David Cann

Acting

David Cann

Born November 12, 1956Westminster, London, England, UK80 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'.

Known For

Filmography

Jeremy: A Nightmare
2023Jeremy: A Nightmare
as Professor CalrusianMovie
House of the Dragon
2022House of the Dragon
as DragonkeeperTV
The Baby
2022The Baby
as AveryTV
Rebecca
2020Rebecca
as Lord CrowanMovie
Greed
2019Greed
as Fat CatMovie
Four Weddings and a Funeral
2019Four Weddings and a Funeral
as Headmaster MouldTV
Sex Education
2019Sex Education
as Quiz ModeratorTV
Hold the Sunset
2018Hold the Sunset
as CounsellorTV
Sick Note
2017Sick Note
as Gordon GlassTV
Crooked House
2017Crooked House
as CoronerMovie
The Javone Prince Show
2015The Javone Prince Show
as Policy Commitee MemberTV
Still Open All Hours
2014Still Open All Hours
as Cliff BridgesTV
The Kármán Line
2014The Kármán Line
as Dr. BehringerMovie
Uncle
2014Uncle
as ChaplainTV
It's Kevin
2013It's Kevin
as VariousTV
Les Misérables
2012Les Misérables
as MagistrateMovie
Bad Education
2012Bad Education
as School GovernorTV
The Iron Lady
2011The Iron Lady
as TV InterviewerMovie
Albatross
2011Albatross
as Grumpy ManMovie
Attack the Block
2011Attack the Block
as Detective SuperintendantMovie
The Eagleman Stag
2010The Eagleman Stag
as Peter EaglemanMovie
Psychoville
2009Psychoville
as Dr. FlintTV
Captive
2008Captive
as The ChairmanMovie
Run Fatboy Run
2007Run Fatboy Run
as Marathon OfficialMovie
M
2007Moonmonkeys
as Anthony MeloneyMovie
Benidorm
2007Benidorm
as Maitre D'TV
Not Going Out
2006Not Going Out
as Dr RhodesTV
Lead Balloon
2006Lead Balloon
as Mr. RandallTV
Saxondale
2006Saxondale
as Male Dinner GuestTV
Chromophobia
2006Chromophobia
as PolicemanMovie
The Truth
2006The Truth
as Male WalkerMovie
The Green Green Grass
2005The Green Green Grass
as Farm InspectorTV
I
2004If...
as Professor CasperTV
The Commander
2003The Commander
as DCI Tom FullerTV
tlc
2002tlc
as DI CrightonTV
15 Storeys High
200215 Storeys High
as Public AttorneyTV
Spooks
2002Spooks
as Chief of AirstaffTV
Dog Eat Dog
2001Dog Eat Dog
as Police chiefMovie
M
2001Mr Charity
as ConsultantTV
High Stakes
2001High Stakes
as PearceTV
Bridget Jones's Diary
2001Bridget Jones's Diary
as CameramanMovie
Black Books
2000Black Books
as EddieTV
Doctors
2000Doctors
as Mr. LeeTV
Jam
2000Jam
as VariousTV
Beast
2000Beast
as Solicitor #1TV
People Like Us
1999People Like Us
as SergeantTV
Bad Girls
1999Bad Girls
as Francis CowanTV
The Murder of Stephen Lawrence
1999The Murder of Stephen Lawrence
as Forensic ScientistMovie
Berkeley Square
1998Berkeley Square
as Recruiting SergeantTV
Brass Eye
1997Brass Eye
as Donaldus Matthews / VicarTV
No Bananas
1996No Bananas
as Man in PubTV
Silent Witness
1996Silent Witness
as Incident CommanderTV
Pie in the Sky
1994Pie in the Sky
as Farm WorkerTV
A Dark Adapted Eye
1994A Dark Adapted Eye
as Albert MarchTV
Between the Lines
1992Between the Lines
as Insp. RooneyTV
True Crimes
1992True Crimes
as ReenactmentTV
Campion
1989Campion
as RopeyTV
H
1988Hard Cases
as Steve RidgelyTV
Knights & Emeralds
1986Knights & Emeralds
as Albert BrimbleMovie
Biggles
1986Biggles
as Sapper OfficerMovie
EastEnders
1985EastEnders
as Mr. RandallTV
O
1984One by One
as BrianTV
Wet Job
1981Wet Job
as CawthorneMovie
Grange Hill
1978Grange Hill
as Mr. BentleyTV
Blake's 7
1978Blake's 7
as Star One TechnicianTV
L
1977London Belongs To Me
as Process ServerTV
The Tomorrow People
1973The Tomorrow People
as ChaircreatureTV