As a teenager, Kanan studied Shotokan karate under Sensei William Stoner.[7] By the time he landed the role, Kanan had a good foundation of Japanese Karate which would be essential for portraying the central villain opposite of hero Daniel LaRusso played by Ralph Macchio.[8] He trained in Shitō-ryū at a school run by Karate master Fumio Demura[9][10] and with stunt coordinator and Tang Soo Do master Pat E. Johnson.[11]
During filming, he suffered internal bleeding after injuring his omentum, a membrane that connects the stomach with other organs, supplying them with blood along with physically protecting them.[12] Kanan collapsed at a Las Vegas hotel four days after shooting the scene and underwent life-saving surgery.[13]
Television and film
1990–2000
The following year, he starred on the Fox television series The Outsiders, Executive Produced by Francis Ford Coppola.[14] In 1993, Kanan joined the ABCsoap operaGeneral Hospital as A. J. Quartermaine[15] the troubled son of Dr. Alan and Dr. Monica Quartermaine. Kanan was nominated for an award in the Outstanding Newcomer category by Soap Opera Digest[16] for his believable portrayal of the fictional character whose storylines often centered on an ongoing battle with alcoholism.[17] He also appared in an advertisement and campaign for the clothing company C&A in 1994, the main theme was the culture of North American Indians, the advertisement was called Indian Spirits. The video was shot in San Francisco. He left the series in 1997 and returned in 2012 for the 50th anniversary of the show.[18][19] Kanan's last appearance was on April 23, 2014, after his on-screen television character was killed.[20] In 1999, Kanan joined the cast of Aaron Spelling's NBC soap opera Sunset Beach[21] as Jude Cavanaugh and remained with the show until its cancellation later that year.[22]
2000–present
In 2000 he joined the cast of the CBSsoap operaThe Bold and the Beautiful as Deacon Sharpe,[23] playing a character that was originally conceived as a short-term villain,[24] but would later prove to be the basis for a popular, on-going storyline for the show.He would remain with the show until 2005 when he opted for recurring status while his on-screen character served a prison sentence for obstructing justice.[24] Kanan also starred in several feature films in tandem with his television career.[25] He wrote and executive-produced Chasing Holden, which was distributed by Lionsgate,and starred Kanan along with DJ Qualls. In 2002 he hosted the Miss World Pageant in London,[26] and in 2006 competed in the third season of Ballando con le Stelle, the Italian version of Dancing with the Stars.[27]
On July 10, 2009, Kanan reprised his role as Deacon Sharpe on the CBS sister soap operaThe Young and the Restless.[28] While appearing on The Young and the Restless, he starred in the 2009 Indie film Abracadabra, which was directed by Julie Pacino (Al Pacino's daughter) and was screened at the Cannes Film Festival.[29] In May 2010, Kanan starred in My Trip to the Dark Side, written and directed by Shane Stanley. He later starred in the 2011 sequel My Trip Back to the Dark Side.[30] Upon leaving The Young and the Restless in January 2012,[31] Kanan reprised his role as Deacon Sharpe on The Bold and the Beautiful, but as of February 2024, he was taken off of the CBS web site for the cast of characters for the show, [32] noting that Deacon is his favorite of all the characters he has played due in part to the writing of Bradley Bell.
Studio City
In 2019 Kanan created the Emmy Award-winning digital drama series Studio City, directed by Timothy Woodward Jr., as a somewhat autobiographical love letter to the Daytime Soaps.[33]
Kanan stars as Sam Stevens, who portrays Dr. Pierce Hartley on the show-with-in-a show “Hearts on Fire”, along with Soap veterans Tristan Rogers, Carolyn Hennesy, Sarah Joy Brown, Patrika Darbo, and Scott Turner Schofield, the first openly transgender actor on Daytime TV.[34] The episodes are penned by Kanan, along with Michele Kanan, Timothy Woodward Jr., and Lauren de Normandie (season one). The series explores issues like #meToo sexual harassment, ageism, gender identity and surprise paternity with enough levity to keep the story moving.[35]Studio City was truly a family affair, with Kanan's Emmy-nominated wife Michele Kanan writing / producing and her daughter (Sean's step-daughter), Juliet Vega starring as Sam's surprise love child. STUDiO CiTY is streaming on Amazon Prime.[36]
In 2011, Kanan wrote The Modern Gentleman; Cooking and Entertaining with Sean Kanan, published by Dunham Books.[38] He shared many of his favorite recipes, but also took the opportunity to help "rebrand men" by offering tips on etiquette, manners, and entertaining for special occasions.[39] The goal of the book is to inspire people to be the best they can be, to get in touch with their authentic selves and to use cooking as a conduit for developing connections.[40]
In 2019, the book Success Factor X, co-written by Kanan and motivational speaker Jill Liberman, was released.[41] The book, published by Plain Sight Publishing, is described as a collection of strategies and secrets from a diverse group of high achievers ranging from billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban to hip-hop icons Run-DMC[42]
In 2021, Sean wrote Way of the COBRA in which he, as Sensei, inspires and instructs students on techniques to define their most authentic and successful self.[43] The acronym COBRA stands for character, optimization, balance, respect, and abundance. He shares some of his own experiences from landing the breakout role of Mike Barnes in the Karate Kid III, to how he almost lost the role and his life in the process.[44] In 2024, Kanan co-authored the third book in the WOTC series titled Way of the COBRA Couples, with his wife Michele Kanan.
Daytime Emmy and Walk of Fame
Kanan's career has been acknowledged through numerous industry awards including the Daytime Emmy for his series STUDiO CiTY.[45] In 2016, Kanan received the 400th star on the Walk of Fame in Palm Springs.[46]
Personal life
Sean and Michele Kanan married in July 2012. He has a daughter by his prior relationship and Michele has four children of her own.[47]
Main cast: November 1, 2000 – February 22, 2005;[23][24] June 13, 2014 – June 16, 2017; October 7, 2021–present Recurring cast: May 24 – October 11, 2012
