Many of you may already know that versatile and popular Hollywood star Sean Kanan is known for his movie star looks, admirable acting talent and being on many of the top soap operas.  But what many of you may not know, is that the actor also has a colossal global following.

The Bold and The Beautiful  actor with a list of impressive acting, writing, producing and culinary skills, has a massive fan following in India due to his recurring role as Deacon Sharpe on one of the most watched soap operas in the world.  The Bold and The Beautiful just celebrated its’ 30th year in 2017 and is seen all over India.

For decades the popular soap opera has been the most viewed show around the world with over 35 million viewers seen over 100 countries.  The show has won 77 Emmy awards and has graced audiences with exotic locations including France, Italy, Australia and France.

Kanan started out as a young child actor in the famous “The Karate Kid III” film in which he beat out thousands of other actors for the role of Mark Barnes. The actor credits his years of intense martial arts training (he’s been training since the age of 13) that got him the part.

The Ravi Report spoke to the actor, comedian, producer, writer and martial arts expert to find out more about his life, his career, writing his first popular book and if he would ever do a Bollywood film.

SK: I love acting very much because you are always performing. It’s been a big part of my life. I’ve been acting since the 4th grade. But I still have to audition for work even at this stage of my career and of course the never-ending cascade of rejection is still there, but nonetheless, I do love performing very much.

SK: I have been doing martial arts since I was 13 years old. I live it and it has influenced me in more ways than anything else.  Martial Arts has taught me to believe in myself, has given me immense confidence in my life and has led me towards my career choices. When I was first started out as a young child, my instructor really believed in me and told me that if I wanted to do acting, then I should go for it and that’s what I did.

SK: Stand up is great and fun but I love writing because it starts  and develops into a script and eventually something even bigger. But what I really don’t like about it,  is the continuing rewriting that it endures and that takes a great deal of time.  The Modern Gentleman book is not only just a cook book with amazing recipes but it’s really a book to help men become better men. There is so much in the book they can learn from besides just cooking a great meal.  For example, my mom taught me how to do the right things in life which lead me to be becoming a better person, husband and father.  In producing, I get a significant amount of control and input into the project and learn about the financing and the distribution deals, it’s more in-depth for me and more detailed oriented. That is why I have become a hybrid at this stage of my career. 

SK: Thanks, but I think of the Tom Cruise and the Brad Pitts of the world have global celebrity status.

But  when you work in TV, especially soaps and once you assume your character, you are instantly

well-known to millions of people around the world and it gives you massive recognition. The Bold and the Beautiful is the number show in the world, so that show gave me a great deal of recognition outside the US.

SK:I am ready to do a Bollywood film! I have seen a few and love them. I have never been to India but  I would love the go. It’s so visually compelling to watch the Bollywood movies. It’s a bit far out of my comfort zone but I would still do it. My parents have been to India 3 times and they loved it.

SK: Doing stand up.  You take to the stage and you are trying to connect with the audience and make them laugh. But, I also find immense creativity in writing which is going great right now and the main focus. I got into writing at a very young age in boarding school and it just kept on going.  I read the book “The Catcher In The Rye“ and it inspired me to write. I also kept a journal and that also inspired me to write the script. But at 16 years old, I really took writing seriously.  I wrote a film called “Chasing Holden” (Lion’s Gate) in 2001 which I also produced and starred in it. Also, a lot of times during an acting scene,  you sometimes have to make up or improvise a line or monologue and it helps to be able to write you own lines giving yourself more merit as an actor in the process.

SK: I love Italy! It’s my second home. I have many friends there and I speak Italian fluently. I spent a year doing a film and I also did the Italian version of “Dancing with The Stars.” But the reason why it’s very special to me is that I got married there to my beautiful and wonderful wife of 6 years Michele. We got married on the tiny island called Monte de Procida. Michele has been a strong influence in my life in so many ways. I’ve known her for 9 years. She is my best friend.  I am so blessed to have her and our family. We all go back to Italy once a year for a visit.

SK: Social media  has made our world much smaller I believe in the sense that, we can connect with anyone, anywhere and anytime. The platform also gives people a forum for them to share their views, creative work, projects, etc. For  individuals who want a career in the arts, social media can provide for them many outlets to exhibit their work. It has helped people to get their creative projects out to the world and get noticed by the masses.

SK: Thank you. I look forward to it.

To purchase “The Modern Gentleman; Cooking and Entertaining with Sean Kanan”, (it will make a terrific holiday gift!)  please visit http://www.seankananthemoderngentleman.com/