Antonio Sabato Jr
(Episode # 4576-present)
Antonio Sabáto, Jr. portrays Dante Damiano, an Italian sculptor and artist who is in love with the beautiful Bridget Forrester on The Bold and the Beautiful.
Sabáto has proven to be one of the hottest young talents to come out of daytime television, nabbing a series of prime-time roles and modeling including the most successful Calvin Klein underwear campaign in the company’s history.
Growing up in Rome, Sabáto’s first language is Italian and it wasn’t until he moved to Beverly Hills in 1984 with his mother and sister that he learned to speak English. 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 Sabáto joined the cast of GeneralHospital in the spring of 1992, the show jumped from seventh to third in the daytime Nielsen Ratings. That same year Sabáto landed a coveted spot in People Magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People issue.
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, Sabáto appeared in a campaign photographed by Herb Ritts which appeared on a 90-foot billboard in the middle of Times Square.
One of Sabáto’s most memorable roles was that of Heather Locklear’s abusive ex-husband in a six episode stint on Melrose Place. In 1998, Sabáto appeared opposite Mark Wahlberg and Lou Diamond Phillips in The Big Hit. He has made guest appearances on such notable shows as Ally McBeal, Charmed and The Help opposite Tori Spelling. In 2005 Sabáto competed on the hit reality series But Can They Sing?
In addition to acting, Sabáto is also an accomplished author. No Excuses: Workout for Life was published in 1999 and quickly became a best-seller.
Early in 2006, Sabáto received a nomination for a National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Image Award in the category of Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Drama Series.
Sabáto currently resides in the Los Angeles area with his son Jack and daughter Mena. He is a fitness and auto racing enthusiast and celebrates his birthday on February 29th.
