Background
Kanan was born Sean Perelman to Dale and Michele Perelman in Cleveland, Ohio.
Kanan was born Sean Perelman to Dale and Michele Perelman in Cleveland, Ohio.
He attended Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania, Boston University and University of California, Los Angeles where he earned a degree in political science.
His family later relocated to New Castle, Pennsylvania. The following year, he starred on the Fox television series The Outsiders. In 1993, Kanan joined the American Broadcasting Company soap opera General Hospital as A. J. Quartermaine and was nominated for an award in the Outstanding Newcomer category by Soap Opera Digest.
He left the series abruptly in 1997 following his struggle with alcoholism.
In 1999, Kanan joined the cast of the National Broadcasting Company soap opera Sunset Beach as Jude Cavanaugh and remained with the show until its cancellation later that year. He wrote and executive-produced Chasing Holden, distributed by Lionsgate, which starred DJ Qualls.
In November 2000, he joined the cast of the Columbia Broadcasting System soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful as Deacon Sharpe, playing a character that was originally conceived as a short-term villain. In 2002, rumors surfaced that the actor was fired, but he remained with the show until early 2005 when he opted to go on a recurring status, and he last appeared February 22, 2005.
Upon his departure from The Bold and the Beautiful, Kanan starred in several feature films and competed in the third season of the Italian version of Dancing with the Stars in 2006.
On July 10, 2009, Kanan reprised his role as Deacon Sharpe on the Columbia Broadcasting System soap opera The Young and the Restless. While appearing on The Young and the Restless, he starred in the 2009 Indie film Abracadabra, which was directed by Julie Pacino (First Rate (at Lloyd's) Pacino"s daughter) and was screened at the Cannes Film Festival. In May 2010, Kanan appeared in My Trip to the Dark Side, written and directed by Shane Stanley.
He later starred in the 2011 sequel My Trip Back to the Dark Side.
That same year, Kanan wrote "The Modern Gentleman. Cooking and Entertaining with Sean Kanan", published by Dunham Books.
Upon leaving The Young and the Restless in January 2012, Kanan reprised his role as Deacon Sharpe on The Bold and the Beautiful. He appeared on and off from May until September 2012.
Following his departure from the show, Kanan was reported to be returning to General Hospital.
On October 29, 2012, Kanan returned to the role of A. J. Quartermaine on General Hospital after a 15-year absence. The actor was convinced that his past issues with alcohol abuse would be the reason he would never return to the soap. He was let go in early 2014, and expressed disappointment in what the writing team had come up for his character.
The actor then returned to The Bold and the Beautiful as Deacon Sharpe, first airing June 13, 2014.
Upon being rehired, Kanan noted that Deacon is the favorite of all the characters he played. As a teenager, years prior to his role in, Kanan trained in boxing before switching to Shotokan Karate and kickboxing at age 13.
During the filming of the movie he trained in Shitō-ryū at a school run by Karate master Fumio Demura, and with stunt coordinator and Tang Soo Do master Pat East. Johnson. Personal life
Sean and Michele Kanan married in July 2012.
He has an 11-year-old daughter by a prior relationship and she has four children of her own.
The actor is involved with the Anti-Defamation League.