About
"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."
In his over two-hour 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 changed over the years. Canary also talks about his work as a regular on primetime's Peyton Place and Bonanza, as well as the soap opera 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.
Highlights
David Canary on his first impressions of his All My Children character "Adam Chandler" and distinguishing him from his twin brother "Stuart Chandler"
David Canary on how he films scenes playing twin brothers "Adam Chandler" and "Stuart Chandler" on All My Children
David Canary on wearing lifts in his boots on Bonanza
David Canary on his first big TV role on Peyton Place, playing Mia Farrow's doctor
David Canary on advice to aspiring actors
Full Interview
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
David Canary on his guest appearance on Alias Smith and Jones
All My Children
David Canary on how he got his start on All My Children and why the show is a great work environment
David Canary on working with All My Children creator/head writer Agnes Nixon
David Canary on his first impressions of his All My Children character "Adam Chandler" and distinguishing him from his twin brother "Stuart Chandler"
David Canary on helping to craft his All My Children character "Stuart Chandler"
David Canary on how he films scenes playing twin brothers "Adam Chandler" and "Stuart Chandler" on All My Children
David Canary on how he plays twin brothers "Adam Chandler" and "Stuart Chandler" on All My Children
David Canary on "Stuart Chandler's" mind on All My Children
David Canary on the production details of All My Children
David Canary on his All My Children character "Adam Chandler" being a love interest for "Erica Kane" and working with Susan Lucci
David Canary on his All My Children character "Adam Chandler's" many loves
David Canary on working with his All My Children co-stars
David Canary on his Daytime Emmy wins for All My Children
Another World
David Canary on his early experiences in soap operas - taking over the role of "Steve Frame" on Another World
Bonanza
David Canary on his recurring role as "Candy Canaday" on Bonanza
David Canary on the atmosphere on the set of Bonanza;on working with the cast
David Canary on working with Bonanza producer David Dortort
David Canary on the Bonanza cast welcoming him into the show
David Canary on specific episodes of Bonanza that he was in
David Canary on the wardrobe on Bonanza
David Canary on Bonanza coming to an end
Defenders, The
David Canary on appearing in the original unsuccessful two-hour pilot of The Defenders
Doctors, The
David Canary on his early experiences in soap operas - playing a terrorist on The Doctors
Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)
David Canary on his Daytime Emmy wins for All My Children
FBI, The
David Canary on his guest appearance on The F.B.I.
Gunsmoke
David Canary on his guest appearance on Gunsmoke
Hawaii Five-O
David Canary on his guest appearance on Hawaii Five-O
Peyton Place
David Canary on his first big TV role on Peyton Place, playing Mia Farrow's doctor
David Canary on the format of and what he learned from his time on Peyton Place
Rookies, The
David Canary on his guest appearance on The Rookies
Topics
Advice
David Canary on advice to aspiring actors
Characters & Catchphrases
David Canary on his first impressions of his All My Children character "Adam Chandler" and distinguishing him from his twin brother "Stuart Chandler"
Emmy Awards
David Canary on his Daytime Emmy wins for All My Children
Fame and Celebrity
David Canary on how fame has affected him
First Big Break
David Canary on his first big TV role on Peyton Place, playing Mia Farrow's doctor
Pivotal Career Moments
David Canary on his first big TV role on Peyton Place, playing Mia Farrow's doctor
Pop Culture
David Canary on his first impressions of his All My Children character "Adam Chandler" and distinguishing him from his twin brother "Stuart Chandler"
Television Industry
David Canary on how fame has affected him
David Canary on how television has changed since he first started in the business
David Canary on advice to aspiring actors
Professions
Actor
David Canary on acting in Western roles
Performers
David Canary on acting in Western roles
Genres
Daytime/Primetime Serials
David Canary on his first big TV role on Peyton Place, playing Mia Farrow's doctor
David Canary on his early experiences in soap operas on The Doctors and Another World
David Canary on his start on and how he plays twin brothers "Adam Chandler" and "Stuart Chandler" on All My Children
David Canary on changes he's seen in soap operas over the years
David Canary on production on All My Children and working with his co-stars
Western Series
David Canary on his recurring role as "Candy Canaday" on Bonanza
David Canary on acting in Western roles
People
Colleen Dewhurst
David Canary on working with Colleen Dewhurst in the play "Great Day in the Morning" in 1962
David Dortort
David Canary on working with Bonanza producer David Dortort
Mia Farrow
David Canary on his first big TV role on Peyton Place, playing Mia Farrow's doctor
Lorne Greene
David Canary on working with Lorne Greene on Bonanza
Vincent Irizarry
David Canary on working with his All My Children co-star Vincent Irizarry
Michael Landon
David Canary on working with Michael Landon on Bonanza
Susan Lucci
David Canary on his All My Children character "Adam Chandler" being a love interest for "Erica Kane" and working with Susan Lucci
Ray MacDonnell
David Canary on working with his All My Children co-star Ray MacDonnell
James Mitchell
David Canary on working with his All My Children co-star James Mitchell
Paul Monash
David Canary on working with Paul Monash, producer/director of Peyton Place
Ed Nelson
David Canary on working with Ed Nelson on Peyton Place
Agnes Nixon
David Canary on working with All My Children creator/head writer Agnes Nixon
Kelly Ripa
David Canary on working with his All My Children co-star Kelly Ripa
Marcy Walker
David Canary on a gift from co-star Marcy Walker
Ruth Warrick
David Canary on working with his All My Children co-star Ruth Warrick
Ellen Wheeler
David Canary on working with his All My Children co-star Ellen Wheeler