, but 'Hairspray' stars Michelle Pfeiffer and John Travolta are no musical novices. In fact, both started out at Rydell High: Travolta in 'Grease,' Pfeiffer in the so-bad-it's-awesome sequel, 'Grease 2.' What have some of the other Pink Ladies and T-Birds been up to since graduation? Tell us about it ... stud.

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John Travolta

'Grease'

Then: He was the hottest actor on the planet in 1978, having surged to musical star (Danny Zuko in 'Grease,' duh), sitcom heartthrob (Vinnie Barbarino in 'Welcome Back, Kotter') and disco legend (Tony Manero in 'Saturday Night Fever') in only a few years. No wonder Sandy wanted a piece of that.

John Travolta

Now: He's had extreme highs (his 1994 comeback in 'Pulp Fiction') and extreme lows (the unspeakably horrendous 'Battlefield Earth'), but his career comes full circle as he goes back to musicals with 'Hairspray.' Of course he's playing an obese middle-aged woman instead of a hot teenage greaser, but still ...

Olivia Newton-John

'Grease'

Then: After Marie Osmond turned down the part of Sandy Olsson, Newton-John -- known primarily as a pop singer and still smarting from the cinematic dud 'Toomorrow' (sic) -- won the role of Danny's summer lover who, by an act of fate, ends up at Rydell High.

Olivia Newton-John

Now: Still looking great after a battle with breast cancer in the '90s -- and the mysterious disappearance of her boyfriend in 2005 -- the popular songstress (she's had more than 25 Top 40 songs, five of which hit No. 1) recently guest-judged on 'American Idol' and will release a Christmas album this fall.

Stockard Channing

'Grease'

Then: She was 33 when she ruled the school as brassy Pink Lady Betty Rizzo, who mocks Sandy, hooks up with Kenickie and earns a reputation as "trashy and no good" ... though also deeply misunderstood.

Stockard Channing

Now: After a failed sitcom ('The Stockard Channing Show'), a few film roles ('Heartburn') and steady theater work, Channing earned an Oscar nomination for 'Six Degrees of Separation,' then ruled the screen (and won an Emmy) as First Lady Abbey Bartlet on 'The West Wing.' This fall, she hits the London stage in 'Awake and Sing!'

Jeff Conaway

'Grease'

Then: Conaway had played Danny Zuko as part of the original Broadway cast of 'Grease' (he was Barry Bostwick's understudy), but he stepped aside for Travolta in the film and instead bestowed many a hickey as Kenickie, Danny's best friend and Rizzo's erstwhile fella.

Jeff Conaway

Now: After three seasons on 'Taxi' and marriage to Olivia Newton-John's sister, he fell into that all-too-familiar 'E! True Hollywood Story' pattern: divorce, drug abuse, and a bizarre meltdown on 'Celebrity Fit Club 3.' He did, however, spend four seasons on 'Babylon 5,' and continues to make straight-to-DVD movies.

Didi Conn

'Grease'

Then: The woman born Edith Bernstein played Frenchy, delectably sweet Pink Lady, aspiring beautician and Gatsby of the pajama party. She has the dubious distinction of being the only major 'Grease' cast member to return for 'Grease 2.'

Didi Conn

Now: After five seasons ditzing it up on the '80s sitcom 'Benson,' Conn (who married 'Zodiac' composer and Talia's ex David Shire) has mostly avoided showbiz. She did take a tiny role in 2002's 'Frida' and has reportedly been the driving force behind a third 'Grease' film ('Grease 3: Frenchy in France'?).

Dinah Manoff

'Grease'

Then: Manoff was Marty Maraschino ("like the cherry"), the flirtatious Pink Lady with multiple boyfriends who catches the eye -- and lips -- of suave 'National Bandstand' host Vince Fontaine (Edward Byrnes).

