Bobby Cannavale

Born Roberto M. Cannavale on May 3, 1970, in Union City, New Jersey, Bobby Cannavale was involved in various activities during his schooling at St. Michaels Catholic school. His parents divorced at age five, leading to a period in Puerto Rico before settling in Coconut Creek, Florida, where he attended high school. Cannavale returned to the New York/New Jersey area to pursue an acting career, supporting himself through odd jobs. He gained initial acting experience as a “reader” with the Naked Angels theatre company in 1994, the same year he married Jenny Lumet, daughter of director Sidney Lumet. Their son, Jake, was born the following year, and they divorced in 2003.

Cannavale’s career began without formal training, but his strong work ethic led to early film roles in movies such as “Night Falls on Manhattan” (1996) and “I’m Not Rappaport” (1996). A turning point came when playwright Lanford Wilson noticed his performance in an East Village production of “The Normal Heart,” leading to his involvement with Wilson’s Circle Repertory Theatre. This exposure also caught the attention of John Wells, creator of “Trinity” (1998), who cast Cannavale in a recurring role. Following “Trinity,” Wells cast him as paramedic Bobby Caffey in “Third Watch” (1999), a role that gained him significant recognition. Seeking to diversify his acting experience, he requested to be written out of “Third Watch” in a notable manner. He then joined his former father-in-law Sidney Lumet’s TV courtroom drama “100 Centre Street” (2001).

Over the years, Cannavale built a reputation for tackling varied roles, from a gay drug dealer in “Oz” (1997) to his acclaimed portrayal of Joe Oramas in the independent film “The Station Agent” (2003), opposite Peter Dinklage. His television career included recurring roles on “Ally McBeal” (2002) and “Six Feet Under” (2004). He earned an Emmy Award in 2005 for his portrayal of Vince D’Angelo on “Will & Grace” and a Tony Award nomination for his Broadway debut in “Mauritius” (2007). He secured a second Emmy Award in 2013 for his role as Gyp Rosetti in “Boardwalk Empire” (2010), demonstrating his versatility in complex dramatic roles. His career progression includes notable performances in films like “Blue Jasmine” (2013), “Ant-Man” (2015), “I, Tonya” (2017), and “The Irishman” (2019), solidifying his standing in both comedic and dramatic genres.