

Cast & creator
Best known for EastEnders, House of the Dragon, Silent Witness
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'.
Also known as: David Cahn
25
film credits
63
television credits
88
1973–2024 · acting roles
6.8
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Across film & television
Showing 88 of 88 credits

Mr. Randall
1985
Dragonkeeper
2022
Incident Commander
1996
DI Murray Porter
1996
Quiz Moderator
2019

Chief of Airstaff
2002
Mr. Bentley
1978
Mr. Lee
2000
Clem Thornton
2000
Johnny Morton
2000
Gordon Willet
2000
Len
2018
Dr Rhodes
2006
Farm Worker
1994
Maitre D'
2007
Francis Cowan
1999
Star One Technician
1978
Insp. Rooney
1992
Spiv 2
1982
Spiv
1982
Male Dinner Guest
2006
School Governor
2012
Eddie
2000
Solicitor
2001
Magistrate
2012
Ropey
1989
Cameraman
2001
Pilot
1979
DCI Tom Fuller
2003
Coroner
2017
Cliff Bridges
2014
Martin
1984
Headmaster Mould
2019
Donaldus Matthews / Vicar
1997
Ripp Candy
1997
Alan Fortune-Vatch
1997
Vicar
1997
Mr. Randall
2006
Gordon Glass
2017
Detective Superintendant
2011
TV Interviewer
2011
Dr. Flint
2009
Alan
2018
Sergeant
1999
Various
2000
Marathon Official
2007
Avery
2022
Public Attorney
2002Professor Casper
2004
Reenactment
1992
Farm Inspector
2005
Recruiting Sergeant
1998
Chaircreature
1973
Various
2013
Solicitor #1
2000
Chaplain
2014
DI Crighton
2002
Rodgers
1978
Counsellor
2018
Man in Pub
1996
Lord Crowan
2020Brian
1984
Fat Cat
2019
Albert March
1994
Policeman
2006
Chairman
2001
Sapper Officer
1986Steve Ridgely
1988
Alan
2024
Pearce
2001

Forensic Scientist
1999
Policy Commitee Member
2015
Grumpy Man
2011Consultant
2001
Dr. Behringer
2014
Police chief
2001
Male Walker
2006Process Server
1977
John
2010
Albert Brimble
1986
Cawthorne
1981Anthony Meloney
2007
Professor Calrusian
2023
Peter Eagleman
2010
The Chairman
2008