Travolta visits Gotti widow to research new movie

Star greeted warmly by late mob kingpin's widow and son

Evan Agostini / AP

John Travolta went to the source for research on playing John Gotti, visiting the late mafia boss' widow and son in New York City.

updated 9/23/2011 12:27:10 PM ET

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NEW YORK — John Travolta visited the widow of mob boss John Gotti to do research for his upcoming movie role as the mafia kingpin.

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The New York Post reports that Travolta arrived Thursday at the Gotti home in New York City to meet with widow Victoria Gotti, her son John "Junior" Gotti and other key players.

Slideshow: John Travolta has the right moves (on this page)

The Post said the "Pulp Fiction" star was greeted with handshakes and hugs. He brought a gift bag for Victoria Gotti and stayed inside for more than two hours.

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All he would say when he emerged was that he was doing research for the movie.

John Gotti died in prison in 2002.

Story: Fat and angry Joe Pesci sues 'Gotti' filmmakers

The movie "Gotti: In the Shadow of My Father" is set to start shooting in January. Barry Levinson is directing.

Video: Travolta talks about his stolen classic Mercedes

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Photos: John Travolta

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A family affair
John Travolta, wife actress Kelly Preston and daughter Ella Bleu Travolta arrive at the premiere of Walt Disney Pictures' "Old Dogs" held at the El Capitan Theatre on Monday, Nov. 9, 2009, in Hollywood, Calif. It was the Travoltas' first public appearance was since the death of their son, Jett. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Related video Travoltas make ‘Old Dogs’ a family affair
A laughing scene
John Travolta and Robin Williams, stars of the new film "Old Dogs", are shown in a scene from the film, which hits theaters Nov. 25. (Disney Enterprises) Share Back to slideshow navigation
A day in court
Travolta and Preston leave the court building in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009. Travolta described the moments before his son's death in the Bahamas as he testified against two people accused of trying to blackmail him with private information about the rescue effort. (Kris Ingraham / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation

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Johnny's got a gun
Travolta holds a subway car full of passengers hostage in the 2009 thriller "The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3." Denzel Washington co-stars as the subway dispatcher who is determined to stop him. The film is a remake of the 1974 thriller that starred Walter Matthau. (Stephen Vaughn / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Related story 10 must-see John Travolta performances
Happier days
Travolta, second left, with his daughter Ella Bleu, left, Preston, right, and son Jett. Jett died on Jan. 2, while the family was on vacation in the Bahamas. (AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation
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Getting animated
Miley Cyrus and Travolta both provided voices for the 2008 animated film, "Bolt." The film told the story of a TV dog who doesn't realize that his superpowers are created by special effects until he is out on his own. (Michael Buckner / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Good old boys
Travolta (from left), Martin Lawrence, William H. Macy and Tim Allen starred together in 2007's "Wild Hogs." The film tells the story of a group of middle-aged friends who decide to rev up their routine suburban lives with a freewheeling motorcycle trip. (Touchstone Pictures) Share Back to slideshow navigation
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What a drag
Travolta played Edna Turnblad in the 2007 big screen adaptation of the Broadway musical, "Hairspray." The film tells the story of Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky) who lands a spot on a local TV dance show in 1962, and becomes determined to make sure the show is racially integrated. (New Line Cinema) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Holding out for a hero
Travolta starred as veteran firefighter Captain Mike Kennedy in 2004's "Ladder 49." In the film he mentors Jack Morrison (Joaquin Phoenix) and then must save him when he gets trapped in a fire. (Touchstone Pictures) Share Back to slideshow navigation
A kind of love story
Scarlett Johansson starred as a woman who returned home after her mother's death in 2004's "A Love Song for Bobby Long." Travolta co-starred as Bobby Long, an old friend of her mother's who is living in her mother's house with his protege (Gabriel Macht). Since they have no intention of leaving, the three of them begin to make a home together. (Screen Gems) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Flying high
Travolta poses as he exits his ex-Qantas Boeing 707 jet after landing at Sydney International Airport on July 12, 2002. Travolta arrived in the Australian city as part of his "Spirit of Friendship" tour, which took him to 13 cities across the globe. (Chris Mcgrath / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Fishy story
Travolta starred with Hugh Jackman and Halle Berry in 2001's "Swordfish." The film tells the story of a plot to hack into a complicated computer system that contains government secrets and a lot of money. (Warner Bros.) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Razzie dazzle
In 2000, Travolta made the movie "Battlefield Earth," based on the novel by Scientologist founder L. Ron Hubbard. In the film, an alien race tries to exterminate humanity in the year 3000. The film won seven Razzie Awards, including worst actor, worst director and worst picture. (Warner Bros.) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Presidential pose
Emma Thompson and Travolta starred as a Southern governor and his wife contending for the White House in 1998's "Primary Colors." The story was a loose retelling of President Bill Clinton's own run for the presidency. (Universal Pictures) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Asserting his faith
Travolta listens as Claudia Engel, right, from Germany discusses religious persecution she has suffered during hearings before the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe on Capitol Hill in Washington. Travolta, a Scientologist, and several other celebrities joined in discussing Germany's discrimination and harassment of members of the church of Scientology. (William Philpott / AFP/Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation
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Something about his face
Travolta starred opposite Nicholas Cage in 1997's "Face/Off." John Woo directed this story of an FBI agent who has his face surgerically switched with a terrorist in order to get his brother to confess to crimes. But when the terrorist wakes up with the FBI agent's face, a game of cat and mouse begins. (Paramount Pictures) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Heavenly performance
Travolta starred as the archangel Michael in the 1996 movie "Michael." In the film, Michael returns to Earth one last time to help a washed-up tabloid journalist find love. (New Line Cinema) Share Back to slideshow navigation
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Award-worthy
Nicole Kidman and Travolta toast with their Golden Globe Awards for best actress and best actor on Jan. 21, 1996 in Beverly Hills. Kidman received her award for her role in "To Die For" and Travolta received his award for "Get Shorty." (Jeff Haynes / AFP - Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation
All mobbed up
Travolta played loan shark Chili Palmer in the 1996 film, "Get Shorty." When he comes to Los Angeles to collect a debt from a movie producer, he decides to trade his nefarious career for a chance to be in the film business. Renee Russo co-stars as a former scream queen who takes an interest in Chili. (MGM) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Men in black
Travolta starred with Samuel L. Jackson in Quentin Tarantino's 1994 film, "Pulp Fiction." In the film, Travolta plays Vincent Vega, a hit man who makes the mistake of agreeing to entertain a mobster's wife for the night only to have her almost overdose right in front of him. (Miramax Films) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Baby daddy
In 1989's "Look Who's Talking," Travolta played a cab driver who meets a pregnant woman (Kirstie Alley) on the way to the emergency room just as her son (the voice of Bruce Willis) is being born, and ends up becoming part of her life. The film spawned two sequels. (TriStar Pictures) Share Back to slideshow navigation

