Antonio Sabato Jr. has proven to be one of the hottest commodities to come out of daytime television, nabbing a series of prime-time roles and appearing in the most successful Calvin Klein underwear campaign in the company’s history. Antonio was most recently seen guest-starring on the CBS hit CSI: New York and on ABC’s comedy Scrubs after completing the first season of his hit reality show My Antonio for VH1. Touted as the next evolution in reality dating, the show featured 13 exciting contestants vying to win Antonio’s heart. With Hawaii as the show’s exotic location, Antonio put his potential dream mates through a series of adrenalin-fueled adventures as he searched for “the one.” Antonio’s overprotective mother, Yvonne, was also on hand to interject her own form of advice and guide her son on his search.
Antonio will next be seen in the new TNT hit, Rizzoli & Isles. He will next be seen on the big screen in director Penelope Spheeris’ comedy Balls to the Wall. Antonio was most recently seen in the lead role as serial killer Henry Lee Lucas in the indie feature Drifter: The Henry Lee Lucas Story, for which he won Best Actor at The 2009 Beverly Hills Film Festival.
In 2008, he guest-starred on the hit CBS drama NCIS and also starred in the movies Ghost Voyage for the Sci-Fi Channel and Desitniantion: Infestation opposite Jessalyn Gilsig for Lifetime Television. Antonio also reprised his famed General Hospital character, Jagger Cates on SoapNet’s Night Shift after winning NBC’s hot summer series Celebrity Circus, where he performed nearly-impossible “Cirque du Soleil-esque” acts. Previously, Antonio starred on the popular CBS daytime drama The Bold and the Beautiful playing a role created specifically for him.
Growing up in Rome, Antonio’s first language is Italian and he didn’t learn to speak English until he moved to Beverly Hills in 1984 with his mom and sister. His big break came when he was cast in the infamous Janet Jackson video “Love Will Never Do Without You,” shot by Herb Ritts.
When Antonio joined the cast of ABC’s General Hospital in the spring of 1992, the show jumped from seventh to third in the daytime Nielsen ratings. That same year, Antonio landed a coveted spot in People Magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful People” issue.
Fashion designer Calvin Klein hired the actor in the summer of 1996 to be the company’s first celebrity model since Mark Wahlberg four years earlier. During his tenure with Calvin Klein, Antonio appeared in a campaign photographed by Herb Ritts and on a 90-foot billboard in the middle of Times Square.
One of Antonio’s most memorable roles was that of Heather Locklear’s abusive ex-husband in a six-episode stint on Melrose Place. In 1998, Antonio appeared opposite Mark Wahlberg, Lou Diamond Phillips in The Big Hit.
Antonio has made guest appearances on such notable shows as FOX’s Ally McBeal and the WB’s Charmed. He also starred in WB’s comedy The Help opposite Tori Spelling.
Antonio currently resides in Los Angeles. He is a fitness and auto-racing enthusiast, and an accomplished author (No Excuses: Workout for Life). He enjoys spending time with his children, Jack, Mina, and newborn son Antonio Kamakana.
