John Travolta shares family video of his kids celebrating first Christmas since Kelly Preston's death
John Travolta and his children wished his followers a Merry Christmas on Friday, their first holiday season since Kelly Preston died in July.
In a video posted to Instagram, the "Grease" actor showed kids Ella, 20, and Benjamin, 10, waving and addressing his fans while they stood front of a glittering Christmas tree and plenty of presents.
"Say 'Merry Christmas,' Ella. Say 'Merry Christmas,' Ben," Travolta can be heard saying from behind the camera.
Travolta, 66, has been open about his personal life this holiday season, thanking others for their support following the death of Preston, his wife and the children's mother, who died in July at age 57 after a private battle with breast cancer.
Kelly Preston: 'Jerry Maguire' actress and wife of John Travolta dies of breast cancer at 57
"I just wanted to take this moment to thank each and every one of you for supporting me in such an incredible way this year," he said in a video posted to Instagram last month. "Happy Thanksgiving and always love."
Travolta and Preston met while filming 1988's "The Experts" and married in a midnight ceremony in Paris in 1991. The couple had three children: daughter Ella and sons Benjamin and Jett, the latter of whom died at age 16 after having a seizure while the family was on vacation in the Bahamas in January 2009.
"It is with a very heavy heart that I inform you that my beautiful wife Kelly has lost her two-year battle with breast cancer," Travolta shared on Instagram July 13. "She fought a courageous fight with the love and support of so many.
"Kelly’s love and life will always be remembered," Travolta added in the post, saying he planned to take time off "to be there for my children who have lost their mother. So forgive me in advance if you don’t hear from us for a while. But please know that I will feel your outpouring of love in the weeks and months ahead as we heal."
Contributing: Bryan Alexander
'Always love': John Travolta thanks fans for 'supporting' him in Instagram post
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: John Travolta, kids video first Christmas since Kelly Preston's death