Bobby Cannavale | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Cannavale in 2025 | |
| Born | (1970-05-03)May 3, 1970 (age 55) Union City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Spouse | |
| Partner | Rose Byrne (2012–present) |
| Children | 3, includingJake Cannavale |
| Relatives | Enzo Cannavale (uncle) |
Bobby Cannavale (/ˌkænəˈvɑːli/; born May 3, 1970)[1] is an American actor. His breakthrough came with the leading role asFDNY ParamedicRoberto "Bobby" Caffey in theNBC seriesThird Watch, a role he played from 1999 to 2001.
Cannavale received thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series forWill & Grace in 2005, and received nominations for his recurring role onNurse Jackie (2012, 2013).[2] He won thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for portrayingGyp Rosetti inBoardwalk Empire in 2013.[3] Other television roles includeVinyl,Mr. Robot,Blue Bloods andMaster of None. He has also starred in theAmazon Prime seriesHomecoming (2018–20), theHulu seriesNine Perfect Strangers (2021), and Netflix'sThe Watcher (2022).
Cannavale made hisBroadway debut in the 2008Theresa Rebeck playMauritius for which he earned a nomination for theTony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play. In 2011, he starred in theStephen Adly Guirgis comedic playThe Motherfucker with the Hat, earning aTony Award for Best Actor in a Play nomination. He portrayedRichard Roma in the 2012 revival ofDavid Mamet'sGlengarry Glen Ross.
Cannavale has acted in the drama filmsThe Station Agent (2003),Win Win (2011),Blue Jasmine (2013),I, Tonya (2017),Motherless Brooklyn (2019),The Irishman (2019), andBlonde (2022) as well as the comedy filmsPaul Blart: Mall Cop (2009),The Other Guys (2010),Annie (2014),Spy (2015), andJumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017). He entered theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) portraying Jim Paxton inAnt-Man (2015) andAnt-Man and the Wasp (2018). He has voiced roles for the animatedNetflix seriesBoJack Horseman andBig Mouth as well as for the filmsFerdinand (2017),Sing 2 (2021).
Cannavale was born on May 3, 1970, inUnion City, New Jersey,[4] where he grew up, the son of Isabel and Salvatore "Sal" Cannavale. His father is ofItalian descent, while his mother isCuban and moved to the U.S. in 1960.[5][6] His uncle isEnzo Cannavale, an Italian actor who performed in the Academy Award-winningCinema Paradiso.[7] He was raisedCatholic and attended St. Michael's Catholic School, where he participated in a number of extracurricular activities, including being an altar boy and member of the chorus.[8]
When he was eight, Cannavale secured the plum role of the lisping boy, Winthrop, in his school's production ofThe Music Man and later played a gangster inGuys and Dolls, which cemented his love for performing. Cannavale's parents divorced when he was 13 and his mother moved the family toPuerto Rico. After two years in the American territory, they settled inMargate, Florida. From 1983 to 1986, Cannavale attendedCoconut Creek High School,[9][10] but during his senior year, he was expelled "for being a cutup."[5] He then returned to New Jersey to live with his grandmother, in order to be closer to New York to launch his acting career and went to summer school to earn a diploma fromUnion Hill High School.[11][12][13]
Cannavale began his acting career in the theater – with no acting training – and gained early film roles inNight Falls on Manhattan (1997) andThe Bone Collector (1999), Cannavale became well known when he starred asBobby Caffey for two seasons onThird Watch. Following this, in 2001, he starred withAlan Arkin in100 Centre Street – which was written and directed bySidney Lumet, his then-father-in-law.
In 2002, he joined the cast ofAlly McBeal for the last five episodes, but the show was then cancelled. Following this, he starred withYancey Arias andSheryl Lee in the miniseriesKingpin. In 2003, Cannavale briefly appeared on the last two episodes ofOz. He also appeared in the filmThe Station Agent as a man who befriends a little person removed from society. From 2004 to 2006, he had a recurring guest role onWill & Grace asVince D'Angelo, the boyfriend (and eventualhusband) ofWill Truman (Eric McCormack). However, in the reboot, they are revealed not to be married. For this role, he won thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series in 2005. He has also appeared in the filmsThe Guru (2002),Shall We Dance? (2004),Romance & Cigarettes (2005) andSnakes on a Plane, and guest-starred inSex and the City,Six Feet Under,Oz,Law & Order – and its spin-off seriesLaw & Order: Criminal Intent andLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit. He appeared inThe Take (2007) as Agent Steve Perelli, alongsideJohn Leguizamo andTyrese Gibson.
