John Travolta speaks of death of son Jett

Hollywood star John Travolta said he nearly retired from films after the death of his teenage son three years ago (Getty Images)

Hollywood star John Travolta said he nearly retired from films after the death of his teenage son three years ago.

Sixteen-year-old Jett died after suffering a seizure on a family holiday in the Bahamas.

Travolta, who shot to fame in Saturday Night Fever in 1977, said he agreed to star in Oliver Stone's new film, Savages, because it was a "high-end, five-star film".

He told BBC Breakfast: "I lost my son a few years ago and I had been having quite a time of that and after three years getting a lot of support from my church and a lot of support from people, fans, family I decided that it was OK to go back to work because I'd even thought of retiring at one point because it felt like too much."

Travolta also called for a privacy law and condemned the publication of topless photographs of the Duchess of Cambridge.

The actor, who famously danced with Diana, Princess of Wales at a White House dinner in 1985, said it was the "worst time to be famous".

He said: "There is a right to privacy whether you're famous or not famous and I feel that anyone being invaded at that level is unfortunate and there should be a law, no one would like that."

The film, which opens in the UK today, is based on Don Winslow's best-selling thriller and also stars Blake Lively, Salma Hayek and Benicio del Toro.

PA