David Canary

Actor


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his over two-hour Archive interview, David Canary (1938-2015) speaks in great detail about the daytime soap opera All My Children and the dual role for which he is most well known, that of twins "Adam Chandler" and "Stuart Chandler." He describes the challenges of playing the roles and how the show has changed over the years. Canary also talks about his significant work as a regular on primetime's Peyton Place and Bonanza, as well as the soap Another World. For Bonanza, he describes the production, significant episodes featuring his character "Candy Canaday," and working with the regular cast. He also details guest roles on Hawaii Five-O and Gunsmoke. Connie Passalacqua conducted the interview on July 19, 2004 in New York, NY.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"When I first came back to New York, when I talked to anybody about soap opera, they said 'All My Children' is the best place to work. That was from people who were on the show and weren't on the show, had never been on the show and never hoped to be on the show. But the word was it's the best soap opera to work on. And I certainly think that has proved to be the case." 

People Talking About ...
Highlights
David Canary on his first impressions of his All My Children character "Adam Chandler" and distinguishing him from his twin brother "Stuart Chandler"
03:01
David Canary on how he films scenes playing twin brothers "Adam Chandler" and "Stuart Chandler" on All My Children
01:57
David Canary on wearing lifts in his boots on Bonanza
00:59
David Canary on his first big TV role on Peyton Place, playing Mia Farrow's doctor
04:49
David Canary on advice to aspiring actors
03:40
Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his early years and influences; on singing and drawing when he was little; on studying music in college
On his first memory of seeing television; on his early acting performances and not pursuing a professional football career with the Denver Broncos
On his first professional stage appearance and appearing on Broadway in 1962; on serving in the army with Special Services and winning the All-Army entertainment contest; on returning to NY after the army; on his early film work
On his first big TV role on Peyton Place; on transitioning from stage acting to TV acting

Chapter 2

On his recurring role as "Candy Canaday" on Bonanza; on his character's relationship with the Cartwright family; on the atmosphere on the set of Bonanza; on working with the cast
On specific episodes of Bonanza that he was in; on the wardrobe on Bonanza; on the show coming to an end

Chapter 3

On guest appearances on The Defenders, Gunsmoke, The F.B.I., Alias Smith and Jones, The Rookies, and Hawaii Five-O; on enjoying playing different roles
On moving to New York; on his early experiences in soap operas on The Doctors and Another World
On how he got his start on All My Children; on why the show is a great work environment; on working with show creator Agnes Nixon
On playing twin brothers "Adam Chandler" and "Stuart Chandler" on All My Children

Chapter 4

On production on All My Children and how far in advance he knows about storylines
On "Adam Chandler" as a love interest for "Erica Kane" and working with Susan Lucci
On "Adam Chandler's" many loves on All My Children
On working with his All My Children co-stars; on working with young actors
On his Daytime Emmy wins for All My Children; on how soap operas have changed since he started working on them
On his family; on his more recent work apart from soap operas; on advice to aspiring actors

Chapter 5

On how fame has affected him; on how television has changed since he first started in the business
On a gift from co-star Marcy Walker; on his proudest career achievements and career regrets
Shows

Alias Smith and Jones

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David Canary on his guest appearance on Alias Smith and Jones
00:14

All My Children

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David Canary on how he got his start on All My Children  and why the show is a great work environment
03:40
David Canary on working with All My Children creator/head writer Agnes Nixon
00:39
David Canary on his first impressions of his All My Children character "Adam Chandler" and distinguishing him from his twin brother "Stuart Chandler"
03:01
David Canary on helping to craft his All My Children character "Stuart Chandler"
01:10
David Canary on how he films scenes playing twin brothers "Adam Chandler" and "Stuart Chandler" on All My Children
01:57
David Canary on how he plays twin brothers "Adam Chandler" and "Stuart Chandler" on All My Children
01:52
David Canary on "Stuart Chandler's" mind on All My Children
01:37
David Canary on the production details of All My Children
04:52
David Canary on his All My Children character "Adam Chandler" being a love interest for "Erica Kane" and working with Susan Lucci
01:42
David Canary on his All My Children character "Adam Chandler's" many loves
03:46
David Canary on working with his All My Children co-stars
09:16
David Canary on his Daytime Emmy wins for All My Children
00:17

Another World

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David Canary on his early experiences in soap operas - taking over the role of "Steve Frame" on Another World
02:31