Cannavale serves as the voice of Corado R. Ciarlo, known as "Babe", in theKen BurnsPBS film seriesThe War (the story ofWorld War II) from the perspective of the men who fought in combat and their loved ones at home. He also read theaudiobook versions ofRichard Price's 2008 novelLush Life and Ed Falco's 2012 novelThe Family Corleone. On August 25, 2008,ABC ordered his pilotCupid, a remake of the1998 program which had starredJeremy Piven andPaula Marshall, to series. In the new version of the series, Cannavale starred oppositeSarah Paulson with script development overseen by original series creatorRob Thomas.Cupid premiered on March 31, 2009, but was cancelled by ABC after less than two months, on May 19, 2009.[14][15]
In 2008, he received aTony Award nomination for his role as Dennis in theBroadway play,Mauritius.[16][17] In 2009,CBS announced Cannavale would reprise his role of Det. Eddie Saccardo on the television show,Cold Case, for three episodes, starting with the third episode of Season 7.[18] Cannavale was in the filmThe Other Guys (2010), and played the role of Terry Delfino in the filmWin Win (2011). He later starred in the Broadway playThe Motherfucker with the Hat alongsideChris Rock andAnnabella Sciorra. On May 3, 2011 (his 41st birthday), he was nominated for a Tony Award for his leading role in that production.[19]
In 2012 and 2013, he guest-starred in the fourth and fifth seasons ofShowtime'sNurse Jackie, for which he was nominated twice again for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series in 2012 and 2013,[20] as well as joining the cast ofHBO'sBoardwalk Empire, portraying thepsychopathic Sicilian gangsterGyp Rosetti in the third season. His performance onBoardwalk Empire won critical acclaim, earning him thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2013. That same year he also played Lewis, a vengeful clown onModern Family during the third season, for which he was nominated for Best Guest Performer in a Comedy Series at the2nd Critics' Choice Television Awards in 2012.[21]TV Guide, in its "Cheers & Jeers 2012" issue, praised Cannavale for this "trifecta of great performances", commenting, "This guy is so good at playing bad, it's scary."[22] He played whatMatt Zoller Seitz ofRogerEbert.com called a "heroically moving" lead role inDanny Collins in 2015.
Since 2015, Cannavale has been involved with voice-over work for Playing On Air, a non-profit organization that "records short plays [for public radio and podcast] written by top playwrights and performed by outstanding actors."[23] He has starred in three short plays, includingCrazy Eights byDavid Lindsay-Abaire, co-starringRosie Perez andJohn Leguizamo;Mere Mortals byDavid Ives; and2 Dads byDavid Auburn.[24][25][26]
In January 2020, Cannavale appeared with his real-life partnerRose Byrne in the playMedea, written and directed bySimon Stone.[27][28] In 2021, Cannavale played Tony Hogburn in theNicole Kidman-ledHulu miniseriesNine Perfect Strangers (based on thenovel of the same name byLiane Moriarty), which also featuredMelissa McCarthy,Michael Shannon,Luke Evans,Samara Weaving, andAsher Keddie.[29][30] In 2022, Cannavale was seen portraying Dean Braddock in the 2022 Netflix series,The Watcher.
From 1994 to 2003,[31] Cannavale was married to actress/screenwriterJenny Lumet – directorSidney Lumet's daughter and performerLena Horne's granddaughter – with whom he has a son,[32] actorJake Cannavale.[31] Cannavale and Jake were cast as father and son in season four ofNurse Jackie. From 2004 to 2007, he was in a relationship withAnnabella Sciorra.[33] Cannavale has been in a relationship with Australian actressRose Byrne since 2012.[34] Their first son was born in 2016, and a second son in 2017.[35]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Night Falls on Manhattan | Vigoda Assistant #1 | ||
| 1999 | Gloria | Jack Jesus Nunez | ||
