Sun Sep 21 02:30:00 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text followed by a rewritten news article:

**Summary:**

John Travolta nearly missed his breakout role as Vinnie Barbarino in the sitcom “Welcome Back Kotter” because he needed the money from a Broadway show. Casting director Lynn Stalmaster intervened, landing him a small role in “The Devil’s Rain” to financially support him until “Kotter” auditions began. Travolta ultimately chose “Kotter,” a decision that launched him to fame and paved the way for a successful film career. He later thanked co-creator Gabe Kaplan for the opportunity.

**News Article:**

**John Travolta’s “Welcome Back, Kotter” Role Almost Didn’t Happen: Financial Woes Nearly Derailed Breakout**

Hollywood icon John Travolta’s iconic portrayal of Vinnie Barbarino in the hit 1970s sitcom “Welcome Back, Kotter” almost never happened, according to the show’s co-creator and star, Gabe Kaplan.

In an essay for Emmy Magazine, Kaplan revealed that Travolta was initially hesitant to audition for the role because he needed the financial security of a Broadway show.

“[Casting director Lynn] Stalmaster thought a relative unknown named John Travolta would be perfect for Vinnie Barbarino,” Kaplan wrote. “But John had been offered a Broadway show, and rehearsals were starting soon.”

Travolta told Kaplan that he was going to make the Broadway job because he “needed the money,” but Stalmaster wanted him so bad he got him a small role in the 1975 horror movie The Devil’s Rain to “tide [him] over until Kotter auditions started.”

Thankfully for Travolta, and fans of “Welcome Back, Kotter,” the gamble paid off. Travolta secured the role of Vinnie Barbarino and quickly became a teen idol, catapulting him to national fame. His success on the show led to roles in blockbuster films like “Carrie,” “Saturday Night Fever,” and “Grease,” cementing his status as a major movie star.

Travolta has repeatedly expressed his gratitude to Kaplan for giving him his start. At a “Welcome Back, Kotter” reunion in 2011, he told Kaplan, “Thank you for creating this show and putting us all on the map. You’re a genius. You are a gentleman. And I love you, and I know we all love you.”

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