David Cann

David Cann

Born 1956-11-12 (age 69) Westminster, London, England, UK
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Biography

David Cann is an actor with a diverse and successful career in both theatre and television. After training at RADA he served his apprenticeship in the repertory system, appearing at many of Britain's grand old theatres in a wide range of roles. In plays ancient and modern, Shakespearean drama, musicals and pantomime, David developed into a leading man and character actor with a strong vocal technique and a firm grasp of many artistic styles; from the extreme naturalism of Lawrence's 'A Collier's Friday Night' through the high comedy of Sheridan's 'A School for Scandal' to the classical verse (not to mention the athletic sword-fighting) in 'Romeo and Juliet'.

Moving into television David appeared in many shows including 'Sapphire and Steel' and 'Grange Hill'. In between these, he worked in small fringe theatres, such as the Gate in Notting Hill and the Croydon Warehouse, where such heart-warming pieces as Barrie Keeffe's 'My Girl' showed his subtlety in the more intimate space of studio theatre.

In the mid-90’s David auditioned for a small part in a new type of comedy pioneered by Chris Morris. The resulting series, 'Brass Eye', was hailed as a major breakthrough in TV style; satirising TV itself. Morris subsequently asked David to join a small team to develop the award-winning BBC radio series 'Blue Jam' and, in 1999, some of this material was filmed for television as 'Jam'. It is for his work in this surreal and iconic series that David is best known.

Over many years David has developed a strong reputation working with new and emerging talent, helping writers to develop their scripts through workshops and rehearsed readings. This led to David working with young director Tamara Harvey who later asked David to take the leading role in Laura Wade's charming play about the Welsh poet WH Davies in the highly-praised production of 'Young Emma' at the Finborough Theatre in London in 2003.

For the BBC David became part of a notable storyline as Dot Cotton's cancer specialist in 'EastEnders' and again as Doctor Casper in the disturbing, futuristic drama-documentary 'If...we could stop the violence

David’s film work includes appearances in 'Run, Fat Boy, Run', 'Attack The Block', 'The Iron Lady', 'Greed' and 'Rebecca'. On television David has appeared in 'Spooks' and 'Psychoville', 'Silent Witness' and 'The Javon Prince Show', but more recently 'Sex Education', 'It’s Kevin', 'Sally4Ever', 'Sick Note', 'Killing Eve' and 'The Baby'.

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Known For

Les Misérables
Les Misérables

2012

as Magistrate

Bridget Jones's Diary
Bridget Jones's Diary

2001

as Cameraman

Rebecca
Rebecca

2020

as Lord Crowan

Crooked House
Crooked House

2017

as Coroner

Nineteen Eighty-Four
Nineteen Eighty-Four

1984

as Martin

The Iron Lady
The Iron Lady

2011

as TV Interviewer

Attack the Block
Attack the Block

2011

as Detective Superintendant

Greed
Greed

2019

as Fat Cat

Chromophobia
Chromophobia

2006

as Policeman

Run Fatboy Run
Run Fatboy Run

2007

as Marathon Official

Albatross
Albatross

2011

as Grumpy Man

Biggles
Biggles

1986

as Sapper Officer

On a Moonlit Night
The Kármán Line
The Kármán Line

2014

as Dr. Behringer

The Truth
The Truth

2006

as Male Walker

The Murder of Stephen Lawrence
The Murder of Stephen Lawrence

1999

as Forensic Scientist

Dog Eat Dog
Dog Eat Dog

2001

as Police chief

Knights & Emeralds
Knights & Emeralds

1986

as Albert Brimble

Lizzie and Sarah
Lizzie and Sarah

2010

as John

The Buckingham Murders