Alexander Cann

Alexander Howard Ross Cann (January 8, 1903 – December 21, 1977) was a Canadian actor and journalist known for his role in documenting the 1945 New Guinea Gremlin Special rescue.

Alexander Cann
BornJanuary 8, 1903
Nova Scotia
DiedDecember 21, 1977(1977-12-21) (aged 74)
Sydney, NSW
Other namesAlexander Cross
Occupation(s)actor, journalist
SpouseJune Dunlop Cann
Children3

Cann was born in Nova Scotia to Mabel Ross Cann and H. V. Cann.[1]: 250  He attended the Royal Naval College of Canada and studied structural engineering at Columbia University. Finding a shortage of work, he moved from New York City to Hollywood and found acting work in the mid-1930s under the stage name Alexander Cross.[1]: 251  He joined the Royal Canadian Navy and was injured on his way to the South Pacific. While he was recovering in Australia he got a job with the Netherlands-Indies Information Service as a war correspondent.[1]: 254 

Cann parachuted into the Baliem Valley, his first ever parachute jump, with a film camera.[2][3] He lived with the survivors and their rescuers for twelve days in order to document the rescue on behalf of his employer's Film and Photo Unit.[4] Cann's short film Rescue from Shangri-La includes staged scenes as well as documentary footage of the indigenous Dani people.[1]: 259 

Cann was a film and television actor whose last role was in a 1970 film about Ned Kelly.[5]

References
  1. Zuckoff, Mitchell (2011). Lost In Shangri-La. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0061988349.
  2. Cann, Alexander (July 2, 1945). "Evidence of Warfare Found in "Shangri-La" by Witer". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Richmond, VA. p. 2. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  3. Selcer, Richard F. (2022-02-05). "This 1945 New Guinea Plane Crash Survivor Became Known As The 'Queen of Shangri-La'". HistoryNet. Retrieved 2023-03-25.
  4. "AN EPIC RESCUE--SCENES FROM THE VALLEY OF "SHANGRI-LA," NEW GUINEA". The Examiner (Tasmania). Vol. CIV, no. 98. Tasmania, Australia. 4 July 1945. p. 1. Retrieved 26 March 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. "Canadian-born actor dies in Australia". Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, BC. December 22, 1977. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
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