All in the family

Ellen Travolta’s career is all about family.

While she is an actress known for her roles in “Fonzie,” “Happy Days,” “Joanie Loves Chachi” and “Charles in Charge,” she is also a daughter, sister, aunt, mother and grandmother, too.

The acting itch started with her mother, Helen, an actress, singer and drama coach, and spread to her siblings.

Ellen, 73, is the oldest of six — the youngest is John Travolta. (You can see Ellen for a brief scene as a diner waitress in “Grease.”). All of the brothers and sisters have Hollywood experience acting, producing, directing, assisting directors or recording voice-overs.

“We’re a performing family,” Ellen said. “A lot of people will say, ‘Oh my family, they don’t get it.’ We get it. We know the trials. You have one year and you get nothing. With John, you’re the biggest star in the world, and he’s still an icon, but it changes as you get older. We understand.”

Ellen is understood at home, too. She’s married to actor Jack Bannon, known for his role as Assistant City Editor Art Donovan on “Lou Grant.”

The two will perform “Love Letters” 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Hartung Theater on the University of Idaho campus.

Jack and Ellen have an expansive career together, and are parents to performers as well: their daughter Molly Allen is a radio personality for Spokane’s KZZU, and Tom Fridley, Ellen’s son, is an actor.

“(Jack and I) started in television together,” Ellen said. “We had different series over the years. He was on ‘Lou Grant,’ I guest starred. I was on ‘Charles in Charge,’ he guested on my show.”

Living in Coeur d’Alene, the two act in the local theater.

“We did ‘Love Boat’ together,” Ellen said. “We’ve done ‘Gypsy,’ ‘Anything Goes,’ ‘Hello Dolly!’ ... and we did some separate.”

During the 1999 filming of “The Basket” in Spokane, Jack and Ellen met Kelly Quinnett of the UI Department of Theatre Arts, loved her and decided to make a visit to watch her perform at a full Hartung Theater.

Just a few months back, Quinnett called the couple for a fundraising idea: Jack and Ellen should perform to benefit the Hartung and the Idaho Repertory Theatre. Ellen was struck the theater wasn’t being supported the way it used to be in the ’90s. Plus, Quinnett’s call was of more importance now that she is married to Ellen’s nephew. (The two met during the production of “Bus Stop” at the Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre, which Ellen produced). So, Ellen jumped on board to perform “Love Letters.”

“I love working with my husband,” Ellen said. “He’s one of the great actors of all times. The fact that I like him and love him only adds to the poignancy of this piece.”

The piece follows two people who write letters back and forth from the age of 7 until their deaths. Jack and Ellen have performed “Love Letters” a handful of times before.

Beyond performing with her husband, Ellen recalled her role on “General Hospital” to be the best time of her career.

“Your talents, if you can pull it off in a soap opera, you’re doing a good job,” she said. “It was a great experience.”

But the role Ellen loves most is being a mom, grandmother and wife.

“That’s the best role I’ve ever had, and the hardest,” she said. “And I’m still learning and I’m still not getting it quite right.”

Tickets for the IRT benefit performance include complimentary desserts, a no-host bar and a Q&A session with Jack and Ellen following the show. Ellen is open to any and all questions, she said.

“I had a recognizable career. I’ve done well,” Ellen said. “But my family is my greatest joy.”

Treffry can be contacted at (208) 883-4640 or ltreffry@inland360.com. Follow her on Twitter @LindseyTreffry.

-> if you go:

WHAT: Ellen Travolta and Jack Bannon perform “Love Letters” for Idaho Repertory Theatre benefit performance

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. April 5

WHERE: Hartung Theater, University of Idaho campus, Moscow

COST: $25 for the general public, $20 for seniors and $10 for students with ID. Tickets are available at the door, or can be purchased in advance at Shoup Hall on the UI campus, by calling (208) 885-6465 or by emailing theatre@uidaho.edu.

An act of love for family