Tony's life was marked by turmoil and instability from a young age. Born in Chicago and raised in Northwest Indiana, his childhood was far removed from the nurturing and stable environment that is rightfully owed to every child. At just two years old, he was taken away from his biological parents due to substance abuse and placed in the care of his biological aunt, only to be removed once again and shuffled through multiple foster homes. It wasn't until the age of nine that Tony and his older brother were finally adopted by Dr. Angelo and Kathy Bonaventura, a development that would have been a welcome respite from the chaos of his early years.
However, even in his new home, Tony's life was not without its challenges. His parents divorced when he was just 13, and he found himself struggling in school and getting into trouble with the law. He was kicked out of multiple high schools, including St. John's Military Academy, where he was caught escaping in the trunk of a friend's car. He also attended Valparaiso High School, only to be expelled his senior year. During this tumultuous period, Tony was incarcerated and ultimately earned his GED.
The loss of his father, who he was very close to, on November 4th, 1997, was a significant blow to Tony. His father's passing occurred when Tony was just 21 years old, and it marked a turning point in his life. Around the same time, Tony became the father to a beautiful baby girl named Michela, an event that prompted him to re-evaluate his priorities and focus on achieving his goals.
At 23, Tony made the bold decision to leave Indiana and move to Chicago, where he hoped to launch his acting career. He enrolled at Columbia College, where he majored in Film for two years, and also took acting classes at the Audition Studio. Tony worked on several low-budget films, including The Guys (2004) and I Was A Mathlete Until I Met Margo Marris (2003),which premiered at various film festivals around the world.
When he wasn't working on films, Tony honed his craft through theater work at Navy Pier, one of Chicago's most popular tourist attractions. His latest project, In This Town, sees him play the role of Jimmy, a young man who embarks on a one-night stand with his adolescence alongside his childhood friends.
