John Donovan Cannon graduated from high school in his hometown of
Salmon, Idaho, in 1940. His subsequent studies at the Academy of
Dramatic Arts were interrupted as a result of wartime military service
from 1942 to 1945. After the war, Cannon returned to New York to
complete his training and acting on the stage, both on and
off-Broadway, trying his hand at a wide variety of parts, mostly in
classical plays. He essayed "Petruchio" in "The Taming of the Shrew"
and appeared on Broadway in "Henry IV", "Lysistrata" and "Peer Gynt".
Leading roles were few and far between, however.
Once Cannon had found his niche as a frequent guest star on numerous
television episodes, his career as a motion picture actor became
somewhat desultory, though he had memorable roles in two films: as the
road gang convict "Society Red" in
Cool Hand Luke (1967); and as the
gangster "Calhoun" in
Cotton Comes to Harlem (1970).
His first TV appearance was as a poker-hustling master sergeant in a
1958 episode of
The Phil Silvers Show (1955).
His tough screen persona was pretty well established by the mid-60's,
though, against character, he portrayed the timid weakling "Lloyd
Chandler" (witness to the original crime committed by the "one-armed
man") in the final denouement installment of
The Fugitive (1963). He was at
his scene-stealing best in an episode of
The Invaders (1967) as "Peter
Kalter", a strangely sympathetic mobster who turns against his own
outfit and aids the chief protagonist against the impending alien
threat.
In his recurring role as lawman "Harry Briscoe" in the western comedy
series
Alias Smith and Jones (1971),
Cannon was again given the opportunity to deliver some enjoyably
caustic one-liners, something at which he excelled. He will arguably be
most fondly remembered for his popular portrayal of the perpetually
exasperated, choleric, cigar-chewing NYPD Chief of Detectives, "Peter
B. Clifford", in
McCloud (1970)
(1970-77).
Law & Order(1990)as Chet Burton
The Return of Sam McCloud(1989)as Commissioner Peter B. Clifford
The Road Raiders(1989)as Commander
The Highwayman(1987)as Chief Clifton
Street Justice(1987)as Dante
Gunsmoke(1955)
The Way West(1995)as Voice
American Experience(1988)
Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Dennis Weaver(1976)as Self
Lamp Unto My Feet(1948)as Self
Fan des années 70(2011)as Police Lt. Ben Holman
12th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards(2006)as Self - In Memoriam
B.J. and the Bear(1978)as Oscar Gorley
