Didi Conn and Olivia Newton-John met on the set of the iconic 1978 film, “Grease.” They remained close friends up until Newton-John’s passing in 2022 after her battle with breast cancer.
Though Didi Conn lives a quieter life these days, she still has nothing but lovely things to say about her late friend.
Four years after Olivia Newton-John’s death, Didi Conn is opening up and reflecting on her favorite memories.
Didi Conn Occasionally Joined Olivia Newton-John Onstage at Her Concerts
After “Grease,” Olivia Newton-John continued to have a successful music career. Didi Conn went on to have several smaller roles in popular films and television shows. But when the women got together, they always had an amazing time.
“Whenever I think about Olivia, I think about when I would see her [at] her concerts,” the 75-year-old shared with PEOPLE.
“She’d always do a ‘Grease’ set at the end of her concert, and right before that, she’d talk to the audience,” Conn remembered, noting that Olivia Newton-John would tell attendees, “Sometimes in life you make a friend and then you have that friend your whole life and I have one like that here today.”
Newton-John would then call out to Didi Conn, who was waiting backstage.
“And I go, ‘Hi, Olivia, I’m here,'” Conn shared. “The place would go nuts and then I’d come on the stage, and I became like a rock star for five minutes.”
After the friends concluded the “Grease” numbers, Didi Conn returned to the wings to watch Olivia Newton-John finish the show.
“I would stand off stage and watch her do her last song, which was, ‘I Honestly Love You,'” the actress recalled. “She’d stand there and sing, and she’d go like this with her hands to her audience, to her fans, say, ‘I honestly love you.’ She really meant it. She meant it with all her heart.”
“So that’s the image I have of Olivia,” Didi Conn concluded.
The Actress Stayed in Touch With Many Other ‘Grease’ Stars
No matter how many years pass, Olivia Newton-John will always hold a place in Didi Conn’s heart.
“She’s beautiful. She’s just a dream. Wonderful person, good friend, beautiful friend, beautiful mother. And what a performer,” the 75-year-old told Magic Radio before repeating the story about joining Olivia Newton-John on stage.
Didi Conn also kept in touch with her “Grease” co-stars after filming ended. In June, she told PEOPLE that many of her former co-stars are coming together to fundraise for an organization that supports people with disabilities.
“The only person I haven’t seen in several years now is Stockard [Channing],” the actress told the outlet. “I used to see every play she was in and try to stay in touch with her, but everyone else, we’re always in touch with each other.”
Didi Conn revealed that many of the cast members got together at the Hollywood Bowl. She hosted a “Grease” sing-along, much to fans’ delight.
“I had everybody come when I was hosting at the Hollywood Bowl for 18,000 people,” she continued. “Even John [Travolta] came this year.”
