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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Connie Rusk

Olivia Newton-John left heartbroken when first husband ran off with 23-year-old babysitter

Olivia Newton-John had her fair share of heartache before finding love with husband John Easterling.

The actress peacefully passed away aged 73 on Monday, surrounded by her loved ones at her ranch in California.

And Olivia was very open about her love life over the years and spoke openly about what she believed led to the downfall of her first marriage with Matt Lattanzi in a number of interviews.

The Grease icon was broken-hearted when Matt, who was 11 years her junior, ran off with their babysitter Cindy Jessup, then 23, while she was battling breast cancer.

Olivia and Matt welcomed daughter Chloe, with Cindy helping to care for their child when they moved from Malibu, California to move to her farm near Byron Bay.

Olivia Newton-John spoke openly about what she believed led to the downfall of her first marriage with Matt Lattanzi (pictured 1983) (WireImage)

Actor Matt was working on Australian soap Paradise Beach in 1993 and so the couple needed the extra help with childcare as Olivia fought breast cancer.

Cindy soon became a close part of their family and cycled from Sydney to Perth in 1994 to raise money for Olivia's cancer charity.

But things soon turned sour when Olivia began to get suspicious Cindy and Matt and reportedly confronted him about having an affair.

The explosive showdown marked their end of her marriage to Matt as he moved in with Cindy and divorced Olivia in 1995.

The actor and Cindy went on to marry two years later, when Matt was 40 and Cindy, 25.

Matt and Olivia split after the actress reportedly confronted him over affair suspicions (WireImage)
Olivia and Matt welcomed daughter Chloe, with Chloe's babysitter going on to marry the actor (Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)

The couple were married for 10 years but split in 2007.

Olivia later reflected on their painful divorce, saying her battle with breast cancer was to blame for their ultimate split and not his betrayal.

"I think our marriage would have eventually come to an end, but it happened sooner because of the cancer, which was a good thing", she told the Daily Mail.

"It was very painful, but we were never at odds with each other. We have tried to remain friendly because we have a child and we made a pact that she was the most important thing in our lives and that we would never fight over her.

Olivia passed away peacefully aged 73 on Monday morning (AFP via Getty Images)

'What happened between us was between us, and we wouldn't allow it to affect her. Divorce is never all right. Everybody wants the happy ending and the white picket fence, particularly me."

Matt is now married to his third wife Michelle, who paid tribute to Olivia from herself and Matt in the wake of her death.

Olivia singing with her daughter Chloe (Chloe Lattanzi /Instagram)

She penned: "Today we lost one of the world's greats Olivia Newton-John.

"Matt and I are so overwhelmed with the love and gratitude shared with us by friends, family and a deeply loving community of fans who will all miss Olivia's presence in this world.

'Nothing will replace the icon we lost, yet her legacy is alive and well in our hearts and memories, as well as her contributions to our global culture, her beloved daughter Chloe Lattanzi, and her cancer research and wellness centre in Melbourne."

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