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Ride 'em
In 1980, Travolta starred with Debra Winger in "Urban Cowboy." Travolta plays Bud, a young country farmer who moves to the city to find work at an oil refinery and finds love with Sissy (Winger), a cowgirl of easy virtue and spirit. (Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation
He's the one that she wants
Travolta showed he could both dance and sing when he starred opposite Olivia Newton John in 1978's "Grease." An adaptation of the popular Broadway musical, the film told the story of two 1950s high schoolers, one a good girl and one a greaser. The duo fights peer pressure and their differences and even make some personal changes in order to be together. (Paramount Pictures) Share Back to slideshow navigation
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All the right moves
Travolta's life changed when he starred in 1977's "Saturday Night Fever." The film tells the story of a working-class young Brooklyn man who finds an escape from his mundane neighborhood existence at the local discotheque, where he is the "king of the dance floor." (Paramount Pictures) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Bad boy
In the 1976 adaptation of Stephen King's novel, "Carrie," Travolta played one the teens who planned to humiliate a young girl at the prom, not realizing that she was telekinetic and that her vengeance would be swift and deadly. (United Artists Films) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Bubble boy
John Travolta and Glynnis O'Connor kiss through a vinyl membrane in the 1976 TV movie, "The Boy in the Plastic Bubble." The movie tells the story of a man who was born with a deficient immune system and must spend his life apart from others in a plastic bubble. (ABC via Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

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'What? Where?'
Travolta looks up at colleague, compatriot and professional poker player Gabe Kaplan in the 1970s TV series "Welcome Back Kotter." Travolta played ladies' man Vinnie Barbarino. (Abc Television / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

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Travolta visits Gotti widow to research new movie

Star greeted warmly by late mob kingpin's widow and son

Below:

Jump to video Travolta talks about his stolen classic Mercedes

Jump to photos John Travolta

Video: Travolta talks about his stolen classic Mercedes

Photos: John Travolta

A family affair

A laughing scene

A day in court

Johnny's got a gun

Happier days

Getting animated

Good old boys

What a drag

Holding out for a hero

A kind of love story

Flying high

Fishy story

Razzie dazzle

Presidential pose

Asserting his faith

Something about his face

Heavenly performance

Award-worthy

All mobbed up

Men in black

Baby daddy

Ride 'em

He's the one that she wants

All the right moves

Bad boy

Bubble boy

'What? Where?'

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