Born in Lodi, New Jersey to Tom Gatto, a truck driver and Anne (Spallina) Gatto, a clerical worker. Raised in a traditional east coast Italian home, Tom was a high school athlete. He attended William Paterson College, now University and received his Bachelor Degree in Criminal Justice pursuing a career in law enforcement. Tom worked for the United States Secret Service in 1977 and 1978 for President Jimmy Carter. He then left Washington to continue his career as a police officer in New Jersey.In 1984, while working as a Lodi police officer, he received his graduate degree, a Masters in Urban Education and Community Affairs. He is a qualified police academy instructor and had worked in many aspects of law enforcement. In 1986, Tom left the department to pursue a career in financial planning, moving to California in 1987 to start his practice.He always had a desire to write and wrote an original story, now a screenplay called "The Angel Lounge". This story based on the true events of two murdered New Jersey Police Officers. He has received notoriety in the New Jersey media for this work.Tom's acting career started by accident. Meeting with producers in Hollywood about his script, they found him to be the right type character for many "Mafia/Tough Guys" roles.