The 'Grease' Star Put Her Career on Hold to Care for Her Autistic Son & Endured the Loss of a Close Friend – Her Story

The veteran star couldn't hold her son when he was a baby, which was a "tricky" situation for her. While caring for him, she endured significant heartbreak, losing not only a friend but also both of her parents—all of whom succumbed to the same devastating disease.

The film actress is best remembered for her iconic role in the hit musical "Grease," where she built a decades-long friendship with a co-star. However, she later paused her career to focus on raising her autistic son but has since made a successful comeback.

Her journey has been marked by both professional highlights and personal challenges. The actress is widely recognized for her portrayal of Frenchy in "Grease," a role that left an indelible mark on pop culture.

At the time of filming, she was 25 years old, playing a teenage beauty-school dropout. Shortly after the movie's 1978 release, her personal life shifted as she ended her marriage to actor Frank, whom she had married in 1975.

The star found love again after closing one chapter of her life, marrying composer David Shire in 1982. The couple adopted a son, Daniel Shire, affectionately called Danny.

Devoting herself entirely to motherhood, the actress stepped away from her career to provide constant care for Danny, who was diagnosed with autism at three years old. He has extreme sensitivity to sound and requires continuous supervision.

Danny is on the spectrum and his mother described him as "high functioning but pretty impaired." She also recalled his earlier struggles, including "terrible tantrums and horrible, horrible dramatic fits of frustration because he wasn't speaking."

Despite the challenges, the doting mom expressed amazement at her son's ability to communicate during his teenage years, given his earlier struggles. Although he had started speaking as a young child, he "lost it" over time—a behavior she noted is common for individuals with his condition.

Looking back on his progress, she shared in an interview, "But since he's doing better, then I feel better. And I feel that I could do things, more adult things."

Acknowledging the challenges she faced, she took on too much without seeking support, even from friends. She chose not to share her struggles with Danny, and they didn't understand her situation—a reality she partly attributes to her own reluctance to be open.

This lack of openness strained her marriage, leading to a temporary separation. Despite the difficulties, the celebrity held no resentment toward her husband, understanding it was "too much" for him at the time. Still, the couple ended up reconciling and they are now closer than ever.

Despite the challenges of navigating their son's autism, moments of profound connection have made the journey worthwhile. In 2019, the New York native shared an unforgettable milestone—hearing Danny say "'I love you'" for the first time at the age of 26.

For someone with autism, who often struggles with abstract emotions, it was a significant breakthrough. The actress recounted the experience, "I was leaving to fly to the UK, and he said it on the phone. I kept saying, 'say it again, baby.' And he did."

It was an emotional moment for her, and when Danny asked why she was crying, she explained they were happy tears. The Hollywood star further mentioned, "[...] I couldn't really hold him as a baby, as he was so sensitive and didn't like to be held, so that was tricky. It really was something special to hear."

After Danny, now 33, transitioned to life on a self-sustaining farm with 24-hour care, his famous mother, actress Didi Conn, embraced a new chapter, joining "Dancing on Ice" in the United Kingdom. Although she initially felt self-conscious about her skating abilities, thoughts of her son inspired her to persevere.

She compared parenting an autistic child to being in a different realm, where even small progress is a major achievement. The public figure, who is now a grandmother thanks to her stepson Matthew Shire, highlighted the importance of self-compassion and acknowledging personal growth over time.

The experience gave her the opportunity to rediscover herself beyond motherhood, describing the decision as a chance to explore "who is Didi, not Didi mommy." Alongside this challenge, she has returned to acting, appearing in "Blue Bloods," "The Oh Gees," and "Harlan Coben's Shelter."

In addition to her personal growth and career revival, Conn has endured profound loss. She experienced the consecutive deaths of both parents to cancer—her mother's breast cancer advanced to lung cancer, and her father succumbed to leukemia.

After they passed away, she felt "a relief of sadness" that was distinct from grief, which she called "its own kind of sadness." According to the star, her mother carried significant sadness, much of which she unknowingly bore herself.

"There was this sense of something that just released in me," she explained. Her mother's death was especially difficult, as it was unexpected. Conn noted how cancer often seems to retreat only to return, leaving a devastating impact on families.

This same disease claimed the life of her close friend, Olivia Newton-John, who sadly died in August 2022 at 73. Later that month, Conn opened up about her grief during an appearance on "Loose Women." She became emotional when a photo of Newton-John was displayed, admitting, "It's still very fresh," as she wiped away tears.

Conn recalled meeting Newton-John on the set of "Grease," describing her as a "beauty." On their first day of filming, Newton-John appeared nervous and was even shaking.

Hoping to ease her co-star's tension, Conn playfully said, "Oh, I'm so happy to have a friend from Australia and you live right next door." Newton-John, initially puzzled, asked if the line was in the script.

Conn kept the lighthearted moment going, which prompted Newton-John to ask what school she attended in Australia before realizing the joke. Moments later, the director called "action," and the two seamlessly performed their scene. Afterward, Newton-John thanked Conn and expressed her gratitude.

Their close bond endured through the years, with Conn revealing in a 2023 interview that she last spoke to Newton-John just weeks before her death. The two co-stars, who remained in regular contact, spoke monthly, even as Newton-John battled advanced cancer.

During their final conversation, Newton-John was hospitalized after breaking her leg—a fracture she hadn't even noticed due to her declining health. Despite her own illness, the singer expressed concern upon learning about Conn's own health, "She said, 'What?! Why didn't you tell me?'" Shortly after, Newton-John sent her a beautiful orchid.

"Three days before she died, one of the orchid flowers fell down, and my heart stopped," Conn shared, adding, "I said, 'I hope that's not a sign.'" Newton-John, a vocal advocate for cancer research, lost her battle with breast cancer, which she had fought since her initial diagnosis in 1992.

The disease recurred in 2013 and 2017, eventually advancing to stage 4. Her friendship with Conn spanned more than 40 years until her passing.

Didi Conn's journey has been marked by deep personal loss, unwavering dedication to her family, and a meaningful career revival. Her enduring friendship with Olivia Newton-John and her advocacy for autism awareness continue to inspire countless others.