Dinah Manoff

Now: Manoff went on to roles in such films as 'Ordinary People,' but she found fame on TV ('Soap,' 'Empty Nest') and adulation on Broadway (winning a Tony for 'I Ought to Be in Pictures'). These days you're more likely to see her byline than her face: She writes essays for NPR and just completed a novel.

Michelle Pfeiffer

'Grease 2'

Then: In her first starring role (!!), Pfeiffer was Stephanie Zinone, the gum-cracking, Cool Rider-lovin' queen of the Pink Ladies. Aside from the pink jacket, she's often dressed in black from head to toe ... shades of Catwoman to come?

Michelle Pfeiffer

Now: Pfeiffer was for a time Hollywood's favorite leading blonde, with three Oscar and six Golden Globe nominations (and one Globe win). After spending some time with hubby David E. Kelly and their kids, she's back this year in a big way; besides 'Hairspray,' she appears in 'Stardust' and 'I Could Never Be Your Woman.'

Maxwell Caulfield

'Grease 2'

Then: If 'Grease 2' were a tragedy (and many agree that it was), its tragic hero would be Maxwell Caulfield, pegged as the next Travolta after landing the role of a lifetime as Rydell High foreign exchange student Michael Carrington. When the film tanked, so went much of the hype surrounding Max.

Maxwell Caulfield

Now: Don't cry for Caulfield; the Scot may not be a superstar living a life of wealth and Scientology, but he's carved out a decent living, with credits including 'Empire Records' and TV's 'Dynasty.' After a stint as Billy Flynn in the West End production of 'Chicago,' he next stars in the family film 'The Snow Prince.'

Lorna Luft

'Grease 2'

Then: Luft, who knows iconic divas -- she's the daughter of Judy Garland, half-sis to Liza Minnelli -- was all dolled up to look like Marilyn Monroe as Paulette Rebchuck, who unsubtly makes a play for her best friend's ex, Johnny. Then again, she does suffer from the disease "nymphoidmania."

Lorna Luft

Now: Luft's autobiography, 'Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows,' was turned into an Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated miniseries (Judy Davis won both an Emmy and Globe for her portrayal of the mercurial Garland). Most recently, Luft appeared in Rufus Wainwright's musical tribute to Garland.

Adrian Zmed

'Grease 2'

Then: Since he played Danny Zuko (as a replacement) in the 1970s Broadway version of 'Grease,' it was a no-brainer casting Zmed in 'Grease 2.' The 'T.J. Hooker' star was Johnny Nogerelli, leader of the T-Birds and Stephanie's persistent ex.

Adrian Zmed

Now: He won raves for his stage roles in 'Blood Brothers' and a 'Grease' revival in the '90s, but hasn't been as lucky since. Most recently, he starred as Noah in the off-Broadway play 'The Ark,' as the "floating head" on the NBC soap 'Passions' and in the $6,500-budgeted '06 flick 'The Craving Heart.'

Christopher McDonald

'Grease 2'

Then: The prolific TV and movie "That Guy" played Goose McKenzie, one of Johnny Nogerelli's T-Bird lackeys in 'Grease 2.'

Christopher McDonald

Then: Known primarily as Adam Sandler's 'Happy Gilmore' golfing nemesis Shooter McGavin, McDonald has five films set to come out in '07 and '08, including 'Fanboys' and 'Awake.' He can currently be seen playing baseball legend Joe DiMaggio in the ESPN miniseries 'The Bronx Is Burning.'

Pamela Adlon

'Grease 2'

Then: Adlon was Dolores "Woodchuck" Rebchuck, Paulette's bratty kid sister and unofficial Pink Lady mascot, whom Michael befriends. She even snags a boyfriend at the end: the littlest T-Bird, Davey Jaworski (Leif Green).

Pamela Adlon

Now: You may not recognize her face, but you'd know her voice. Adlon's provided voices in such 'toons as 'Pepper Ann,' 'Recess,' The Oblongs' and 'King of the Hill' (she was Bobby until 2006). She also starred in the short-lived HBO series 'Lucky Louie,' as the wife Kim.

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