Travolta's tears over son's tragedy

John Travolta wept openly in his first television interview since the death of his only son, Jett.

With nine-year-old daughter Ella Bleu at his side, Travolta opened up to chat show host Ellen DeGeneres about the chronically ill 16-year-old's death from a seizure at the family's holiday home in the Bahamas in January.

"I just want to take one moment to thank each and every one of you throughout this country, throughout the world, for all your support and all your love for our family. Thank you very much," he said.

Travolta, 55, spoke of his pride in Ella, who stars alongside him in his coming film Old Dogs.

"I'm holding back the tears," he said.

"No, really you're not," DeGeneres responded, offering him a box of tissues.

He told DeGeneres he and his actress wife Kelly Preston had found solace in grief counselling through the Church of Scientology. He had also taken up night tennis to help clear his mind.

"I play every day at midnight, kind of vampire-style, with members of our staff," he said.

"The house manager and the house maintenance person. At midnight, we go to the local tennis court."