Matt Lattanzi is an American former actor and dancer best known for his roles in films such as Xanadu, Grease 2, and My Tutor. Although his acting career included several film and television appearances during the 1980s and early 1990s, he became widely recognized by the public through his marriage to Australian singer and actress Olivia Newton-John.
Lattanzi met Newton-John while working on the 1980 musical fantasy film Xanadu. Their relationship eventually led to marriage and the birth of their daughter, Chloe Rose Lattanzi. While Newton-John continued to enjoy an internationally recognized career in music and entertainment, Matt gradually stepped away from acting.
His story offers a look at a performer whose Hollywood career included memorable screen appearances before he moved away from the entertainment industry.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Matthew Vincent Lattanzi |
| Known As | Matt Lattanzi |
| Date of Birth | February 1, 1959 |
| Age | 67 years old (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | Portland, Oregon, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Former actor and dancer |
| Education | Benson Polytechnic High School |
| Famous For | Xanadu, Grease 2, My Tutor, and Roxanne |
| Film Debut | Xanadu (1980) |
| Notable TV Role | Cooper Hart in Paradise Beach |
| First Wife | Olivia Newton-John |
| Second Wife | Cindy Jessup |
| Daughter | Chloe Rose Lattanzi |
| Marriage to Olivia Newton-John | 1984–1995 |
| Known Film Role | Bobby Chrystal in My Tutor |
| Net Worth | No reliably verified public estimate |
| Current Profession | No reliably confirmed current occupation |
| Marital Status | Current status not reliably confirmed |
Matt Lattanzi’s Age and Early Life
Matt Lattanzi was born Matthew Vincent Lattanzi on February 1, 1959, in Portland, Oregon, United States. As of October 2026, he is 67 years old.
He grew up in Portland in a family with Italian and Polish heritage. His father, Charles Paul Lattanzi, worked as a maintenance foreman, while his mother was Jeanette Slowikowski Lattanzi.
Lattanzi attended Benson Polytechnic High School in Portland and graduated in 1977. His early life was relatively separate from the international entertainment spotlight he would later experience through his film career and marriage.
Unlike many celebrities whose personal histories remain closely connected to their professional activities, Lattanzi has kept much of his private life outside the public eye. Consequently, detailed information about his childhood interests and early ambitions is limited.
Matt Lattanzi’s Acting Career
Matt Lattanzi began appearing in films around the start of the 1980s. His work included dancing, supporting acting roles, and appearances in both theatrical productions and television.
Breakthrough With Xanadu (1980)
Lattanzi’s feature-film debut came with Xanadu, the musical fantasy starring Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly. Released in 1980, the film combined music, romance, fantasy, and dance.
Lattanzi appeared as a Xanadu dancer and played young Danny McGuire. Although his role was relatively small, the production became a defining point in his professional and personal life because he met Newton-John during filming.
The film did not become an immediate critical success, but it later developed a following among fans of musical cinema. For Lattanzi, it provided an early opportunity to work in a major studio production.
Rich and Famous (1981)
In 1981, Lattanzi appeared in Rich and Famous, a drama starring Jacqueline Bisset and Candice Bergen. He played Jim in the film, which explored the complicated friendship between two women across different stages of their lives.
The appearance helped extend his experience beyond musical productions and into a different type of dramatic film.
Grease 2 (1982)
Lattanzi played Brad in Grease 2, the musical comedy released in 1982. The film served as a follow-up to the popular 1978 musical Grease, featuring a new group of students at Rydell High School.
Although Grease 2 received a mixed response upon release, it later attracted a devoted audience, particularly among fans of cult musicals. Lattanzi’s appearance remains one of the recognizable entries in his filmography.
My Tutor (1983)
One of Lattanzi’s most prominent leading roles came in My Tutor, a 1983 comedy in which he played Bobby Chrystal.
The film gave him a more substantial part than several of his earlier supporting appearances. It also became one of the titles most frequently associated with his acting career.
My Tutor remains a key reference point for viewers researching Lattanzi’s professional work because it placed him at the center of a feature film rather than in a smaller supporting role.
