- He made guest appearances on two of the longest-running prime time dramas in US television history: Gunsmoke (1955) and the original run of Law & Order (1990), both of which ran for 20 seasons.
- Retired in 1991 following an appearance on Law & Order (1990).
- Served in the US Army during WWII.
- Idaho-born character actor known for his gruff, bossy roles especially on '70s TV.
- Graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Class of 1942.
- Wore a toupee in most of his later roles. The exception was Steele in the News (1983), an episode of Remington Steele (1982). Here, Cannon played a TV news anchor who wore his toupee only while broadcasting. The rest of the time, he gloried in his dome. The toupee showed up when it shouldn't have, solving the case.
- He died only one day before Stephen Elliott, with whom he had appeared in Law & Order (1990) episode The Secret Sharers (1991).
- Bore a strong resemblance to Don Adams.
- It has been said that the series producers wanted J.D. Cannon for the role of Chief Peter B. Clifford, for the sole reason "he was the closest thing to a living, breathing version of Dick Tracy.".
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