Meet Antonio Sabàto Jr, who was cancelled by Hollywood for supporting Donald Trump – but the General Hospital actor and Calvin Klein model is making a screen and boxing comeback

Jul 11, 2024

Antonio Sabàto Jr in Sydney, and with former President Donald Trump. Photos: @antoniosabatojr, @joedadicphotography/Instagram

The son of a renowned Italian actor, Sabàto appeared on soaps like General Hospital and Melrose Place before being ostracised, he claims – now he’s training for a reality boxing show

The Dancing with the Stars alum moved to Florida to work in construction; his ex-wife, Cheryl Marie, once accused him of drug abuse – now he’s dating Katia Fernandez

Italian-American model and actor Antonio Sabàto Jr just made a bombshell revelation to the Daily Mail, claiming he was “blackballed” from Hollywood for supporting former US President Donald Trump.

Sabàto faced backlash for his comments at the 2016 Republican National Convention, where he alleged that former President Barack Obama “was not a Christian, but a Muslim ‘on the bad side’,” then compounded his inaccurate statement by telling ABC News that he was “absolutely sure” Obama was a Muslim.

Antonio Sabàto Jr and Katia Fernandez pose with former US President Donald Trump and former first lady Melania Trump in 2020. Photo: @antoniosabatojr/Instagram

Per his Daily Mail interview, his agents dropped him not long after his RNC speech, and his projects disappeared. However, things seem to be looking up for the former General Hospital and Melrose Place star as he recently signed up to appear on Celebrity Boxing.

Antonio Sabàto Jr in front of the Sydney Opera House in Australia, in April. Photo: @joedadic/Instagram

Here’s what we know about the 52-year-old father of three who once compared being shunned by Hollywood to the Holocaust and who no longer supports Trump – or the Democrats.

Where is Antonio Sabàto Jr from?

Antonio Sabàto Jr is pictured alongside partner Katia Fernandez in front of the Coliseum, in October 2023. Photo: @antoniosabatojr/Instagram

Sabàto was born and raised in Rome until he was 13 years old. His family emigrated to Los Angeles in 1984 after losing their home to an arson attack, according to the book Sabato: The Untold Story. His father, Antonio Sabàto Sr., who was a well-known actor in Europe in the 60s, per IMDB, wanted his children to have a better future, the actor said in The Paul Cardall Podcast.

His father was an actor

A newspaper clipping announcing the birth of Antonio Sabàto Jr with a photo at the hospital with his parents, actor Antonio Sabàto Sr and Yvonne Sabàto. Photo: @antoniosabatojr/Instagram

Sabàto Jr calls his late father his “Hercules” and has said his father was denied opportunities, betrayed and lied to in America, adding that “Hollywood wasn’t there for him”, he said on The Paul Cardall Podcast. He blames Hollywood’s “racism” for his father’s lack of work, which saw Sabàto Sr to go into construction while his mother worked three jobs.

Meanwhile, Sabàto Jr took acting classes and, with his father’s help, started doing some European films before blowing up with General Hospital in 1992.