That’s Life! (1986)
Lattanzi appeared as Larry Bartlet in That’s Life!, a 1986 comedy-drama starring Jack Lemmon and Julie Andrews.
The film focused on family relationships and the anxieties surrounding middle age. Working on a production featuring established screen performers added another notable title to Lattanzi’s career.
Roxanne (1987)
In 1987, Lattanzi played Trent in Roxanne, a romantic comedy starring Steve Martin and Daryl Hannah.
Inspired by Edmond Rostand’s play Cyrano de Bergerac, the film offered a modern interpretation of the familiar story. It became one of Martin’s well-known romantic comedy performances.
Lattanzi’s supporting role in Roxanne remains among his recognizable film credits.
Blueberry Hill, Catch Me If You Can, and Diving In
Lattanzi continued working in film toward the end of the 1980s and the beginning of the 1990s.
His later credits included Blueberry Hill (1988), Catch Me If You Can (1989), and Diving In (1990). These projects extended his filmography across drama, comedy, and coming-of-age stories.
While he never became a leading Hollywood star on the scale of some of his contemporaries, his appearances across several productions established a recognizable body of work from the period.
Television Career in Paradise Beach
One of Lattanzi’s significant television roles came in the Australian soap opera Paradise Beach, which aired during the early 1990s.
He played Cooper Hart in the series, which followed the lives and relationships of people living in a coastal community. The production represented a change from his predominantly American film work.
His involvement also connected with a period when he and Newton-John were spending time in Australia. The series became one of his final substantial acting projects before he largely withdrew from professional screen work.
Matt Lattanzi and Olivia Newton-John
Matt Lattanzi’s relationship with Olivia Newton-John remains one of the most widely discussed aspects of his biography.
Newton-John was an internationally successful singer and actress known for her music career and her role as Sandy Olsson in Grease (1978). Their relationship began after they met while working on Xanadu.
The pair married in December 1984. Their relationship attracted public attention because Newton-John was already a prominent entertainment figure, while Lattanzi was building his own acting career.
They welcomed their daughter, Chloe Rose Lattanzi, on January 17, 1986. The arrival of their child marked an important chapter in their family life.
Over time, however, their marriage encountered difficulties. The couple announced their separation in April 1995, and their marriage ended in divorce. Accounts of their relationship have described the separation as a significant personal transition for both.
Despite the end of their marriage, Lattanzi and Newton-John maintained a connection through their daughter. Their shared history remained part of the public record throughout Newton-John’s later life.
Who Is Matt Lattanzi’s Daughter?
Matt Lattanzi and Olivia Newton-John have one daughter, Chloe Rose Lattanzi, who was born in January 1986.
Chloe developed her own career as a singer and performer. She also appeared on the MTV reality competition series Rock the Cradle in 2008, which featured the children of well-known musicians competing in a music-focused format.
Matt appeared briefly on the program to support his daughter. His participation offered viewers a rare glimpse of him in a family setting after his acting career had largely ended.
Chloe’s public career has often drawn attention to her parents’ entertainment backgrounds. However, she has pursued her own musical projects and public activities rather than relying solely on their reputations.
Lattanzi’s relationship with his daughter is one of the few aspects of his private life that has remained visible through public entertainment coverage.
Matt Lattanzi’s Life After Acting
By the early 1990s, Lattanzi’s screen career had slowed considerably. Reports about his life during this period indicated that he worked in construction for a homebuilding company in California.
His career change illustrates that his professional life did not remain confined to acting. After years of working in film and television, he pursued employment outside the traditional entertainment industry.
In 1993, he and Newton-John moved to Australia, where he auditioned for Paradise Beach. The television role briefly renewed his acting activity, but it did not lead to a long-term return to Hollywood.
In 2008, Lattanzi appeared on Rock the Cradle in support of Chloe. This was a relatively uncommon public appearance for someone who had largely left acting behind.
Some reports from that period also described his interest in environmental living. However, detailed, independently verified information about his current occupation, residence, and day-to-day activities is limited. He has generally maintained a private life rather than regularly appearing in entertainment news.
