May 3, 1970
Taurus
Union City, NJ
55 years old
N/A
N/A
Movie Actor
Full Name, Age & Place of Birth
Robert M. “Bobby” Cannavale was born on May 3, 1970, in Union City, New Jersey, USA. As of June 2025, he is 55 years old .
Family Background & Early Life
Bobby is the son of Salvatore “Sal” Cannavale, who is of Italian-American descent, and Isabel, who immigrated from Cuba in 1960 . Raised Catholic, he attended St. Michael’s Catholic School and began acting in church plays—landing roles in school productions like The Music Man and Guys and Dolls by age eight . After his parents divorced when he was 14, Bobby moved with his mother and brother to Puerto Rico, later settling in Margate, Florida. He faced challenges in high school—often getting suspended and ultimately expelled—but returned to New Jersey, earning his diploma through summer school at Union Hill High School .
Career Beginnings & Breakthrough
Without formal acting training, Bobby started in theater and landed early roles in TV and film:
Night Falls on Manhattan (1997) and The Bone Collector (1999) marked his film debut .
His major early break came as FDNY Paramedic Roberto "Bobby" Caffey in Third Watch (1999–2001), introducing him as a compelling dramatic presence .
Television & Stage Highlights
Will & Grace (2004–2006, 2018): As Vince D’Angelo, he earned the Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in 2005 .
Boardwalk Empire (2012–2013): His chilling portrayal of mob boss Gyp Rosetti in Season 3 earned him the Emmy for Supporting Actor in a Drama (2013) .
Recurring roles include Nurse Jackie, Modern Family, Vinyl, Mr. Robot, Master of None, Homecoming, Nine Perfect Strangers, and Netflix’s The Watcher (2022) .
On Broadway, Bobby earned Tony nominations for:
Mauritius (2008) – Featured Actor
The Motherf**ker with the Hat (2011) – Leading Actor
Glengarry Glen Ross (2012) – as Richard Roma
He'll soon return to Broadway in the revival of ART alongside Neil Patrick Harris and James Corden (previews begin August 2025) .
Film Career & Voice Roles
Bobby’s versatility shines across genres:
Drama work includes The Station Agent (2003), Win Win (2011), Blue Jasmine (2013), I, Tonya (2017), Motherless Brooklyn (2019), The Irishman (2019), and Ezra (2023)—his first leading role, receiving acclaim .
Comedic roles in Paul Blart: Mall Cop (2009), The Other Guys (2010), Annie (2014), Spy (2015), and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) .
MCU appearances as Jim Paxton in Ant-Man (2015) and Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) .
Voice work includes roles in BoJack Horseman, Big Mouth, Ferdinand, The Nut Job 2, Sing 2, Under the Boardwalk (2023), and Tom & Jerry (2021) .
Upcoming films include Unstoppable and Trap House (Nov 2025), as well as the comedy Judgment Day (2026) .
Awards & Recognition
Primetime Emmy Awards: Guest Actor in a Comedy (Will & Grace, 2005); Supporting Actor in a Drama (Boardwalk Empire, 2013) .
Tony Award Nominations: For Mauritius (2008), The Motherf**ker with the Hat (2011), and Glengarry Glen Ross (2013) .
Drama Desk Award: Won for The Motherf**ker with the Hat (2011) .
Personal Life & Collaborations
Bobby was married to actress/screenwriter Jenny Lumet (1994–2003); they share a son, actor Jake Cannavale, who co-starred with Bobby in Nurse Jackie and will appear alongside him in the upcoming Kay Scarpetta series .
Since 2012, he’s been in a relationship with actress Rose Byrne; they have two sons together (born in 2016 and 2017) .
What Makes Bobby Cannavale Exceptional
From church plays in Union City to powerful television and Broadway performances, Bobby Cannavale is a multifaceted talent. His ability to shift between comedy and drama—whether as a mob boss, sitcom guest, or family man—has earned him acclaim. Critics note his knack for “stealing scenes” with both humor and intensity. With strong family ties in entertainment and a slate of exciting upcoming projects, he continues evolving while staying grounded in authenticity.
