After leaving Australia in disgrace over a string of domestic violence incidents, Bert and Patti Newton’s actor son bunkered down in New York and created a new life for himself.
There, among the towering skyscrapers of Manhattan, Matthew attempted to break into the American movie scene, scoring a directing role on his much-acclaimed script Ava, only to step down from the project in 2018 when there was a backlash on social media.
But New York wasn’t all bad for the 45-year-old, who married Catherine Schneiderman, daughter of former New York attorney general Eric – himself accused of assaulting women – in 2017.
Matthew and wife Catherine Schneiderman are creating a new life in Texas.
(Image: Getty)Together, Matt and Cat enjoyed a low-key existence, with the 29-year-old comforting him when his Aussie TV icon father Bert died last year.
Now, Woman’s Day can exclusively reveal that the couple have swapped the hustle and bustle of New York for a tree change in Texas, where they’ve added a French bulldog and Doberman to their menagerie, which already included two black cats.
A young Matthew posing with his mum Patti Newton.
(Image: Getty)“They’re living in Austin and loving it,” reveals an insider. “Catherine never thought that as a bona fide New Yorker she would ever move to Texas, but she’s found herself fitting right in, and the slower pace is doing the world of good for her husband.”
They’ve made a huge step up from their two-bedroom apartment on the Upper West Side, trading it for a sprawling mansion on the outskirts of town, complete with a swimming pool surrounded by towering oaks, where Catherine regularly hosts friends from the city.
“It’s a much better fit for them, especially if the rumours are true that they’re keen to start a family,” says a source.
Insiders back in Australia say Matthew’s mum, 77-year-old Patti, “Wishes they would move to Melbourne to be closer to family, but as long as he’s happy, she’s happy.
“He’s worked hard on himself after everything that’s happened in the past, and she thinks he deserves peace.”
If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, help is always available. Call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