Matt Lattanzi’s Personal Life After Divorce
After his divorce from Newton-John, Lattanzi was reported to have married Cindy Jessup in 1997. Jessup had previously been associated with the family as a babysitter.
Reports indicate that their marriage ended in divorce in 2007. Lattanzi has not maintained a highly visible public profile regarding his later relationships.
His decision to remain outside the spotlight means that details about his personal circumstances should be treated carefully. Publicly documented information provides a clearer picture of his earlier marriage and acting career than of his life in more recent years.
Newton-John later married John Easterling in 2008. She died on August 8, 2022, following a long history of breast cancer. Her death renewed public interest in her life, family, and earlier relationship with Lattanzi.
Although their marriage had ended decades earlier, Lattanzi remains part of Newton-John’s personal history as her first husband and the father of her only child.
Matt Lattanzi’s Net Worth
Matt Lattanzi’s net worth has not been established through a sufficiently reliable, publicly verified estimate. Although some online biographies publish figures attributed to him, these amounts are not consistently supported by credible financial reporting.
His professional earnings likely came from acting and other employment over the years, but there is insufficient verified information to calculate his total wealth accurately.
For that reason, a specific net-worth figure should not be treated as fact. His filmography and personal history are better documented than his financial circumstances.
Interesting Facts About Matt Lattanzi
- His full name is Matthew Vincent Lattanzi. He is professionally known as Matt Lattanzi.
- He made his feature-film debut in Xanadu. The 1980 musical introduced him to film audiences and brought him into contact with Olivia Newton-John.
- He appeared in Grease 2. His role as Brad added a popular musical comedy to his filmography.
- He starred in My Tutor. The 1983 film is among the projects most closely associated with his acting career.
- He worked with Steve Martin. Lattanzi played Trent in the 1987 romantic comedy Roxanne.
- He appeared in Australian television. His role as Cooper Hart in Paradise Beach expanded his work beyond American films.
- He has one daughter. Chloe Rose Lattanzi is his daughter with Olivia Newton-John and has pursued a career in entertainment.
- He largely stepped away from acting. After his work in the early 1990s, he made only occasional public appearances connected with entertainment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matt Lattanzi
1. Who is Matt Lattanzi?
Matt Lattanzi is an American former actor and dancer known for films including Xanadu, Grease 2, My Tutor, and Roxanne. He is also known as the former husband of singer and actress Olivia Newton-John.
2. How old is Matt Lattanzi?
Matt Lattanzi was born on February 1, 1959. He is 67 years old as of October 2026.
3. What movies did Matt Lattanzi appear in?
His film credits include Xanadu (1980), Rich and Famous (1981), Grease 2 (1982), My Tutor (1983), That’s Life! (1986), Roxanne (1987), Blueberry Hill (1988), Catch Me If You Can (1989), and Diving In (1990).
4. Was Matt Lattanzi married to Olivia Newton-John?
Yes. Lattanzi married Olivia Newton-John in December 1984 after meeting her during the production of Xanadu. Their marriage ended in divorce in the mid-1990s.
5. Does Matt Lattanzi have children?
Yes. He has one daughter, Chloe Rose Lattanzi, with Olivia Newton-John. Chloe was born on January 17, 1986, and has pursued a career in music and entertainment.
6. What happened to Matt Lattanzi’s acting career?
Lattanzi’s acting career slowed during the early 1990s. After appearing in Paradise Beach, he largely moved away from professional acting and reportedly worked in construction. He later made a brief appearance on Rock the Cradle in 2008.
7. What is Matt Lattanzi’s net worth?
His net worth has not been reliably established through public financial records or credible reporting. Figures published by some entertainment websites should be treated cautiously unless supported by verifiable evidence.
Conclusion
Matt Lattanzi built a modest but recognizable acting career through films such as Xanadu, Grease 2, My Tutor, and Roxanne. His marriage to Olivia Newton-John brought additional public attention, while his daughter Chloe continued the family’s connection to entertainment.
Unlike many performers who remain active in Hollywood for decades, Lattanzi gradually stepped away from the screen and pursued a more private life. His career and personal history remain of interest to film fans and readers exploring Olivia Newton-John’s life beyond her music and most celebrated performances.
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