David Cann
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- Nov 12, 1956 (age 69)
- Place of birth
- Westminster, London, England, UK
- Credits
- 80
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
Sex Education
2019TV
Quiz Moderator
House of the Dragon
2022TV
Dragonkeeper
Les Misérables
2012Movie
Magistrate
Bridget Jones's Diary
2001Movie
Cameraman
Attack the Block
2011Movie
Detective Superintendant
The Iron Lady
2011Movie
TV Interviewer
Filmography
The Buckingham Murders
2024Movie
Alan
Jeremy: A Nightmare
2023Movie
Professor Calrusian
House of the Dragon
2022TV
Dragonkeeper
The Baby
2022TV
Avery
Rebecca
2020Movie
Lord Crowan
Greed
2019Movie
Fat Cat
Four Weddings and a Funeral
2019TV
Headmaster Mould
Sex Education
2019TV
Quiz Moderator
Sally4Ever
2018TV
Alan
Killing Eve
2018TV
Len
Hold the Sunset
2018TV
Counsellor
Sick Note
2017TV
Gordon Glass
Crooked House
2017Movie
Coroner
The Javone Prince Show
2015TV
Policy Commitee Member
Still Open All Hours
2014TV
Cliff Bridges
The Kármán Line
2014Movie
Dr. Behringer
Uncle
2014TV
Chaplain
It's Kevin
2013TV
Various
Les Misérables
2012Movie
Magistrate
Bad Education
2012TV
School Governor
The Iron Lady
2011Movie
TV Interviewer
Albatross
2011Movie
Grumpy Man
Attack the Block
2011Movie
Detective Superintendant
The Eagleman Stag
2010Movie
Peter Eagleman
Lizzie and Sarah
2010Movie
John
Psychoville
2009TV
Dr. Flint
Captive
2008Movie
The Chairman
Run Fatboy Run
2007Movie
Marathon Official
Moonmonkeys
2007Movie
Anthony Meloney
Benidorm
2007TV
Maitre D'
Not Going Out
2006TV
Dr Rhodes
Lead Balloon
2006TV
Mr. Randall
Saxondale
2006TV
Male Dinner Guest
Chromophobia
2006Movie
Policeman
The Truth
2006Movie
Male Walker
The Green Green Grass
2005TV
Farm Inspector
If...
2004TV
Professor Casper
The Commander
2003TV
DCI Tom Fuller
tlc
2002TV
DI Crighton
15 Storeys High
2002TV
Public Attorney
Spooks
2002TV
Chief of Airstaff
Dog Eat Dog
2001Movie
Police chief
Mr Charity
2001TV
Consultant
High Stakes
2001TV
Pearce
Bridget Jones's Diary
2001Movie
Cameraman
Lee Evans: So What Now?
2001TV
Chairman
Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps
2001TV
Solicitor
Black Books
2000TV
Eddie
Doctors
2000TV
Mr. Lee, Clem Thornton, Johnny Morton, Gordon Willet
Jam
2000TV
Various
Beast
2000TV
Solicitor #1
People Like Us
1999TV
Sergeant
Bad Girls
1999TV
Francis Cowan
The Murder of Stephen Lawrence
1999Movie
Forensic Scientist
Berkeley Square
1998TV
Recruiting Sergeant
Brass Eye
1997TV
Donaldus Matthews / Vicar, Ripp Candy, Alan Fortune-Vatch, Vicar
Frontiers
1996TV
No Bananas
1996TV
Man in Pub
Silent Witness
1996TV
Incident Commander, DI Murray Porter
Pie in the Sky
1994TV
Farm Worker
A Dark Adapted Eye
1994TV
Albert March
Between the Lines
1992TV
Insp. Rooney
True Crimes
1992TV
Reenactment
On a Moonlit Night
1989Movie
Campion
1989TV
Ropey
Hard Cases
1988TV
Steve Ridgely
Knights & Emeralds
1986Movie
Albert Brimble
Biggles
1986Movie
Sapper Officer
EastEnders
1985TV
Mr. Randall
Nineteen Eighty-Four
1984Movie
Martin
The Bill
1984TV
One by One
1984TV
Brian
Shine on Harvey Moon
1982TV
Spiv 2, Spiv
Wet Job
1981Movie
Cawthorne
Sapphire & Steel
1979TV
Pilot
Armchair Thriller
1978TV
Rodgers
Grange Hill
1978TV
Mr. Bentley
Blake's 7
1978TV
Star One Technician
London Belongs To Me
1977TV
Process Server
The Tomorrow People
1973TV
Chaircreature