David Canary

Actor

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

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.

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

David Canary on his guest appearance on Alias Smith and Jones

00:14

All My Children

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

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

02:31

Bonanza

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

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

01:31

Doctors, The

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

02:43

Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

David Canary on his Daytime Emmy wins for All My Children

00:17

FBI, The

David Canary on his guest appearance on The F.B.I.

00:53

Gunsmoke

David Canary on his guest appearance on Gunsmoke

00:42

Hawaii Five-O

David Canary on his guest appearance on Hawaii Five-O

00:45

Peyton Place

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

David Canary on his guest appearance on The Rookies

00:21

Topics

Advice

David Canary on advice to aspiring actors

03:40

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"

03:01

Emmy Awards

David Canary on his Daytime Emmy wins for All My Children

00:17

Fame and Celebrity

David Canary on how fame has affected him

01:50

First Big Break

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

04:49

Pivotal Career Moments

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

04:49

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"

03:01

Television Industry

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

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

David Canary on his recurring role as "Candy Canaday" on Bonanza

28:35

David Canary on acting in Western roles

02:24

People

Agnes Nixon

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

00:39

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

Ed Nelson

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David Canary on working with Ed Nelson on Peyton Place

01:28

Ellen Wheeler

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

00:37

James Mitchell

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

01:47

Kelly Ripa

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

01:22

Lorne Greene

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David Canary on working with Lorne Greene on Bonanza

02:09

Marcy Walker

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David Canary on a gift from co-star Marcy Walker

01:09

Michael Landon

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David Canary on working with Michael Landon on Bonanza

00:25

Paul Monash

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

00:53

Ray MacDonnell

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

00:39

Ruth Warrick

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

00:53

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

Vincent Irizarry

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

00:31