John Cann Tribute Onlinetributes.com.au

John Cann, 1950-2008

JOHN CANN was a rebellious and at times troubled young man who emerged as a leading Australian theatrical agent, much admired by his clients.

He helped guide the careers of actors such as Naomi Watts, Simon Baker, Tom Burlinson, Noah Taylor, Jack Thompson, Bryan Brown and Rachel Ward. He helped fund Watts when she moved to the US until her break came in Hollywood. She, and other actors, including Hugh Jackman, attended his funeral in Sydney last week.

John Cann, who died at 57 from complications caused by liver cancer, could trace his ancestry back to Sir John Peters, knight of Exeter in the 14th century.

His father, Alex, was related to merchant bankers, and a great-grandfather had a hand in the building of the Canadian Pacific railway. Alex Cann was an engineer who became an actor, with minor roles in a couple of Humphrey Bogart films. He served in the Canadian Navy during World War II and became a war correspondent.

John's mother, June, left school during the Depression to work. She married Alex while working as a continuity girl on the film, Eureka Stockade,, directed by Harry Watt in 1948 and featuring Chips Rafferty.

The Canns lived at Newport beach, because it was attractive but cheap in those days. They made documentary films, including one commissioned by Sir Keith Murdoch on the printing industry. Films, then, were in John Cann's blood.

Keith Dewhurst, the British playwright who was John Cann's brother-in-law, suggested in a eulogy that sorrow, too, might have been in his blood. June Cann said in 1981 that her husband had "stopped off to be an alcoholic for 12 years", so she dropped out of the film industry to care for their three children, John, Alexandra and Hugh.

John Cann excelled at Pittwater High School in class and on the sports field, although his school yearbooks carry notes under photos of the magazine committee and rugby group saying, "Absent: J.Cann".

He declined an offer of athletics coaching from the great Franz Stampfl, who helped Roger Bannister to become the first runner to break the four-minute mile in 1954, and Ralph Doubell to win the 1968 Olympic gold medal for 800 metres, in world record time.

Cann won a scholarship to Sydney University to study engineering but dropped out, partly because he was demonstrating against Australia's participation in the Vietnam War. A draft-resister, he was charged and ordered by a magistrate to register for duty. A medical examination found him unfit for military service. He distrusted governments and received authority.

Cann ran a vintage clothes shop in Paddington, helped start the Paddington markets and searched for something to do in life. His father's death did not help; he appeared lost. He lived in England, came home and struggled with a drug habit. But he fought with the stubborn pride that friends and family knew, and conquered the problem.

By this time, June Cann was running one of the foremost theatrical and literary agencies in Australia. Her clients included Tom Keneally, Alex Buzo, Ray Barrett, Pat Bishop, Lynette Curran, Jack Thompson and Bryan Brown. June took John into June Cann Management, and he found his vocation.

He was idealistic but he had an eye for talent; Naomi Watts was a case in point. Jack Thompson admired the way in which Cann collaborated with his clients, sharing in their success while caring for their wellbeing. Nicole Kidman regarded him as a father or big brother to many in the industry. Rolf de Heer acclaimed his support for Aboriginal Australians in film-making.

John Cann was charming and good-looking, with a winning smile. He would make flying visits to people or places, carry out a flurry of odd jobs in houses and gardens. He led what became known as the great Gitanes Chase, in which the French cigarettes were bought for transportation to Australia. He supported his mother in her final years.

He was driven by competition. Keith Dewhurst said it was never with the world or other people, but with himself. His inner self remained elusive, perhaps even to himself. "We knew, I suppose, the most magical and half-maddening character we will ever know" Dewhurst said. "But not whether he was as happy for a moment as he made all of us."

Cann had hepatitis C. By the time the liver cancer was discovered, it had spread. A doctor said the best that could be done would be to make him comfortable, but he fought in his usually stubborn manner.

John Cann is survived by his stepson, Sam Lightfoot, a brother, Hugh, and a sister, Alexandra, who cared for him in his final months.