7 Mario Cantone movies and TV shows you must watch

Mario Cantone stands out because he does not hold back. He speaks fast. He reacts faster. He brings so much energy that you can feel it even through the screen. A lot of people first noticed him as Anthony Marentino in Sex and the City where he played a wedding planner who always said exactly what was on his mind.

Others remember him from a chaotic kids' show in the late '80s called Steampipe Alley where he yelled, joked, and entertained nonstop. His personality has always been his biggest strength and he uses it in every role.

He has done comedy. He has done drama. He has even voiced a talent scout penguin in an animated movie. You always know when it is him. That is part of the fun.

These seven shows and movies show how wide his range is and why people keep bringing him back. He can be annoying. He can be hilarious. He can be weird. But he is never boring. This list is not just about what he has done. It is about what he brings to each project that makes it stick. If you want to know why he is still around, this is a good place to start.

7 Mario Cantone movies and TV shows you must watch

1. Sex and the City (2008)

The film picks up where the HBO series left off with Carrie preparing for her wedding to Big. Charlotte is already married and still close to Anthony Marentino who takes on wedding planning duties once again. Anthony shows up during key scenes where he helps Charlotte keep her composure and also delivers brutally honest opinions about the wedding chaos around them.

Mario Cantone plays Anthony without holding back. He says what the audience is thinking and his energy keeps the tension balanced with humor. He has limited screen time but his scenes always make a mark.

His return wasn’t just a fan callback. He helped show how far Charlotte had come and gave her someone to lean on outside the main friend group. The movie relied on characters like Anthony to ground it in the familiar world fans loved. Without him, parts of Charlotte’s arc would have felt incomplete.

2. Surf's Up (2007)

The animated film follows Cody Maverick who leaves his Antarctic home to chase his dream of being a champion surfer. Along the way he meets Mikey Abromowitz who scouts him for the Big Z Memorial surf competition. Mikey is fast-talking and hyperactive and his job is to push Cody into the world of pro surfing.

Mario Cantone voices Mikey and you can tell right away it’s him. His voice is filled with nervous energy and adds something fun and chaotic to every scene he’s in. His delivery stands out because it feels like a character who never stops moving.

Mikey is not the lead but he’s the reason Cody enters the contest. That makes him essential to how the story begins. The character adds laughs but also makes sure the stakes feel real. Without Mikey the competition wouldn’t happen and Cody wouldn’t meet the people who change him.

3. In Stereo (2015)

The film focuses on David and Brenda who are exes navigating new relationships and messy careers in New York. David works in photography and runs into John Resnick who is connected to the art world. Their interactions take place during tense professional moments as David tries to move forward.

Mario Cantone plays John in a way that feels grounded. He doesn’t overact and he doesn’t steal focus. He reacts the way someone in that situation would and that makes the scene more believable. His character brings reality to the artistic side of the story.

John doesn’t appear throughout the film but his presence shapes how David sees his work. He represents the parts of David’s world that are full of pressure and uncertainty. That influence helps move David’s journey along and gives the audience a better view of his internal struggle. Cantone does this with just a few precise moments.

4. Otherhood (2019)

The movie centers on three mothers who feel left out of their adult sons’ lives. On Mother’s Day they show up at their sons’ apartments without warning. Calvin is one of those sons and he’s not thrilled to find his mother waiting in his living room. The story builds around their awkward reunion.

Mario Cantone plays Calvin with a calm but frustrated tone. He tries to keep the peace but it’s clear that he’s holding back feelings. His scenes show how adult children often carry guilt or annoyance when family shows up uninvited.

Calvin isn’t in the spotlight for the full film but his scenes help balance the louder emotional beats. His storyline adds to the message about distance between generations. Cantone’s performance makes the character feel lived-in. It’s not exaggerated and that’s why it works. The tension in his scenes reflects what many people experience with family.

5. Sex and the City (2000–2004)

Anthony Marentino first appears in season 3 as Charlotte’s wedding planner. He’s loud and doesn’t sugarcoat anything. From their first scene you know that he’s going to challenge Charlotte and also protect her in his own way. His scenes become more regular and his presence sticks.

Mario Cantone brings something sharp and real to the role. He never plays Anthony like a joke. He plays him like someone who has seen everything and won’t let people waste time pretending. He has opinions about everything from shoes to relationships.

Anthony becomes an important figure in Charlotte’s life because he is honest when no one else is. That makes him different from the other side characters. The show was filled with moments where Anthony cut through drama with one line. He became someone fans looked forward to. He didn’t just make things funny. He gave the show a different kind of edge.

6. And Just Like That… (2021–present)

The show brings back the original cast and adds new characters to update the world of Sex and the City. Anthony is now running a bakery called Hot Fellas and he is still just as blunt as ever. After Stanford’s sudden exit from the story he ends up taking on a more central role.

Mario Cantone plays Anthony with more range than before. He’s still sarcastic but he now has moments where you see the softer side. He jokes about nudity and business problems but also has real conversations about aging and loss.

Anthony has become more than comic relief. In this revival he fills a gap left by other characters and he’s given space to grow. The show benefits from keeping him in the middle of things. His scenes now come with weight. Cantone shows that Anthony can still be funny while carrying more responsibility in the group.

7. Steampipe Alley (1988–1993)

This was a kids’ variety show that aired on WWOR in New Jersey and ran for five years. It featured games, comedy segments, and prizes. Mario Cantone hosted every episode and brought wild energy to the screen. He dressed up in costumes and did over-the-top impressions that were never toned down for kids.

He didn’t play just one version of himself. He played multiple characters and shouted jokes while slime flew around and kids screamed. His performance style was loud and chaotic. It felt like he didn’t care about rules and that made the show exciting.

The show became a cult favorite in the New York area. Viewers remember it not because of the games but because Cantone was unpredictable. That’s what gave it staying power. It showed what kind of performer he was before he became known for scripted comedy. You couldn’t watch it and forget him.