cantor was born on an air force base in california. when his father, an air force captain and flight surgeon, finished his service, the family moved to philadelphia. they moved a few more times (newton center, massachusetts and cherry hill, new jersey) as his father completed his internship and residency, and settled in bergen county. his father was (and is still) involved in community theatre and his mother is a painter. both of them enjoyed the arts and this resulted in cantor's appreciation as well, especially the theater. "we were sort of progressive, liberal, jewish people. i grew up in a time when were sort of at the cutting edge of that."