Matthew Vincent Lattanzi (born February 1, 1959) is an American former actor and dancer. He is most commonly recognized as the ex-husband of singer and actress Olivia Newton-John, and for his acting in films such as My Tutor and the soap opera Paradise Beach.
Personal life
Lattanzi was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, the son of Jeanette (née Slowikowski) and Charles Paul Lattanzi."To Have and Hold". People. January 7, 1985. Accessed 2013-08-26. His father was a maintenance foreman"Olivia's Breakup". People. May 15, 1995. Accessed 2013-08-26. of Italian descent, while his mother is of Polish ancestry.1940 U.S. Census, Ancestry.comHart, Marla. "Matt Lattanzi Sees Sunnier Days Ahead For 'Paradise'". Chicago Tribune. July 29, 1993. Accessed 2013-08-26. He graduated from Benson Polytechnic High School in 1977.
While filming Xanadu (1980), Lattanzi met Australian singer Olivia Newton-John, whom he married in 1984. The couple had one daughter, Chloe Rose Lattanzi, born on January 17, 1986. Lattanzi and Newton-John moved to their farm in Australia in 1993 so that he could audition for the soap opera, Paradise Beach. He had a six-month contract on the show. By 1994, his acting career was largely over, and he worked as a contractor for a homebuilding company in California.
On April 24, 1995, Lattanzi and Newton-John announced their divorce. A year later, Olivia Newton-John would be in a relationship with cameraman Patrick Kim McDermott. McDermott disappeared in 2005, and was subsequently declared by the United States Coast Guard to have been lost at sea. From 1997 to 2007, Lattanzi was in a relationship with Cindy Jessup, who had been his and Newton-John's babysitter.
In 2008, Lattanzi briefly appeared in the MTV reality series Rock the Cradle, supporting his daughter Chloe (a contestant on the show). That same year, Lattanzi—a lifelong environmentalist—was reported to be living off the grid near Malibu, California. He now resides in Portland, Oregon.Byrne, Fiona. "Matt Lattanzi: Looking for Love in Australia". Sunday Herald Sun. July 6, 2008. Accessed 2013-08-26.
Career Lattanzi's feature film debut was as a dancer in the 1980 movie Xanadu.
Lattanzi's career consists mostly of small movie parts, though he did have a starring role in 1983's My Tutor. Other film credits include Rich and Famous, Grease 2, That's Life!, Roxanne, Catch Me If You Can, and Diving In. Lattanzi also had a significant role in the Australian soap opera Paradise Beach,Groves, Seli. "Matt Lattanzi: A Message from Paradise". The Spokane Spokesman-Review. July 27, 1993. Accessed 2013-08-26. and he appeared in eight of Newton-John's music videos: "Xanadu", "Hollywood Nights", "Gimme Some Lovin'", "Landslide", "Soul Kiss", "Toughen Up", "It’s Always Australia For Me", and "Can't We Talk It Over in Bed".
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 1980 Xanadu Young Danny McGuire / Xanadu Dancer Feature film 1981 Rich and Famous Jim Feature film 1982 Grease 2 Brad Feature film 1983 My Tutor Bobby Chrystal Feature film 1986 That's Life! Larry Bartlet Feature film 1987 Roxanne Trent Feature film 1988 Blueberry Hill Denny Logan Feature film 1989 Catch Me If You Can Dylan Malone Feature film 1990 Diving In Jerome Colter Feature film
Television Year Title Role Notes 1993 Paradise Beach Cooper Hart Main cast (100 episodes)
Music videos Year Title Role Notes 1980 "Gimme Some Lovin'" Himself Music video 1980 "Xanadu" Himself Music video 1980 "Hollywood Nights" Himself Music video 1981 "Landslide" Himself Music video 1982 "Olivia Newton-John: Let's Get Physical" Himself TV special (Music video: "Landslide") 1995 "Toughen Up" Himself Music video 1986 "Olivia: Soul Kiss" Himself Music video: "Soul Kiss" 1988 "It’s Always Australia For Me" Himself Music video 1988 "Can't We Talk It Over in Bed" Himself Music video
References
External links