David Cann

Acting

David Cann

Born
(age 69)
Birthplace
Westminster, London, England, UK
Credits
80 titles

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'.

Signature work

Known For

Acting credits 80

YearTitleRole
2024 The Buckingham Murders Film Alan
2023 Jeremy: A Nightmare Film Professor Calrusian
2022 House of the Dragon TV Dragonkeeper (1 ep)
2022 The Baby TV Avery (1 ep)
2020 Rebecca Film Lord Crowan
2019 Greed Film Fat Cat
2019 Four Weddings and a Funeral TV Headmaster Mould (1 ep)
2019 Sex Education TV Quiz Moderator (1 ep)
2018 Sally4Ever TV Alan (3 ep)
2018 Killing Eve TV Len (1 ep)
2018 Hold the Sunset TV Counsellor (1 ep)
2017 Sick Note TV Gordon Glass (1 ep)
2017 Crooked House Film Coroner
2015 The Javone Prince Show TV Policy Commitee Member (1 ep)
2014 Still Open All Hours TV Cliff Bridges (1 ep)
2014 The Kármán Line Film Dr. Behringer
2014 Uncle TV Chaplain (1 ep)
2013 It's Kevin TV Various (2 ep)
2012 Les Misérables Film Magistrate
2012 Bad Education TV School Governor (1 ep)
2011 The Iron Lady Film TV Interviewer
2011 Albatross Film Grumpy Man
2011 Attack the Block Film Detective Superintendant
2010 The Eagleman Stag Film Peter Eagleman
2010 Lizzie and Sarah Film John
2009 Psychoville TV Dr. Flint (2 ep)
2008 Captive Film The Chairman
2007 Run Fatboy Run Film Marathon Official
2007 Moonmonkeys Film Anthony Meloney
2007 Benidorm TV Maitre D' (1 ep)
2006 Not Going Out TV Dr Rhodes (1 ep)
2006 Lead Balloon TV Mr. Randall (1 ep)
2006 Saxondale TV Male Dinner Guest (1 ep)
2006 Chromophobia Film Policeman
2006 The Truth Film Male Walker
2005 The Green Green Grass TV Farm Inspector (1 ep)
2004 If... TV Professor Casper (1 ep)
2003 The Commander TV DCI Tom Fuller (2 ep)
2002 tlc TV DI Crighton (1 ep)
2002 15 Storeys High TV Public Attorney (1 ep)
2002 Spooks TV Chief of Airstaff (1 ep)
2001 Dog Eat Dog Film Police chief
2001 Mr Charity TV Consultant (1 ep)
2001 High Stakes TV Pearce (2 ep)
2001 Bridget Jones's Diary Film Cameraman
2001 Lee Evans: So What Now? TV Chairman (1 ep)
2001 Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps TV Solicitor (1 ep)
2000 Black Books TV Eddie (1 ep)
2000 Doctors TV Mr. Lee, Clem Thornton, Johnny Morton, Gordon Willet (1 ep)
2000 Jam TV Various (6 ep)
2000 Beast TV Solicitor #1 (1 ep)
1999 People Like Us TV Sergeant (1 ep)
1999 Bad Girls TV Francis Cowan (1 ep)
1999 The Murder of Stephen Lawrence Film Forensic Scientist
1998 Berkeley Square TV Recruiting Sergeant (1 ep)
1997 Brass Eye TV Donaldus Matthews / Vicar, Ripp Candy, Alan Fortune-Vatch (1 ep)
1996 Frontiers TV (1 ep)
1996 No Bananas TV Man in Pub (1 ep)
1996 Silent Witness TV Incident Commander, DI Murray Porter (1 ep)
1994 Pie in the Sky TV Farm Worker (1 ep)
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