“My Antonio”, —certainly not!
Antonio Sabato Jr. belongs to millions of women.
It’s difficult to even imagine that Antonio Sabato Jr. has to rely on his VH1 fab reality hit television show, “My Antonio” (airs Sunday nights at 10:00 PM) to meet women and find true love. But hey, come on. Do any of the millions of women watching Sabato each week REALLY want him to meet his Ms. Right? I think NOT. In fact, I’m certain that 99% of viewers tune in ONLY to hope that he sends ALL those women home, and that it still leaves the door open for them!
Born in Rome, Italy, his family moved to the United States when he was 12 years old, settled in Los Angeles, and then made their home in Beverly Hills. The world first caught sight of the Sexiness-of-Sabato when he casually appeared on a sky-high billboard in Times Square and in every other city on the planet—in his underwear and sporting six-pack abs—as a model for Calvin Klein. Since then, his Hollywood star has risen from super male model to television star on popular soap operas including General Hospital and The Bold and The Beautiful. He seemed to effortlessly cross over into prime-time with roles on uber-hits such as Melrose Place, Ally McBeal, Charmed and Ugly Betty. Then hit the big screen where he’s appeared in a long list of movies; one of his favorite, The Big Hit, where he worked with his close friend (and former fellow Calvin Klein underwear model) Mark Wahlberg and Lou Diamond Phillips.
ST: Your reality television series on VH1 “My Antonio” is a hit. In addition to being the star you also played your hand behind the scenes as Executive Producer. Was this your first go-around off camera with the production duties? How did it go?
ASJ: “My Antonio” was not my first time producing, I have produced two other movies. I’m really happy that production went so well. My co-producers and partners helped out a lot. We had 150 people in our crew, and our team was awesome. There were so many things that they had to take care of, and coordinate (motorcycle, boats, helicopters, etc). I was fortunate to have a great team that worked very well together, and that shows through on camera.
Just a moment…let’s get back to his production company Namtab for just a second. Strange name—but then again maybe not if you’re a Batman fan, and avid Batman memorabilia collector—which Sabato is. Namtab is really Batman spelled backwards. I dig it. Wait, it gets wilder. By Hollywood standards Sabato seems to fly under the radar when it comes to avoiding much of the high-tech, drama dude thing in his personal life; no Hollywood bad boy antics, no high speed police arrests no drinking or smoking. But he is a health food fanatic, exercise maniac (exercises one hour a day at Team Platinum Gynastics in Simi Valley) and most agree a street smart, business savvy and, most definitely a gentleman kid-of-guy who probably helps little old ladies cross the street. Digging deeper the momentum picks up dramatically as his need for speed and thrills rears it ugly head. In “My Antonio” he runs the women ragged through a maze of every physical sport most women hate. But it doesn’t all stop when the filming ends. OH NO. When not in full-on concentration movie-mode, Sabato, an experienced horse-man with a love for the out- doors is either roaring round town on his custom made Batman Harley, behind the wheel of a race car, or sky diving. In other words… engaging in an array of dangerous sports that most likely would keep any mother up at night and worried about. Suddenly it all makes sense—meaning his appearance on the NBC competition show Celebrity Circus last year where he walked away with the winners trophy performing high-wire, dangerous and intricate circus acts. Afterwards, he announced that winning the competition meant even more to him because his mother and grandfather both had been in the circus. His father is Italian film star Antonio Sabato Sr. After all these years in the public eye to Sabato ‘heartthrob” is just part of the job. A small part.ST: Beautiful women complain all the time that people can’t get past their beauty to the person they truly are. Is it the same for good-looking men? Do people get past what you look like to find the person you really are?
ASJ: I try not to pay attention to the way I look, but I take compliments very well. I don’t concentrate on how people respond to my good looks, I concentrate on my role as a good father. None of us should determine how we act by looks alone. We should take the time to know another person.
ST: “MY Antonio” life looks pretty easy, but what’s it really like working on a weekly television series, then off to movie sets, and being a single parent. Any time for R & R? What do you do and where do you do it?
ASJ: My career and being a dad really take up most of my time. I wouldn’t call it R&R, but I take working out and staying healthy very seriously. I also like to play with my favorite toy, the motorcycle. During the time I have off I like to take my family some where tropical, and we recently went to Hawaii. And because I’m from Italy we try to visit once a year.
ST: Ordinary people see stardom as an amazing life. Money, fame, fans and perks. Is being a “star” all it’s cracked up to be? Ever thought of a life not in the public eye? What would you do?
ASJ: You have to love your job for the most part and have to be humble. You have to be positive within yourself. I focus on what I have today, how blessed I am and try to be a better person the next day. It’s important to love what you do, but I try not to be in the limelight if it’s not for work. My life and home are very private. I keep my kids, family, and friends private and away from the limelight. If I wasn’t an actor I would work with kids and teenagers. Whether it was physical training, or guiding them spiritually and mentally. I love kids and love being around them.
