Habits and Hustle

Episode 486: Antonio Sabato Jr.: From Teen Heartthrob to Boxing at 53 (And Why He Was Blacklisted from Hollywood)

September 23, 2025

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  • Antonio Sabato Jr. attributes his sustained physical and mental well-being at 53 to a consistent lifestyle and a refusal to stop pursuing his goals, emphasizing that age does not have to dictate a slowdown in life. 
  • Antonio Sabato Jr. experienced a significant career blacklisting from Hollywood after publicly supporting Donald Trump in 2016, leading him to leave the entertainment industry and work in construction. 
  • Despite facing career setbacks and personal challenges, Antonio Sabato Jr. maintains a fearless and adventurous spirit, engaging in extreme activities and pursuing new professional goals like professional boxing at 53, demonstrating a commitment to pushing personal limits and living life without self-imposed restrictions. 
  • Antonio Sabato Jr. maintains an incredibly rigorous four-hour daily fitness regimen, including two hours of cardio and two hours of weight training, seven days a week, to support his professional boxing aspirations. 
  • Sabato Jr. openly discusses his past addiction to painkillers and sleeping pills, highlighting his journey through a 30-day recovery program and his commitment to staying clean, with coffee being the last addiction he overcame. 
  • Despite his past relationships with high-profile figures like Madonna, Pamela Anderson, and Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sabato Jr. emphasizes his desire for privacy and his focus on genuine connection over celebrity status. 
  • Antonio Sabato Jr. views the entertainment and political worlds as inherently fake and dishonest, leading him to distance himself from both. 
  • Sabato Jr. expresses a strong personal support for Donald Trump, citing his work ethic and resilience, while also acknowledging Trump's reliance on 'yes men' and his addiction to power and attention. 
  • Sabato Jr. believes that politicians should serve the people without personal financial gain and expresses concern over the perceived deterioration of states like California, motivating a desire to protect the country from similar fates. 

Segments

Early Career and Acting Aspirations
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(00:10:36)
  • Key Takeaway: Antonio Sabato Jr.’s acting career began with a strong desire to pursue acting, leading him to leave school and move to New York at 17, with his early visibility stemming from the Janet Jackson ‘Love Will Never Do (Without You)’ music video.
  • Summary: This segment details Antonio Sabato Jr.’s journey from immigrating to the US at 12, his early acting aspirations, his father’s struggles in the industry, his decision to leave school, and his first significant exposure through the Janet Jackson music video and subsequent role on General Hospital.
Hollywood Blacklisting and Career Shift
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(00:21:33)
  • Key Takeaway: Antonio Sabato Jr. was blacklisted from Hollywood after publicly supporting President Trump in 2016 and running for Congress, forcing him to leave the industry and find work in construction to support his family.
  • Summary: Antonio discusses the repercussions of his political stance and his run for Congress, explaining how it led to his agents and managers dropping him, resulting in a period where he had to work in construction in Florida.
Fearless Pursuit of New Challenges
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(00:31:36)
  • Key Takeaway: Antonio Sabato Jr. embodies a fearless approach to life, consistently pushing his limits through extreme activities like swimming with tiger sharks and skydiving, and pursuing new professional goals such as professional boxing at 53.
  • Summary: This part of the conversation highlights Antonio’s adventurous spirit and his belief in living without limits, detailing experiences like swimming with sharks at the Mirage, jumping off tall buildings, and his current pursuit of professional boxing, emphasizing his dedication to personal challenges regardless of age.
Formula One Racing Dynamics
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(00:34:40)
  • Key Takeaway: Modern Formula One racing is heavily reliant on aerodynamics, car setup, and simulation, with driver input being crucial for car development, a stark contrast to the more physically demanding era of drivers like Schumacher.
  • Summary: The discussion delves into the intricacies of Formula One, comparing past and present racing styles, the importance of qualifying, the role of technology and simulation, and the physical demands on drivers, with insights into the performance of teams like Red Bull, McLaren, Mercedes, and Ferrari.
Intense Fitness Regimen
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(00:53:46)
  • Key Takeaway: Antonio Sabato Jr. dedicates four hours daily to training, split between two hours of cardio (including cycling in heat with weights) and two hours of full-body weight training, emphasizing a lean physique over bulk.
  • Summary: Antonio Sabato Jr. details his rigorous daily workout routine, which includes two hours of cardio in a hot garage and two hours of full-body weight training, aiming for a lean, muscular physique inspired by Steve Reeves and Bruce Lee.
Overcoming Addiction
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(00:57:38)
  • Key Takeaway: Sabato Jr. quit coffee as the last addiction, viewing it as a crucial step in his recovery from painkillers and sleeping pills, and now feels stronger and more focused without it.
  • Summary: Antonio Sabato Jr. discusses his journey of overcoming addiction, specifically to painkillers and sleeping pills, and how quitting coffee has further enhanced his physical and mental well-being, especially in preparation for boxing.
Dating Famous Women
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(01:08:41)
  • Key Takeaway: Antonio Sabato Jr. dated Madonna at 18 when she was in her 30s, and also had relationships with Jennifer Love Hewitt and Pamela Anderson, all of which he kept private at the time out of respect.
  • Summary: Antonio Sabato Jr. shares details about his past relationships with Madonna, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Pamela Anderson, emphasizing his respect for their privacy and the lessons learned from these experiences.
Boxing Career and Motivation
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(01:26:01)
  • Key Takeaway: At 53, Sabato Jr. is pursuing professional boxing for the challenge and pride, not primarily for money, and aims to inspire others by undertaking activities that most people avoid.
  • Summary: Antonio Sabato Jr. discusses his upcoming celebrity boxing match, his motivation for fighting at 53, and his belief that taking on difficult challenges can inspire others and lead to personal growth.
Politics and Hollywood Fakery
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(01:35:02)
  • Key Takeaway: Antonio Sabato Jr. perceives both the entertainment industry and politics as fundamentally dishonest, leading him to avoid involvement in political parties.
  • Summary: The conversation delves into the perceived fakery of both the entertainment and political worlds, with Sabato Jr. explaining why he chooses not to engage with any political party, likening them to the show business in their tendency to lie.
Personal Views on Trump
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(01:36:51)
  • Key Takeaway: Sabato Jr. views Donald Trump as a great guy on a personal level and acknowledges his resilience and work ethic, despite his own disinterest in political involvement.
  • Summary: Sabato Jr. shares his personal experiences meeting Donald Trump, hosting events for him, and visiting the White House, while also discussing Trump’s perceived work ethic and resilience, even while maintaining his distance from politics.
The Nature of Political Power
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(01:41:16)
  • Key Takeaway: Sabato Jr. believes Donald Trump is driven by a love for power, fame, attention, and money, but also by a genuine desire to protect the country from decline.
  • Summary: The discussion explores the motivations behind Donald Trump’s actions, with Sabato Jr. suggesting a combination of addiction to power and attention, alongside a love for the country and a desire to prevent its deterioration, referencing California as an example.
Upcoming Projects and Real Estate
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(01:42:41)
  • Key Takeaway: Antonio Sabato Jr. is actively pursuing a professional boxing match, a new horror movie, and real estate ventures in Tampa.
  • Summary: None