
David Cann
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'.
Gallery



Known For
Acting History
2024
The Buckingham Murders as Alan
2023Jeremy: A Nightmare as Professor Calrusian
2022House of the Dragon as Dragonkeeper
2022The Baby as Avery
2020Rebecca as Lord Crowan
2019Greed as Fat Cat
2019Four Weddings and a Funeral as Headmaster Mould
2019Sex Education as Quiz Moderator
2018Sally4Ever as Alan
2018Killing Eve as Len
2018Hold the Sunset as Counsellor
2017Sick Note as Gordon Glass
2017Crooked House as Coroner
2015The Javone Prince Show as Policy Commitee Member
2014Still Open All Hours as Cliff Bridges
2014The Kármán Line as Dr. Behringer
2014Uncle as Chaplain
2013It's Kevin as Various
2012Les Misérables as Magistrate
2012Bad Education as School Governor
2011The Iron Lady as TV Interviewer
2011Albatross as Grumpy Man
2011Attack the Block as Detective Superintendant
2010The Eagleman Stag as Peter Eagleman
2010Lizzie and Sarah as John
2009Psychoville as Dr. Flint
2008Captive as The Chairman
2007Run Fatboy Run as Marathon Official
2007Moonmonkeys as Anthony Meloney
2007Benidorm as Maitre D'
2006Not Going Out as Dr Rhodes
2006Lead Balloon as Mr. Randall
2006Saxondale as Male Dinner Guest
2006Chromophobia as Policeman
2006The Truth as Male Walker
2005The Green Green Grass as Farm Inspector
2004If... as Professor Casper
2003The Commander as DCI Tom Fuller
2002TLC as DI Crighton
200215 Storeys High as Public Attorney
2002Spooks as Chief of Airstaff
2001Dog Eat Dog as Police chief
2001Mr Charity as Consultant
2001High Stakes as Pearce
2001Bridget Jones's Diary as Cameraman
2001Lee Evans: So What Now? as Chairman
2001Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps as Solicitor
2000Black Books as Eddie
2000Doctors as Mr. Lee
2000Doctors as Clem Thornton
2000Doctors as Johnny Morton
2000Doctors as Gordon Willet
2000Jam as Various
2000Beast as Solicitor #1
1999People Like Us as Sergeant
1999Bad Girls as Francis Cowan
1999The Murder of Stephen Lawrence as Forensic Scientist
1998Berkeley Square as Recruiting Sergeant
1997Brass Eye as Donaldus Matthews / Vicar
1997Brass Eye as Ripp Candy
1997Brass Eye as Alan Fortune-Vatch
1997Brass Eye as Vicar
1996Frontiers
1996No Bananas as Man in Pub
1996Silent Witness as Incident Commander
1996Silent Witness as DI Murray Porter
1994Pie in the Sky as Farm Worker
1994A Dark Adapted Eye as Albert March
1992Between the Lines as Insp. Rooney
1992True Crimes as Reenactment
1989On a Moonlit Night
1989Campion as Ropey
1988Hard Cases as Steve Ridgely
1986Knights & Emeralds as Albert Brimble
1986Biggles as Sapper Officer
1985EastEnders as Mr. Randall
1984Nineteen Eighty-Four as Martin
1984The Bill
1984One by One as Brian
1982Shine on Harvey Moon as Spiv 2
1982Shine on Harvey Moon as Spiv
1981Wet Job as Cawthorne
1979Sapphire & Steel as Pilot
1978Armchair Thriller as Rodgers
1978Grange Hill as Mr. Bentley
1978Blake's 7 as Star One Technician
1977London Belongs To Me as Process Server
1973The Tomorrow People as Chaircreature








