Olivia Newton John was 30 in 'Grease'
Posted by anastasia on 03-15-2006
"Grease" was definitely my "High School Musical." I saw the movie multiple times when it came out and wore out the record acting it out with my best friend. I was always Danny — she was bossy that way. I had it out for ONJ, aka "Sandy." Even though I loved watching "the transformation" from goody two shoes to smoking harlot, I was even more in love with John Travolta (I think I even scribbled on her face on the inside of my album cover). Jealousy is not pretty.
I have to thank the L.A. Times today for reviving my old feud with one more reason to have hated Olivia. She was a 30-year-old playing a high school senior! Imposter! Actually, I'm quite over it all and am happy to say she ranks much higher than John "Revolta" in my book. All I have to do is think of that image from "Battlefield Earth" and ONJ suddenly seems like a goddess. Plus she redeemed herself for me as a roller-skating loving tween with Xanadu.
More fun teen imposters outed by the L.A. Times, reg. required:
Henry Winkler in "Happy Days"
Henry Winkler, who played the iconic greaser Arthur "Fonzie" Fonazarelli was 29 when "Happy Days" first aired in 1974. Fonzie was said to be a high school drop out, so his age was never clear, but a decent guess is somewhere between 18 and 19 in those early seasons.
Alan Ruck in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"
Cameron Frye, the uptight best friend of Matthew Broderick's Ferris Bueller was in his senior year of high school, but Alan Ruck, the actor who played him, was 30 years old when the duo ditched a day of school.
Benjamin McKenzie in "The O.C."
A brooding 27-year-old McKenzie stars as moody Ryan Atwood, the high school kid from the wrong side of the tracks, who won't graduate from high school in the next season.
Sissy Spacek in "Carrie"
The slight, freckled actress was 27 when she played the tormented teen with psychokinetic powers.
Gabrielle Carteris in "Beverly Hills, 90210"
Andrea Zuckerman-Vasquez was the editor of the high school newspaper, anxious grade grubber and madly in love with Brandon Walsh. The actress Gabrielle Carteris was 29 when the show first aired.
Charisma Carpenter in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"
Cordelia Chase was the most popular girl at Sunnydale High School, but the actress who played her was 27 when the show began.
Michael Rosenbaum in "Smallville"
According to the WB's telling of the Superman story Lex Luther (Rosenbaum) and Clark Kent were friends in high school. Except neither actor is high school age. Rosenbaum was 29 when the show started.
Stacey Dash in "Clueless"
As Cher's sidekick, Stacey Dash's Dionne helped transform a rough girl from the east coast into one of the most popular girls at school. Dash was 29 at the time.
Olivia Newton-John in "Grease"
Newton-John's character Sandy Olsson was the ultimate bobbysoxer until her super sexy transformation at the end of Grease. The actress was 30 when she wiggled with John Travolta in the budget funhouse in the grand finale.
Michael J. Fox in "Back to the Future 3"
The final film in the trilogy takes place just a week or two after the first film, even though it came out five years later. Fox's character Marty McFly still in high school, even though Fox himself was 29.








March 15th, 2006 at 10:14 am
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Gabrielle Carteris in "Beverly Hills, 90210"
Andrea Zuckerman-Vasquez was the editor of the high school newspaper, anxious grade grubber and madly in love with Brandon Walsh. The actress Gabrielle Carteris was 29 when the show first aired.
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She looked way too old for the part and shouldn't have been cast.
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Michael Rosenbaum in "Smallville"
According to the WB's telling of the Superman story Lex Luther (Rosenbaum) and Clark Kent were friends in high school. Except neither actor is high school age. Rosenbaum was 29 when the show started.
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Lex Luthor (notice spelling) is the manager of a factory in the first season of "Smallville," not a high school student.
March 16th, 2006 at 12:43 pm
When watching "BH90210", my friends and I had a running joke that Andrea was actually an undercover journalist. It gave her interactions with the gang (esp Brandon) a wonderfully creepy new dimension.
- yeff