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Travolta 'struggling' five months after son's death

  • Story Highlights
  • Denzel Washington: John Travolta still grieving his son's death five months ago
  • Actor unable to help promote "The Taking of Pelham 123," Washington says
  • Jett Travolta, 16, died in January while on vacation with parents in the Bahamas
  • "One moment he's OK and the next he's in tears," Washington says of Travolta
By Alan Duke
CNN
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LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- John Travolta is too distraught over the death of his son last January to help promote the movie he shot with Denzel Washington last summer, Washington said Friday.

John Travolta stars as an ex-inmate who takes hostages on a New York subway in "The Taking of Pelham 123."

Travolta plays a deranged ex-inmate who takes hostages on a New York subway in "The Taking of Pelham 123," which hits theaters June 12.

His son Jett, 16, was found unconscious on January 2 while on vacation with his family in the Bahamas' West End. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival, local police said.

"Needless to say, he's struggling," Washington said.

Washington, who plays a subway train dispatcher forced to face down Travolta's character, said he talked to Travolta about two weeks ago.

"More than talking to him, I listened to him for more than two or three hours," he said. "It's going to take time. What can you say? Really, you just be there as a friend."

"One moment he's OK and the next he's in tears," he said.

"He's such a sweet, sweet person," Washington said.

All About John TravoltaJett TravoltaDenzel Washington

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