Anthony was born in New York of Felipe Muñiz and Guillermina, Puerto Rican parents who named him after Marco Antonio Muñiz, a Mexican singer popular in Puerto Rico. He began his career as a session vocalist for pop and dance acts.

After changing his name to avoid confusion with his namesake, Anthony worked as a songwriter and backing vocalist for pop acts including Menudo and the Latin Rascals. His first release was a Freestyle music record, "Rebel", in 1988 on Bluedog Records, based in The Bronx. This cut was written entirely by Marc and showed he was one of the best vocalists in Freestyle music. That same year he wrote and produced "Boy I've Been Told" for fellow Freestyle artist Sa-Fire. Then in 1989, he would sing backing vocals for Ann-Marie, another fellow Freestyle artist on the Freestyle club hit, "With or Without You" produced by Little Louie Vega and Todd Terry. A year later, 1990, still working with Little Louie Vega and Todd Terry, Marc wrote and sung a duet with Freestyle artist Chrissy I-eece, called "You Should Know By Now". In 1991, he sung backing vocals for another Freestyle track by the artist Edmond titled "Come Back To Me". In 1992, still working with Todd Terry, he provided vocals for the Freestyle cut "Love Change" which is on the flip-side of a 12" vinyl released by Elan and The Powermachine titled "Here's Your Hat", production of Todd Terry. At the same time, he collaborated with his other Freestyle music producer Little Louie Vega, who featured the singer on many another Freestyle-flavored club hit "Ride On The Rhythm" and "When The Night Is Over" album, which featured the Freestyle classic "Time". In 1992, Vega and Anthony opened for Latin bandleader Tito Puente at New York's Madison Square Garden. After 1992, he changed his style from Freestyle music to Salsa and other Spanish music.

Inspired by the music of Puente, Rubén Blades and Juan Gabriel, Anthony released his Spanish-language debut, Otra nota, in 1993, with the salsamonga hit "Hasta que te conoci" (Until I Met You), a famous song by Mexican singer Juan Gabriel. "Si Tu No Te Fueras", "El Ultimo Beso", "Palabras Del Alma", Though it mostly a Spanish album, it did feature one English song, "Make With You". Subsequent tours throughout the Americas, including an opening slot for Blades, established Anthony as one of the hottest new stars in salsamonga. In 1994, he was featured in La India's album "Dicen Que Soy", in the song "Vivir Lo Nuestro".

His 1995 collection, Todo a su tiempo, was nominated for a Grammy with songs like "Te Conozco Bien", Hasta Ayer", Nadie Como Ella", "Se Me Sigue Olvidando", "Te Amare", and "Llegaste A Mi". The more traditional-sounding follow-up, Contra la corriente, was promoted by a sell-out concert at Madison Square Garden and won the 1999 Grammy for Best Tropical Latin Performance. The album's notable songs include "Y Hugo Alguien", "Contra La Corriente", "No Me Conoces", "Me Voy A Regalar", and "No Sabes Como Duele". Anthony also appeared alongside Blades in Paul Simon's 1998 stage musical, The Capeman, which ran for 68 performances. Anthony subsequently recorded the duet "No Me Ames", with Jennifer Lopez on her album On the 6.

In 1999, attempting to emulate the crossover success of Jennifer Lopez and Ricky Martin in the anglophone market, Anthony released an English-language Latin Pop album that had his name as the title with the US Top 5 hit single "I Need to Know", the Spanish version "Dímelo" on the Top Ten Latin Songs. Other hits include "When I Dream At Night" and "My Baby You". His song "You Sang To Me", was featured in Runaway Bride. The foray was considered a mixed success, partly because it alienated his traditional salsa fans, though "Da La Vuelta" (Not a Spanish version of any of the songs) was a salsa song and was a hit. Another note is that the song "That's Okay" has more of a salsa tune than pop. In 2001, he debuted another salsa album known as Libre and was certified gold with songs like "Celos", "Barco A La Deriva", "Este Loco Que Te Mira", and "Viviendo". The year after that, he made another English-language album called Mended which included smash hit "I've Got You", the Spanish version "Te Tengo Aquí", "I Need You", "Tragedy", "Love Won't Get Any Better", and "She Mends Me". Like his "Marc Anthony" album, it received mixed reviews, though slightly lower.

Anthony has also appeared in various motion pictures including 1996's Big Night and Martin Scorsese's 1999 film, Bringing Out the Dead.

Anthony was married to Dayanara Torres, a former Miss Universe for four years; the marriage ended in 2004. The couple have two sons, Cristian (b. 2001) and Ryan (b. 2003). Anthony also has a daughter, Arianna, with his New York police officer ex-girlfriend. On June 5, 2004, less than a week after his divorce from Torres was finalized in the Dominican Republic, Anthony married Jennifer Lopez. At the same month, he released a Latin Pop album Amar Sin Mentiras. On July 2004, he converted those songs to salsa in another album, Valio La Pena and included the traditional "Lamento Boricano" that was composed by Rafael Hernandez. Notable songs of both albums include "Ahora Quien", "Escapémonos" with Jennifer Lopez, "Valió La Pena", "Se Esfuma Tu Amor", and "Tu Amor Me Hace Bien". In the Latin Grammy Awards 2005, his Amar Sin Mentiras won best Latin Pop Album of The Year and his Valió La Pena won Best Tropical Album of The Year.

It is rumored that Valió La Pena was secretly dedicated to Jennifer Lopez, his "Lola", before, during, and after his relationship with Dayanara and his undying love for Jennifer López that never faded from their first relationship, just before Jennifer Lopez ended her relationship with Sean "P. Diddy" Combs.

It is also rumored that Marc will portray satanic serial killer Richard Ramirez in a an up-coming biopic.

On July 11, 2006 Marc Anthony is going to release "Sigo Siendo Yo", a Spanish greatest-hits album. "Que Precio Tiene El Cielo" will be the 1st single.