Glenn Cannon's Memory Lives On

“Glenn touched thousands of students and audience members in his career at Kennedy Theatre and in the community.  He didn't just teach. He changed people's lives.”

Paul Mitri, Chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance at UH Mānoa

Charismatic professor, inspiring director, actor extraordinaire... These are just a few words that describe Glenn Cannon, the long-time UH faculty member and union actor who passed away on April 20, 2013.

During his life, Glenn enjoyed a dynamic acting career and touched many lives as an educator, mentor and director. He appeared on Broadway in the 1950's in “A Moon for the Misbegotten” and “The Good Woman of Setzuan.”  He also appeared in numerous off-Broadway shows and national tours, and was an actor, director, and teacher at Stanford Repertory Theatre in the 1960's. 

Cannon came to the University of Hawai‘i in 1968, and during his time at the Department of Theatre and Dance he directed more than 50 UH productions. He served as a representative to the University of Hawaiʻi Professional Assembly and was instrumental in starting the Academy for Creative Media on the Mānoa campus.

A fixture of the Honolulu theatre community, Cannon directed more than 160 productions at theatres throughout Oʻahu such as the Diamond Head Theatre and the Army Community Theatre. He also won a dozen Poʻokela Awards for excellence from the Hawai‘i State Theater Council, including the Pierre Bowman lifetime achievement award in 2009. His television career included recurring characters on “Magnum P.I.” and the original “Hawaiʻi Five-0,” as well as roles on more recent shows, including “Lost.” He served as the president and board member of the local Screen Actors’ Guild chapter for more than 20 years.

Despite success as a Broadway and Hollywood actor, Glenn’s passion was “giving to others” as exemplified through his 45 years of teaching theatre at UH.

Support Students of the UH Theatre and Dance Program

Checks can be made out to “UH Foundation” with the notation “For Glenn Cannon Fund,” and mailed to:

The University of Hawaiʻi Foundation
P.O. Box 11270
Honolulu, HI  96828-0270