He was born in Union City, New Jersey, but grew up in Coconut Creek, Florida.

Attended Coconut Creek High School, where he graduated in 1987. He was a member of the school's drama troupe. He was slated to play "Sir," one of the two lead roles in the school's spring, 1987 production of the musical "The Roar of the Greasepaint, the Smell of the Crowd," but was suspended from school days before opening night for allegedly leaving an explicit letter critical of the school staff in a library copy machine. An understudy from BCC's theater program (himself a Coconut Creek High School graduate) agreed to step in to replace the suspended Cannavale.

Ex-brother-in-law of Amy Lumet and P.J. O'Rourke.

He never formally studied acting.

He is a member of the Circle Repertory Theatre and the Lab Theatre Company, both based in New York City.

His father is Italian and his mother is Cuban.

Has played roles covering each of the New York City's three major emergency response agencies (police officer on "Will & Grace" (1998), firefighter on The Guru (2002), paramedic on "Third Watch" (1999)).

Was married to Jenny Lumet, who is Sidney Lumet's daughter and Lena Horne's granddaughter. They have a son, Jacob Cannavale, born 1995.