Dame Olivia Newton-John’s husband discusses star’s ‘pain free’ final days
Dame Olivia Newton-John’s grieving husband has said the star’s final days were “free of pain.”
The beloved Grease star - best known for playing Sandy in the 1978 hit film opposite John Travolta - died on August 8 2022 aged 73. She had battled cancer on and off for 30 years.
Her husband, American businessman John Easterling, 70, has revealed she was “very alive and very conscious” in her final days.
Speaking to the Daily Telegraph in Australia, he said: “She was very clear and very alive and very conscious and not in pain. So there was a quality of life there at that time that I think is so critical.”
The actress had breast cancer three times during her life. She was first diagnosed in 1992 and it returned in 2013 and 2017. During her third diagnosis, it spread to her spine.
Mr Easterling also said his late wife had an “uncommon ability to care” for others.
He also said that, despite her being one of the most famous actors of her generation, she would have been surprised by the huge outpouring of grief from fans across the globe.
“All the accolades... she would kind of brush that off,” he said. “She was just busy focusing on living her life being a joyful spirit.”
Previously, Easterling said his late wife was “the most courageous woman I have ever known” and that her caring nature “almost eclipsed what is humanly possible”.
Sharing news of her death on social media in August, Mr Easterling said she had passed away “peacefully”, surrounded by family and friends.
“Our love for each other transcends our understanding,” he captioned a picture of himself and his late wife.
“Every day we expressed our gratitude for this love that could be so deep, so real, so natural. We never had to ‘work’ on it.
“We were in awe of this great mystery and accepted the experience of our love as past, present and forever.”
Signing off, he added: “Our family deeply appreciates the vast ocean of love and support that has come our way.”
Dame Olivia’s daughter Chloe Lattanzi also posted a tribute and accompanying video to her mother, describing her as “an angel on earth”.
“You are my lighthouse mama. My safe place. My heart space,” she wrote on Instagram.
