John Travolta through the years

John Travolta's highs and lows

By Geoff Berkshire, Metromix

John Travolta's career has been a roller coaster ride of dizzying highs and whiplash-inducing trips to the bottom. He's been a major box office star in two different decades, and practically unemployable in between. Now he's one of Hollywood's great enigmas: a likable safe bet or a washed-up ham?

Even the coverage of his personal life is conflicted. Tabloids don't know whether to mock his wholehearted embrace of Scientology or pity the tragic death of his teenage son Jett.

With Travolta's latest film—the action drama "The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3"—due out June 12, take a look back at Travolta's Hollywood journey.