Bobby Cannavale’s son Jake gave fans an update on the bearded dragon his father was recently talked about during awards season, and it looks like Benny Blue has settled in just fine.
Jake Cannavale, 30, spoke to E! News at the premiere of his new series Scarpette on March 3, confirming that he and the family’s new reptile have formed a strong bond.
“Oh man, Benny and I are close,” he said. “Benny Blue the bearded dragon. I love this guy.”
Benny became an unlikely celebrity earlier this year after Bobby skipped the Golden Globes to go get him, a move that sparked plenty of amusement online.
Jake reflected on how the arrival of the bearded dragon revealed a gentler side of his father, especially when it came to animals.
“It’s funny because you know my dad hated animals growing up,” he said. “And now he’s a dad again, and everything has kind of changed and he loves animals now. It’s hilarious.”
Bobby shares sons Rocco, 10, and Rafael, 8, with partner Rose Byrne.
Jake’s involvement in the household has expanded to actual babysitting duties, at least for the lizard.
While Bobby took the boys to Disney, Jake stayed home for a few days to care for Benny, getting a crash course in bearded dragon care along the way.
“You have to dip the crickets in calcium powder and cover them with vitamins so that the bearded dragon gets its vitamins from the crickets,” he explained.
Despite handling the insects, he described the experience as surprisingly therapeutic.
“It’s a very cathartic experience. Because he doesn’t really know what’s going on. And sometimes I think, ‘Wow, that must be so cool, you’re just a lizard, in the desert. You don’t even know you’re in a cage right now.'”
