'What more could a mum and dad want?': Patti Newton reveals son Matthew is 'happy and healthy' following his engagement to Catherine Schneiderman

By Jody Phan and Jacques Peterson and Bianca La Cioppa For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 00:45 GMT, 7 November 2016 | Updated: 02:28 GMT, 7 November 2016

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His troubled past has been well-documented in the media.

And actor Matthew Newton is said to be doing 'very well,' just weeks after news of his engagement to American girlfriend Catherine Schneiderman broke.

The update came from the 39-year-old's mother Patti, who revealed to KIIS FM's Kyle & Jackie 'O' show on Monday: 'He's doing really well, thanks. He's very happy and healthy. What more could a mum and dad want?'

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'Happy and healthy': Troubled actor Matthew Newton's mother Patti says the star is doing well following his engagement to American girlfriend Catherine Schneiderman

Matthew, who has a history with mental illness, currently resides in New York with his 23-year-old fiancée.

The couple's relationship had been kept under wraps until last month, when news of their engagement was made public.

Catherine was seen stepping out with her beau days later while flashing her sparkly diamond engagement ring.

'Doing really well': Patti is 'thrilled' for her son Matthew and his fiancée, who are set to marry after the actor proposed

And although Patti and her husband Bert were said to be kept in the dark about their son's exciting news, the showbiz veterans insisted they're 'thrilled' for the couple.

Speaking to Who magazine, 71-year-old Patti revealed they 'are absolutely thrilled' and have spoken to their future daughter-in-law 'many times' despite having never met face-to-face.

Her comments come days after Bert, 78, told The Daily Telegraph, 'Patti and I are thrilled', before adding that it was the 'best thing' they could hope for for their beloved son.

Sparkly: The 23-year-old American flashed her diamond engagement ring during an outing in New York last month

Matthew made headlines in 2006 after he was convicted of assaulting his then-fiancée Brooke Satchwell.

The conviction was quashed a year later after a psychiatrist advised he had been rehabilitated and was unlikely to offend again.

In 2010, he announced his split with ex-fiancée Rachael Taylor, after two 'violent and unprovoked' attacks in Rome, which prompted her to take out an AVO against him.

'We are thrilled:' Bert and Patti recently revealed that they support son Matthew's shock engagement despite not having met Catherine yet

His latest romance with Catherine has raised some eyebrows, due to her father Eric's known stance against domestic violence.

In 2010, the New York District Attorney passed a bill to increase the punishment handed to those involved in such crimes.

'The time to criminalise this horrific form of abuse is now,' he told a press conference according to the New York Senate.

Troubled past: Matthew was previously involved in two assaults against ex-fiancées Brooke Satchwell and Rachael Taylor

'I am proud of the overwhelming bipartisan support for this legislation. It sends a strong message that we must do everything in our power to ensure that no one is immune from accountability for committing such a heinous crime.'

New Idea magazine has claimed Catherine is aware of the Australian actor's past but she 'sees Matt as a misunderstood genius.'

Matthew is currently based in America, where he's working as an actor and director.