Actress Kelly Preston passed away after a 2 year battle with breast cancer, her rep announced on Sunday. The 57-year-old star leaves behind her husband, actor John Travolta and their children Ella, 20, and Ben, 9.
Mariah Carey, Maria Shriver, Josh Gad, and Daniel Dae Kim led the tributes to Preston following the actress’ death on Sunday, July 12.
Following the announcement, a host of famous faces took to social media to pay tribute to the late star, with Frozen actor Josh Gad among the first.
“I’m in absolute shock. What a beautiful and amazing actress and person. So sad to hear of her passing at such a young age,” he wrote. “My heart goes out to John Travolta and the entire family. What a loss.”
“Sending so much love to you and your family in this heartbreaking moment,” Mariah wrote, while Dae Kim, a former co-star of Kelly’s, added in his own tribute: “I was lucky enough to work with her on one of my very first films, For Love of the Game. We were shooting on cold days in Colorado, but she couldn’t have been warmer or kinder to a young, nervous actor trying to make good. I’ll never forget that. Thank you Kelly.”
Back to the Future star Lea Thompson was another of Kelly’s former castmates to remember the actress, sharing pictures from the set of their 1986 movie Space Camp and writing: “I am so very sad to hear of my old friend @therealkellypreston passing. We had so much fun making #spacecamp all those many years ago. She was always full of love and light and Hawaiian breeziness.
“Kelly was so beautiful inside and out. Went way too young. #heartbroken for her whole family #breastcancerawareness is so important. Hold each other close and let’s keep fighting for a cure.”
And author and activist Maria Shriver wrote: “Shocked by this sad news. Kelly was such a bright loving soul, a talented actress, and a loving mom and wife. My heart breaks for her family who have already known such sadness and grief. Join me in sending them love and strength.
The couple is pictured with their two surviving children in 2012. Their son, Jett, died of a seizure at age 16 in 2009 when the family was on vacation in the Bahamas.