Biography for
Jeff Conaway More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

5 October 1950, New York City, New York, USA

Date of Death

27 May 2011, Encino, Los Angeles, California, USA (pneumonia)

Birth Name

Jeffery Charles William Michael Conaway

Height

6' 1½" (1.87 m)

Spouse

Kerri Young	(17 August 1990 - 2000) (divorced)
Rona Newton-John	(9 January 1980 - 1985) (divorced) 1 child

Trivia

He is a middle child and is survived by two sisters, Carla Shreve and his younger sister, Michele Conaway.

Father of Emerson Newton-John, a professional race car driver. Emerson's mother is Rona Newton-John, sister of singer Olivia Newton-John.

Is a grandfather (grandson born January 1997). (Admitted this on NBC's "Later with Greg Kinnear" (1994), July 6/98, with guest host Rita Sever).

Wanted to be an astronaut when he was little.

Youngest of three kids.

While filming Grease (1978), had to walk slightly stooped so John Travolta would appear taller.

Though he played Kenickie in the movie version of Grease (1978), he appeared in the Broadway production as Danny Zuko.

Appeared in an episode of "Murder, She Wrote" (1984) ("Birds of a Feather") as an Off-Broadway actor from New York who had been "mostly a cab driver" - a reference to his role in the TV series, "Taxi" (1978).

Saw an episode of "Babylon 5" (1994) on TV and liked it so much he went down to the production studio to see the show being filmed. He was spotted and used for a bit part, which grew into a recurring character and, eventually, a full-time role in the series.

Was an acting teacher and coach, with his students including James Evans , Joey Sylvester and Najarra Townsend.

Having struggled with addiction for many years, Jeff had been trying to treat himself with pain killers and cold medicine in May, 2011. He was found unconscious in his home on May 11, 2011. He remained in a coma until his family terminated life support on May 27, 2011.

Played guitar and sang lead as a teenager for a rock band called "The 3 1/2". The band released four singles for Cameo Records in 1966 and 1967, one of which was produced and written by Peter Noone of Herman's Hermits.

Upon his death, he was cremated.

He studied for a year at the North Carolina School of the Arts and transferred to New York University in New York City.

He is survived by his girlfriend of seven years, Victoria Spinoza; his two sisters, Michelle Conaway and Carla Conaway; and a son, Emerson Newton-John.

Personal Quotes

[on his suicide attempts]: I've tried to commit suicide 21 times. Mostly, it's been with pills.

[on leaving "Taxi" (1978)]: In 'Taxi,' I kept doing the same scene for three years. I was underused.

[on Mickey Rourke's comeback]: Hollywood can be a very stinging town. They say it's a forgiving business. It's not that forgiving.