BOBBY CANNAVALE Don't Forget TO BREATHE

The two-time Emmy winner talks about parenthood and his new role in Ezra

- Fortune Benatar

A parent’s biggest fear is failing their child. In Ezra, a film currently in theaters, Bobby Cannavale plays a divorced dad struggling to quiet his own worst impulses as he tries to do the right thing for his autistic son. “I loved the idea of a guy who is reactive and impulsive and how much he’s his own worst enemy,” Bobby tells Closer. “I thought it would be interesting to try to make this guy empathic to the audience while he continually makes mistake after mistake. His heart is in the right place.”

Since Bobby’s breakout role on Third Watch, he’s won two Emmys and become famed for bringing a wide variety of heroes, villains, and men who are a little of both to vivid life on the big and small screens. “There was a minute when I was growing up and I thought, ‘I’m going to play every single part,’” Bobby, 54, says. “Then you quickly realize you’re not going to be able to play every part.” That may be technically true, but considering the many memorable characters he’s inhabited so far, Bobby is off to a very good start.

Did you always want to be an actor?

Yeah, pretty much since I was a little kid. I was kind of a latchkey kid. My parents got divorced when I was pretty young. My mom was on her own, and she didn’t like me going out, so I watched a lot of television. I was, like, 10 years old when HBO came out. Between all the movies they used to run on regular television and then this new world of HBO, I got hooked, line and sinker on some great movies and some great performances. I loved old actors when I was a pretty small person. I loved James Dean. I loved Marlon Brando. I loved Paul Newman.

What drew you to the role of Max in Ezra?