| The Bone Collector | Detective Steve | |||
| 2000 | 3 A.M. | Jose | ||
| 2002 | Washington Heights | Angel | ||
| The Guru | Randy | |||
| 2003 | Shortcut to Happiness | Cop | ||
| The Station Agent | Joe Oramas | |||
| 2004 | Fresh Cut Grass | Billy Pecchio | ||
| Haven | Lieutenant | |||
| Shall We Dance? | Chic | |||
| The Breakup Artist | Neighbor | |||
| 2005 | Happy Endings | Javier Duran | ||
| Romance & Cigarettes | Chetty Jr. / "Fryburg" | |||
| 2006 | The Night Listener | Jess | ||
| Fast Food Nation | Mike | |||
| Snakes on a Plane | Henry "Hank" Harris | |||
| 10 Items or Less | Bobby | |||
| 2007 | The Ten | Marty McBride | ||
| Dedication | Don Meyers | |||
| 2008 | The Take | Agent Steve Perelli | ||
| Diminished Capacity | Lee Vivyan | |||
| The Promotion | Mark Timms | |||
| 100 Feet | Lou Shanks | |||
| 2009 | Paul Blart: Mall Cop | Commander James Kent | ||
| The Merry Gentleman | Michael Elkhart | |||
| Brief Interviews with Hideous Men | Subject #40 | |||
| Louis C.K.'s Last Chance | Porn Producer | Short film | ||
| 2010 | F—K | Bobby | ||
| The Other Guys | Jimmy | |||
| Apples | Nino | Short film | ||
| Weakness | Joshua Polansky | |||
| 2011 | Win Win | Terry Delfino | ||
| Roadie | Randy Stevens | |||
| 2013 | Movie 43 | Superman | Segment: "Super Hero Speed Dating" | |
| Parker | Jake Fernandez | |||
| Lovelace | Butchie Peraino | |||
| Blue Jasmine | Chili | |||
| 2014 | Chef | Tony | ||
| Adult Beginners | Danny | |||
| Annie | Guy Danlily | |||
| 2015 | Danny Collins | Tom Donnelly | ||
| Spy | Sergio De Luca | |||
| Ant-Man | Jim Paxton | |||
| Daddy's Home | Emilio Francisco | |||
| 2016 | The Fundamentals of Caring | Cash | Uncredited | |
| 2017 | Hair | Bobby Cannavale | Short film | |
| The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature | Frankie (voice) | |||
| I, Tonya | Martin Maddox | |||
| Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle | Professor Russell Van Pelt | Credited as Van Pelt[a][36][37] | ||
| Ferdinand | Valiente/Valiente's father (voice) | |||
| The Photographer | Photographer | Short film[38] | ||
| 2018 | Boundaries | Leonard | ||
| Ant-Man and the Wasp | Jim Paxton | |||
| 2019 | Motherless Brooklyn | Tony Vermonte | ||
| The Irishman | Skinny Razor | |||
| The Jesus Rolls | Petey | |||
| Martha the Monster | Kevin / Doormat | Voice, short film | ||
| 2020 | Superintelligence | George Churchill | ||
| 2021 | Tom & Jerry | Spike (voice) | ||
| Thunder Force | William "The King" Stevens | |||
| Jolt | Detective Vicars | |||
| This Is the Night | Frank Larocca | |||
| Sing 2 | Jimmy Crystal (voice) | |||
| 2022 | Seriously Red | Wilson | ||
| Allswell in New York | Gabe | |||
| Blonde | Joe DiMaggio | |||
| Angry Neighbors | Kevin | |||
| 2023 | Ezra | Max Brandel | Also executive producer | |
| Old Dads | Connor Brody | |||
| Under the Boardwalk | Bobby (voice) | |||
| 2024 | MaXXXine | Detective Torres | [39][40] | |
| Incoming | Mr. Studebaker | |||
| Unstoppable | Rich | [41] | ||
| 2025 | Blue Moon | Eddie | ||
| Trap House | Andre Washburn | |||
| TBA | Judgment Day | TBA | Post-production |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | When Trumpets Fade | Capt. Thomas Zenek | Television film | |
| 1999–2001 | Third Watch | Roberto Caffey | Main cast; 38 episodes | |
| 2000 | Sex and the City | Adam Ball | Episode: "Easy Come, Easy Go" | |
| 2001–2002 | 100 Centre Street | Jeremiah Jellinek | 5 episodes | |
| 2002 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Kyle Novacek | Episode: "Monogamy" | |
| Ally McBeal | Wilson Jade | 5 episodes | ||
| Law & Order | Randy Porter | Episode: "Hitman" | ||
| 2003 | Kingpin | Chato Cadena | Main cast; 6 episodes | |
| Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Julian Bello | Episode: "The Gift" | ||
| Oz | Alonzo Torquemada | 2 episodes | ||