Bonanza

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David Canary on his recurring role as "Candy Canaday" on Bonanza
08:07
David Canary on the atmosphere on the set of Bonanza;on working with the cast
03:02
David Canary on working with Bonanza producer David Dortort
02:05
David Canary on the Bonanza cast welcoming him into the show
02:27
David Canary on specific episodes of Bonanza that he was in
10:02
David Canary on the wardrobe on Bonanza
01:58
David Canary on Bonanza coming to an end
00:54

Defenders, The

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David Canary on appearing in the original unsuccessful two-hour pilot of The Defenders
01:31

Doctors, The

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David Canary on his early experiences in soap operas - playing a terrorist on The Doctors
02:43

Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

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David Canary on his Daytime Emmy wins for All My Children
00:17

FBI, The

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David Canary on his guest appearance on The F.B.I.
00:53

Gunsmoke

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David Canary on his guest appearance on Gunsmoke
00:42

Hawaii Five-O

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David Canary on his guest appearance on Hawaii Five-O
00:45

Peyton Place

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David Canary on his first big TV role on Peyton Place, playing Mia Farrow's doctor
04:49
David Canary on the format of and what he learned from his time on Peyton Place
03:34

Rookies, The

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David Canary on his guest appearance on The Rookies
00:21
Topics

Advice

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David Canary on advice to aspiring actors
03:40

Characters & Catchphrases

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David Canary on his first impressions of his All My Children character "Adam Chandler" and distinguishing him from his twin brother "Stuart Chandler"
03:01

Emmy Awards

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David Canary on his Daytime Emmy wins for All My Children
00:17

Fame and Celebrity

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David Canary on how fame has affected him
01:50

First Big Break

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David Canary on his first big TV role on Peyton Place, playing Mia Farrow's doctor
04:49

Pivotal Career Moments

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David Canary on his first big TV role on Peyton Place, playing Mia Farrow's doctor
04:49

Pop Culture

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David Canary on his first impressions of his All My Children character "Adam Chandler" and distinguishing him from his twin brother "Stuart Chandler"
03:01

Television Industry

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David Canary on advice to aspiring actors
03:40
David Canary on how fame has affected him
01:50
David Canary on how television has changed since he first started in the business
01:43
Professions

Actor

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David Canary on acting in Western roles
02:24

Performers

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David Canary on acting in Western roles
02:24
Genres

Daytime/Primetime Serials

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David Canary on his first big TV role on Peyton Place, playing Mia Farrow's doctor
04:49
David Canary on his early experiences in soap operas on The Doctors and Another World
05:15
David Canary on his start on and how he plays twin brothers "Adam Chandler" and "Stuart Chandler" on All My Children
13:57
David Canary on changes he's seen in soap operas over the years
01:48
David Canary on production on All My Children and working with his co-stars
20:01

Western Series

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David Canary on his recurring role as "Candy Canaday" on Bonanza
28:35
David Canary on acting in Western roles
02:24
People

Colleen Dewhurst

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David Canary on working with Colleen Dewhurst in the play "Great Day in the Morning" in 1962
01:03

David Dortort

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David Canary on working with Bonanza producer David Dortort
02:05

Lorne Greene

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David Canary on working with Lorne Greene on Bonanza
02:09

Vincent Irizarry

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David Canary on working with his All My Children co-star Vincent Irizarry
00:31

Michael Landon

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David Canary on working with Michael Landon on Bonanza
00:25

Susan Lucci

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David Canary on his All My Children character "Adam Chandler" being a love interest for "Erica Kane" and working with Susan Lucci
01:42

Ray MacDonnell

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David Canary on working with his All My Children co-star Ray MacDonnell
00:39

James Mitchell

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David Canary on working with his All My Children co-star James Mitchell
01:47

Paul Monash

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David Canary on working with Paul Monash, producer/director of Peyton Place
00:53

Ed Nelson

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David Canary on working with Ed Nelson on Peyton Place
01:28

Agnes Nixon

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David Canary on working with All My Children creator/head writer Agnes Nixon
00:39

Kelly Ripa

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David Canary on working with his All My Children co-star Kelly Ripa
01:22

Marcy Walker

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David Canary on a gift from co-star Marcy Walker
01:09

Ruth Warrick

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David Canary on working with his All My Children co-star Ruth Warrick
00:53

Ellen Wheeler

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David Canary on working with his All My Children co-star Ellen Wheeler
00:37

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