John Cann
John Cann is a world class innovator. He is intimately familiar with the film industry and has over 30 years of experience as an actor, stunt performer and stunt coordinator. He has appeared in over 100 feature films and TV shows including such hits as "Alamo", "Machete", "Hoodlum", "Batman Forever", "Tango and Cash", "Home Fries", "Miss Congeniality", "Marked for Death", "Predator 2" and "Blood in Blood Out". He has also appeared on television shows including "THE WALKING DEAD", "Dallas", "Revolution" and "The Good Guys". His commercial work ranges from "Miller Genuine Draft Light" to the "Indiana Lotto". In 1997 John was featured in an episode of "Hollywodd's Greatest Stunts" while performing a high fall/explosion backward through a 4th story window for "Walker:Texas Ranger". He appeared in over 45 episodes of that show.
He has written, edited and published three editions of "The Stunt Guide" which was an internationally recognized standard for information pertaining to the stunt business in the late 90's. He also wrote, produced, directed, and performed on 18 episodes of "The Children's Monster News" Christian Children's program for The North Dallas Vineyard children's church program. An avid writer John has written several screenplays and numerous song lyrics.
In 1992 he was asked to be on the board of directors for The National League of Screen Actors' Guild Stunt Performers and was instrumental in getting the Screen Actor's Guild to extend it's jurisdiction to cover Stunt Coordinators. He was recommended three times, by nominating committee, for a position on the National SAG Board of Directors in L.A. and after moving to Texas has served on the DFW SAG Council and was elected to represent Texas as a National Screen Actors Guild Board member from 1998 until 2001. John is a charter member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Stunts peer group which votes on the Emmy Awards. He is also a charter member of the World Stunt Academy which votes on The Taurus Stunt Awards. John Cann has worked very hard to make a name for himself and to gain the trust and respect of the stunt community. His efforts have helped make his chosen profession safer and more exciting.
As an actor/director/producer John was a founding member of three theater companies while in L.A. and is still active in local theater in Dallas. He studied drama and character analysis with teachers like Kent Bateman, Vic Vallero and Mark York. He attended numerous classes at the Actor's Center L.A. and has earned diplomas from the Hollywood Film Institute in producing and directing for film. He currently (09/09/14) has several projects in various stages of development going right now.
In his earlier years John was ranked in the top ten in the nation as a Freestyle wrestler, he was a 3 time AAU State Champion and finished his high school wrestling career with over 200 wins to his record. He was also an accomplished pole vaulter. John is highly skilled in many different martial arts including Judo, Jiu Jitsu, Karate, Tang Soo Do and is a 2nd-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. With a solid background in trampoline, gymnastics, white-water kayaking, fencing, rock climbing, rappelling, extreme high falls, SCUBA diving, stunt driving, horse work and more he is extremely qualified to handle high stress situations.
Before going to L.A. to pursue his lifelong dream of being a stuntman John lived in Carmel, Indiana. He worked as a salesman for a Fireplace Shop to earn the money to move to L.A. He was their top sales person for three years and learned a great deal about sales and retail. After moving to L.A. John worked as the rental manager and salesman for Scuba Duba Dive, the largest SCUBA shop in Southern California, while working to establishing himself as a stuntman and an actor. It was here that he learned the organizational skills needed to run a large scale equipment rental operation.
After 14 years in L.A. he decided to move his family to the Dallas area to work on "Walker: Texas Ranger" with Chuck Norris and take advantage of the ground floor opportunities available in the film industry in Texas. He was also a technician for, and candidate to pilot, the world's only (at the time) "Rocket Belt", which was based in the Dallas area.
John Cann loves what he does and he has worked very hard to get where he is. God has blessed him with success and he prays that the blessings will continue.