Episode 487: Antonio Sabato Jr.: From Teen Heartthrob to Boxing at 53 (And Why He Was Blacklisted from Hollywood)

Habits and Hustle

Jen Cohen

Education, Health & Fitness, Business, Self-improvement, Entrepreneurship

4.4 • 800 Ratings

🗓️ 23 September 2025

⏱️ 103 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Remember your biggest celebrity crush from the '90s? Mine was Antonio Sabato Jr., and now he's sitting across from me explaining how he went from Calvin Klein model and soap opera star to construction worker to boxing professionally at 53. In this episode of Habits and Hustle, Antonio opens up about his decade-long blacklisting from Hollywood after supporting Trump and his journey through addiction and recovery. We also duve into his intense fitness regimen, his relationships with Madonna, Pamela Anderson, and Jennifer Love Hewitt, and why he's now throwing punches in Philadelphia instead of throwing in the towel. Antonio Sabato Jr. is an actor, model, and former soap opera star best known for his Calvin Klein campaigns and roles on General Hospital and Melrose Place. After being blacklisted from Hollywood, he worked in construction in Florida and is now making his comeback through professional boxing and real estate. What We Discuss: (07:35) What really happened to his career and the Hollywood blacklisting (14:16) General Hospital fame and why he left after 2 years (20:45) The real story behind his Hollywood downfall and Trump support (33:44) Swimming with 40 tiger sharks at the Mirage (and other death-defying stunts) (53:13) His insane 4-hour daily workout routine broken down (57:27) Overcoming addiction to painkillers and sleeping pills (01:09:32) Dating Madonna when he was 18 and she was 30 (01:11:50) The truth about his relationships with Pamela Anderson and Jennifer Love Hewitt (01:25:01) His celebrity boxing match details and why Jake Paul won't fight him …and more! Thank you to our sponsors: Therasage: Head over to therasage.com and use code Be Bold for 15% off Air Doctor: Go to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code HUSTLE for up to $300 off and a 3-year warranty on air purifiers. Magic Mind: Head over to www.magicmind.com/jen and use code Jen at checkout. 99designs by Vista: 99designs.com/jen20 – click "Claim my discount" to get $20 off your first design contest. Momentous: Shop this link and use code Jen for 20% off Prolon: Get 30% off sitewide plus a $40 bonus gift when you subscribe to their 5-Day Program! Just visit https://prolonlife.com/JENNIFERCOHEN and use code JENNIFERCOHEN to claim your discount and your bonus gift. Manna Vitality: Visit mannavitality.com and use code JENNIFER20 for 20% off your order Find more from Jen: Website: https://www.jennifercohen.com/ Instagram: @therealjencohen Books: https://www.jennifercohen.com/books Speaking: https://www.jennifercohen.com/speaking-engagement Find more from Antonio Sabato Jr.: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/antoniosabatojr/?hl=en

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi, guys. It's Tony Robbins. You're listening to Habits and Hustle. Crush it.
0:06.7	Before we dive into today's episode, I first want to thank our sponsor, Therasage.
0:11.9	Their tri-light panel has become my favorite biohacking thing for healing my body.
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0:22.9	bring it with me everywhere I go. And I personally use their red light therapy to help reduce
0:28.3	inflammations and places in my body where honestly I have pain. You can use it on a sore back,
0:35.1	stomach cramps, shoulder, ankle. Red light therapy is my go-to.
0:39.9	Plus, it also has amazing anti-aging benefits, including reducing signs of fine lines and wrinkles
0:46.1	on your face, which I also use it for. I personally use Therisage trite everywhere and all the time. It's small, it's affordable, it's portable,
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1:11.4	Again, head over to Therisage,
1:13.5	T-H-E-R-A-S-A-G-E.com,
1:18.3	and use code B-B-B-Bold for 15% off
1:21.6	any of their products.
1:37.1	A woman, a lady, a girl in your 40s, 50s, maybe mid 30s, I'm not sure, or late 30s,
1:39.3	you're going to love this guest, okay?
1:46.6	We have Antonio Sabato Jr. on the show today, who is my childhood crush of all crushes. Well,
1:51.1	you and Jordan Knight, like I did say that, Jordan Knight from New Kids, who maybe will come on next week. Who knows? Who knows? I see, why not? Why not? Why not? Why not? Just quick backstory.
1:57.6	I got a DM from Antonio's publicist, he was like, hey, and he's like,
2:03.1	hey, any interest in having Antonio on your podcast? And I was like, I had to do a double take.
2:07.7	And I was like, oh my God. He was like my huge crush. Like, absolutely. And the guy wrote me back.
	...

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