Remembering Glenn Cannon

The SAG-AFTRA Hawaii Local suffered a profound loss on April 20, 2013, when our longtime former SAG president, and more recently SAG-AFTRA co-president, Glenn Cannon passed away at Straub Hospital. On May 25, a memorial was held at the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s Kennedy Theatre, where Glenn was a professor of theater since the late 1960s. Colleagues, friends and students paid tribute through song and anecdotes, with videos and slides illustrating Glenn’s expansive career. Gov. Neil Abercrombie presented a proclamation to Glenn’s widow, Sam, dedicating May 25, 2013, as Glenn Cannon Day. 

Born in Philadelphia, Glenn joined the union in the 1950s. He began his career in New York, acting in A Moon for the Misbegotten and The Good Woman of Setzuan on Broadway, as well as numerous off-Broadway and touring productions, including The Threepenny Opera and West Side Story. His career soon encompassed film and television work such as Cop Hater, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Combat!, Johnny Staccato and The Outer Limits. At Stanford University, Glenn was an actor/director/teacher and a founding member of the Stanford Repertory Theatre. During his 45 years in Hawaii, Glenn directed more than 100 shows and performed in numerous stage and television productions. His most notable television role was the District Attorney John Manicote on the original Hawaii Five-0, followed by several seasons on Magnum, P.I. as Dr. Ibold. Longtime friend and SAG-AFTRA Local Board member John Nordlum, who was both Tom Selleck’s and Jack Lord’s stand-in and stunt double, said, “Glenn was the only man that could intimidate Jack Lord. Glenn’s acting was so real when playing intense or angry scenes, Jack would forget his own lines.”

The loss is heavy in the boardroom. Glenn’s wisdom, kindness and, perhaps most of all, his sheer delight in things — his effusive laughter — will be greatly missed. He was a loyal friend and leader of our local. Glenn is survived by wife Samsil, son Caleb and granddaughter Kassidy.

This item was originally featured in the August 2013 local newsletter.