Eddie Van Halen, Chadwick Boseman, Jerry Stiller, Naya Rivera, Kobe Bryant, and Fred Willard are just some of the beloved celebrities that have passed away this year and had millions in mourning. Kelly Preston is also among them, having died far too young at 57 after a long battle with breast cancer.
During her long career, Preston— who was married to fellow actor John Travolta from September 1991 through her July 2020 passing— appeared in many well-loved movies across a variety of genres, and was never too good for smaller roles no matter how big of a star she had become. She wasn't one of the top-billed actors of a movie or TV show very often, speaking to her desire to be part of talented ensembles rather than needing to be the "star" of her projects.
For Love Of The Game (46%)
Preston plays Jane, the girlfriend of an aging baseball star, Billy (Kevin Costner). Jane leaves Billy for a new job in England, and it leads Billy to contemplate on the past few years of his life, as well as ponder over giving up baseball.
In flashbacks, his relationship with Jane is shown, and Billy regrets shutting her out, among other things. Luckily, he realizes in time that she is what he wants, and when he heads to the airport to go after her, he finds her there, and the two reunite.
Addicted To Love (55%)
In this cult classic rom-com, Preston is Linda, a woman who cheats on her significant other, Sam (played by Matthew Broderick). Little does Linda know that Sam follows her and her new lover, intending to see her break up with her new partner and hoping she'll return to him.
Meanwhile, Linda's lover's ex, Maggie (played by Meg Ryan) also shows up and helps Sam, as she seeks revenge, but things don't go according to plan when Sam and Maggie begin falling for each other instead.
Mischief (57%)
In this somewhat obscure 1980s teen film, Preston plays the beautiful and alluring Marilyn in one of her first mainstream movie roles. Marilyn is the love interest of shy Jonathan, who wants to win her over. His friend Gene helps him in the ways wooing a woman.
This high school film takes places in the 1950s, and features all the high school clichés that make this film a typical teen comedy. The film also featured a very early appearance by few Lost cast member Terry O'Quinn.
Amazon Women On The Moon (59%)
This 1987 film centers around a TV station experiences some difficulties while airing a 1950s film called Amazon Women on the Moon, and someone begins channel surfing, setting up the film's premise of featuring multiple "segments." Preston makes an appearance in one such segment, and the likes of Carrie Fisher, Michelle Pfeiffer, Arsenio Hall, and Steve Guttenberg also show up in various portions of the film.
From Dusk Till Dawn (62%)
This horror/action/comedy flick from writer/director Robert Rodriguez starred George Clooney and Quentin Tarantino as fugitive bank robbers that have troubles that go beyond law enforcement. While they're trying to get to a safe place for fugitives, they run across some vampires.
It soon turns into a fight against the undead, with Preston showing up as a newscaster covering the twisted events of the movie and interviewing Clooney's character about all the mayhem.
Christine (69%)
Kelly Preston made an appearance in the 1983 John Carpenter film Christine, where she played the date of one of the main protagonists, Dennis. That is, until Dennis had eyes for Leigh. Leigh chose Arnie, though it didn't last long considering he had stronger feelings for his car, Christine.
Dennis and Leigh were then forced to kill Christine, but unfortunately, they lost Arnie before they could kill the dangerous car.
Sky High (73%)
Preston plays Josie, a mom, real estate agent, and secret super hero named Jetstream. She is the mother of the protagonist, Will, and wife to The Commander, played by played by Kurt Russell. She is shown to be tough but fair, and part of a dynamic and heroic team alongside her husband.
She supports her son and is very proud of him when he, alongside his friends, save his high school from the evil Royal Pain, who had turned Will's parents, alongside other adults, into babies and had intended to raise them as criminals instead.
Citizen Ruth (81%)
Ruth, played by Laura Dern, has problems in the highly underrated black comedy Citizen Ruth. She's an addict that will do anything for drugs or money. She doesn't have custody of any of her children, and it doesn't seem like she will anytime soon. She soon finds out she's pregnant again, and she becomes a pawn between anti-abortion and pro-choice activists.
Preston plays Rachel, a pro-choice supporter, who initially helps Ruth for her cause, alongside her partner.
Jerry Maguire (83%)
The successful 1996 film with Tom Cruise as the titular character is definitely a movie for the books as he plays a sports agent who changes his life completely once he has an epiphany.
Kelly Preston plays Jerry's fiancée that he eventually breaks up with— though not before Preston makes a strong impression in her handful of scenes, including one of the most memorably "classy" first lines and introductory scenes of any character in mainstream movie history.
Daddy And Them (86%)
The film was written by Billy Bob Thornton, who also stars as Claude Montgomery. Families are never perfect, as outlined in this 2001 comedy film. Claude and his wife, Ruby (Laura Dern) find their lives turned upside down when they go to help Claude's uncle, who has been thrown in jail for attempted murder.
To complicate things, the couple travels with Ruby's older sister Rose (Preston), who once dated Claude, and Ruby's mother, who fails to shut up about Rose and Claude's past relationship.