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David Cann

Known for acting · Born 12 November 1956 · 69 · Westminster, London, England, UK

80 credits

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

Nineteen Eighty-Four

1984

Grange Hill

1978

The Eagleman Stag

2010

EastEnders

1985

Sapphire & Steel

1979

Jam

2000

Lizzie and Sarah

2010

Sex Education

2019

House of the Dragon

2022

The Kármán Line

2014

Les Misérables

2012

Bridget Jones's Diary

2001

Acting (80)

2024The Buckingham MurdersAlanFilm
2023Jeremy: A NightmareProfessor CalrusianFilm
2022House of the DragonDragonkeeperSeries
2022The BabyAverySeries
2020RebeccaLord CrowanFilm
2019Sex EducationQuiz ModeratorSeries
2019GreedFat CatFilm
2019Four Weddings and a FuneralHeadmaster MouldSeries
2018Killing EveLenSeries
2018Sally4EverAlan · 3 episodesSeries
2018Hold the SunsetCounsellorSeries
2017Crooked HouseCoronerFilm
2017Sick NoteGordon GlassSeries
2015The Javone Prince ShowPolicy Commitee MemberSeries
2014UncleChaplainSeries
2014Still Open All HoursCliff BridgesSeries
2014The Kármán LineDr. BehringerFilm
2013It's KevinVarious · 2 episodesSeries
2012Les MisérablesMagistrateFilm
2012Bad EducationSchool GovernorSeries
2011Attack the BlockDetective SuperintendantFilm
2011The Iron LadyTV InterviewerFilm
2011AlbatrossGrumpy ManFilm
2010The Eagleman StagPeter EaglemanFilm
2010Lizzie and SarahJohnFilm
2009PsychovilleDr. Flint · 2 episodesSeries
2008CaptiveThe ChairmanFilm
2007Run Fatboy RunMarathon OfficialFilm
2007BenidormMaitre D'Series
2007MoonmonkeysAnthony MeloneyFilm
2006Not Going OutDr RhodesSeries
2006ChromophobiaPolicemanFilm
2006SaxondaleMale Dinner GuestSeries
2006Lead BalloonMr. RandallSeries
2006The TruthMale WalkerFilm
2005The Green Green GrassFarm InspectorSeries
2004If...Professor CasperSeries
2003The CommanderDCI Tom Fuller · 2 episodesSeries
2002SpooksChief of AirstaffSeries
200215 Storeys HighPublic AttorneySeries
2002tlcDI CrightonSeries
2001Bridget Jones's DiaryCameramanFilm
2001Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of CrispsSolicitorSeries
2001Dog Eat DogPolice chiefFilm
2001Lee Evans: So What Now?ChairmanSeries
2001High StakesPearce · 2 episodesSeries
2001Mr CharityConsultantSeries
2000Black BooksEddieSeries
2000DoctorsMr. Lee, Clem Thornton, Johnny Morton, Gordon WilletSeries
2000JamVarious · 6 episodesSeries
2000BeastSolicitor #1Series
1999Bad GirlsFrancis CowanSeries
1999People Like UsSergeantSeries
1999The Murder of Stephen LawrenceForensic ScientistFilm
1998Berkeley SquareRecruiting SergeantSeries
1997Brass EyeDonaldus Matthews / Vicar, Ripp Candy, Alan Fortune-VatchSeries
1996Silent WitnessIncident Commander, DI Murray Porter · 2 episodesSeries
1996No BananasMan in PubSeries
1996FrontiersSeries
1994Pie in the SkyFarm WorkerSeries
1994A Dark Adapted EyeAlbert March · 2 episodesSeries
1992Between the LinesInsp. RooneySeries
1992True CrimesReenactmentSeries
1989CampionRopeySeries
1989On a Moonlit NightFilm
1988Hard CasesSteve RidgelySeries
1986BigglesSapper OfficerFilm
1986Knights & EmeraldsAlbert BrimbleFilm
1985EastEndersMr. Randall · 4 episodesSeries
1984Nineteen Eighty-FourMartinFilm
1984The BillSeries
1984One by OneBrianSeries
1982Shine on Harvey MoonSpiv 2Series
1981Wet JobCawthorneFilm
1979Sapphire & SteelPilot · 7 episodesSeries
1978Blake's 7Star One TechnicianSeries
1978Grange HillMr. Bentley · 13 episodesSeries
1978Armchair ThrillerRodgersSeries
1977London Belongs To MeProcess ServerSeries
1973The Tomorrow PeopleChaircreature · 3 episodesSeries