| 2004 | Six Feet Under | Javier | 3 episodes | |
| 2004–2006, 2018 | Will & Grace | Vince D'Angelo | 17 episodes | |
| 2005 | N.Y.-70 | Det. Niko Corso | Pilot | |
| The Exonerated | Jesse Tafero | Television film | ||
| Recipe for a Perfect Christmas | Alex Stermadapolous | |||
| 2006–2007 | The Days of Pets | Burke Zuko | Recurring cast | |
| 2007 | The War | Corado R. "Babe" Ciarlo (voice) | 2 episodes | |
| The Knights of Prosperity | Enrico Cortez | 2 episodes | ||
| Law & Order | J.P. Lange | Episode: "Murder Book" | ||
| M.O.N.Y. | Joe Capanelli | Pilot | ||
| 2008–2009 | Cold Case | Eddie Saccardo | 7 episodes | |
| 2008 | Lipstick Jungle | Chris "Parks" Parker | Episode: "Chapter Seven: Carpe Threesome" | |
| 2009 | Cupid | Trevor Pierce | Main cast; 7 episodes | |
| 2010 | American Dad! | Detective Chaz Migliaccio (voice) | Episode: "Cops and Roger" | |
| Louie | Chris | 2 episodes | ||
| Marry Me | Adam | 2 episodes | ||
| 2010–2011 | Blue Bloods | Charles Rosselini | 3 episodes | |
| 2012 | Modern Family | Lewis | Episode: "Send Out the Clowns" | |
| Boardwalk Empire | Gyp Rosetti | 11 episodes | ||
| 2012–2013 | Nurse Jackie | Dr. Mike Cruz | 12 episodes | |
| 2014 | Submissions Only | Man with Paper | Episode: "Petit Sweet Ending with N" | |
| Robot Chicken | Various (voice) | Episode: "Super Guitario Center" | ||
| 2016 | Vinyl | Richie Finestra | Main cast; 10 episodes | |
| 2017 | Master of None | Chef Jeff | 4 episodes | |
| Comrade Detective | Petre Bubescu (voice) | Episode: "Two Films for One Ticket" | ||
| 2017, 2019 | Mr. Robot | Irving | 9 episodes | |
| 2018 | Angie Tribeca | Angela "A.J." Giles Jr. | 10 episodes | |
| 2018, 2020 | BoJack Horseman | Vance Waggoner (voice) | 2 episodes | |
| Big Mouth | Gavin the Hormone Monster / Nick's Agent (voice) | 3 episodes | ||
| 2018–2020 | Homecoming | Colin Belfast | 11 episodes | |
| 2019 | The Detour | Castro (voice) | Episode: "The Groom" | |
| SpongeBob SquarePants | Tony (voice) | Episode: "Shell Games" | ||
| 2020 | Mrs. America | Tom Snyder | Episode: "Phyllis & Fred & Brenda & Marc" | |
| 2021 | Nine Perfect Strangers | Tony Hogburn | 8 episodes | |
| 2022–2023 | Human Resources | Gavin Reeves / Guyvin Reeves (voice) | 8 episodes | |
| 2022 | The Last Movie Stars | Elia Kazan (voice) | 2 episodes | |
| The Watcher | Dean Brannock | 7 episodes | ||
| 2023 | Bupkis | Uncle Tommy | 2 episodes | |
| 2025 | Only Murders in the Building | Nicky Caccimelio | Recurring role | |
| TBA | Scarpetta | Pete Marino | Main role, upcoming series |
| Year | Title | Role | Theatre | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told | Steve | Williamstown Theatre Festival | [42] |
| 2003 | Fucking A | The Mayor | The Public Theater, Off-Broadway | [42] |
| 2005 | Hurlyburly | Phil | Acorn Theater, Off-Broadway | [42] |
| 2007 | Mauritius | Dennis | Biltmore Theatre, Broadway | [43] |
| 2010 | Trust | Morton | Second Stage Theater, Off-Broadway | [43] |
| 2011 | The Motherfucker with the Hat | Jackie | Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, Broadway | [44] |
| 2012 | Glengarry Glen Ross | Richard Roma | [45] | |
| 2013 | The Big Knife | Charlie Castle | American Airlines Theater, Broadway | [46] |
| 2016 | White Rabbit Red Rabbit | Performer | Westside Theatre, Off-Broadway | [42] |
| 2017 | The Hairy Ape | Robert "Yank" Smith | Park Avenue Armory, Off-Broadway | [47] |
| 2018 | The Lifespan of a Fact | John | Studio 54, Broadway | [48] |
| 2020 | Medea | Lucas | Harvey Theatre, BAM, Brooklyn | [42] |
| 2023 | Here We Are | Leo Brink | The Shed, Off-Broadway | [49] |
| 2025 | Art | Marc | Music Box Theatre, Broadway | [50] |
Actor Bobby Cannavale is 52.
...Cannivale, 33, is a New York-area native (born across the Hudson River from Manhattan in Union City, N.J.)...
Rafa [is the new child's name] ... and now I have a 22-month-old and I have a 4-week-old...
