45-year anniversary GREASE STAR SPILLS ALL!

T-Bird Barry Pearl opens up about romances, partying and Olivia Newton-John

It's been 45 years since the gang at Rydell High made their big-screen outing 45 years since a young Olivia NewtonJohn was catapulted to fame as the bubbly blonde good girl Sandy, alongside a young John Travolta as her love interest Danny Zuko, and 45 years since Summer Nights and Greased Lightnin' became karaoke staples the world over.

And one of the actors to be part of this big-screen phenomenon was Barry Pearl, whose role as T-Bird gang member Doody has seen him immortalised forever in pop culture history.

"It seems like it was just yesterday," the actor, now 73, says of the milestone anniversary this year. "It was very much a blink-of-an-eye experience. I had no idea that it would become what it is today.

"It's interesting that so many people are astounded at the longevity of the film. I can only say that it's a combination of several elements - number one being the amazing performances of John and Olivia, and how much the camera loved them." 

Telling the story of the blossoming love between Danny and Sandy during a turbulent senior year at Rydell High in the summer of 1959, the musical also featured character sideline stories, including the romance between Barry's character and Pink Lady alum Frenchy (played by Didi Conn).

While the pair shared chemistry on-screen, Barry reveals it continued when the cameras stopped rolling, too.