J. D. Cannon

John Donovan Cannon (April 24, 1922 – May 20, 2005), known as J. D. Cannon, was an American actor. An alumnus of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, he is best known for his co-starring role of Chief of Detectives Peter B. Clifford in the NBC television series, McCloud with Dennis Weaver from 1970 until 1977, and also for his part as the witness Lloyd Chandler who was able to clear Dr. Richard Kimble (David Janssen) in "The Judgment", the series finale of ABC's The Fugitive.

Films and television
Cannon served in the United States Army during World War II. Cannon first appeared on television as Master Sgt. Sherman in the original CBS sitcom, The Phil Silvers Show, also known as You'll Never Get Rich.

He played a recurring character - a lawman named Harry Briscoe working for the Bannerman Detective Agency - in the 1971 to 1973 western series, Alias Smith and Jones. He guest starred in many series over the years, including Wagon Train, Gunsmoke, The Fugitive,Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea,The Untouchables, The Wild, Wild West, East Side/West Side, The Invaders, Combat!, Stoney Burke, and the miniseries Testimony of Two Men (1977) and Top of the Hill (1980). He was cast in several episodes of CBS's Murder, She Wrote. His last television acting appearance was on an episode of Law & Order in 1991.

He wore a toupee in most of his later roles. The exception was the Remington Steele episode "Steele in the News" (1983-3-4), in which Cannon played a TV news anchor who only wore his toupee while broadcasting. He also appeared (with his toupee), that same season(#2), of Remington Steele in Episode 21 "Hounded Steele. In the second season of Twelve O'Clock High (1965–1966) he played Brig. Gen. Dave Creighton, who worked for Allied intelligence and helped to foil a plot by Nazi saboteurs in the 34th episode of the series, "RX For A Sick Bird".

Cannon also appeared in film roles, often as a cold-eyed villain. His film credits included An American Dream (1966), Cool Hand Luke (1967), Krakatoa, East of Java (1969), The Thousand Plane Raid (1969), Heaven with a Gun (1969), Cotton Comes to Harlem (1970), Lawman (1971), Scorpio (1973), Raise the Titanic (1980), Death Wish II (1982) and Beyond Witch Mountain (1982).

Stage
Cannon was a founding member of Joseph Papp's New York Shakespeare Festival, starring in their productions of The Taming of the Shrew (1956) and Much Ado About Nothing (1961).

Family
His wife, Alice Cannon, appeared on Broadway in several productions including Company and Johnny Johnson. She also wrote Great Day In The Morning, which ran between March 28 and April 7, 1962.

Death
Cannon died at his Hudson, New York home on May 20, 2005, aged 83. He was survived by his wife and two brothers.

Filmography

 * An American Dream (1966) as Police Sgt. Walt Leznicki
 * Cool Hand Luke (1967) as Society Red
 * Krakatoa, East of Java (1969) as Danzig
 * The Thousand Plane Raid (1969) as Gen. Palmer
 * Heaven with a Gun (1969) as Mace
 * Cotton Comes to Harlem (1970) as Calhoun
 * Lawman (1971) as Hurd Price
 * Scorpio (1973) as Filchock
 * The Concorde ... Airport '79 (1979) as Lt. John Ratcliff (TV version) (uncredited)
 * Raise the Titanic (1980) as Captain Joe Burke
 * Death Wish II (1982) as New York D.A.
 * Beyond Witch Mountain (1982) as Deranian
 * Street Justice (1987) as Dante