Key Takeaways
- Joey Fatone was born in Brooklyn, New York City, to Italian parents Joe and Phyllis Fatone.
- His grandparents were also born in New York, both to Italian parents.
- Although he played a Greek character in the film series ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding,’ he is not of Greek descent.
NSYNCS’s Joey Fatone is of Italian descent despite fans thinking he has a Greek heritage.
Joey was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Phyllis and Joseph Anthony Fatone, who were both born to Italian parents. So, Joey, without a doubt, is of prominent Italian descent.
As Brooklyn has a strong Italian-American community, Joey’s connection to Italian culture was certainly strengthened in his birthplace.
Moreover, even after moving to Orlando, Florida, Joey Fatone grew up in a city where the Italian culture is also very prominent.
Adding to his strong Italian descent, his grandparents were also Italians born in New York City.
His paternal grandfather was Steven J. Fatone, son of Anotonio Fatone and Maria Melito; he was born in New York to Italian parents, who likely were from Campania.
Additionally, Joey’s paternal grandmother was Pasqualine Stanzione, daughter of Joseph Stanzione and Minnie D’onofrio; she was also born in New York to Italian parents.
They are reported to have descended from Avellino, Campania, and Abbazia, Torino.
Moreover, Joey’s maternal grandfather’s surname is Lorenti, which indicates further Italian heritage.
Nonetheless, his Italian heritage is not the only thing Joey Fatone inherited from his family.
He also inherited creativity and showmanship from his father, who was also an actor and musician.
While Joey has a strong Italian lineage, fans often misunderstand him as being of Greek descent.
This confusion can be attributed to his portrayal of a Greek character, Angelo, a member of the Portakalous family in the film series “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.”
His portrayal of a Greek character was so captivating and engaging that it sparked a rumor that he was of Greek descent, but now we all know that he is an Italian-American through and through.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Joey secured second place in the 2007 ABC reality show Dancing with the Stars.
- Joey’s father had sung in a doo-woop group called the Orions.
- His band, NSYNC, has sold over 70 million records, becoming one of the best-selling boy bands of all time.
