Kanan was born Sean Perelman in Cleveland, Ohio to Dale and Michelle Perelman. His family later relocated to New Castle, Pennsylvania. He attended Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania, Boston University and UCLA where he earned a degree in political science.
Kanan's first notable role was that of villain Mike Barnes in the 1989 film The Karate Kid Part III directed by Academy Award winning Director, John Avildsen.
As a teenager, Kanan studied Shotokan karate under Sensei William Stoner. By the time he landed the role, Kanan had a good foundation of Japanese Karate which would be essential for portraying the central antagonist of Daniel LaRusso played by Ralph Macchio. He trained in Shitō-ryū at a school run by Karate master Fumio Demuraand with stunt coordinator and Tang Soo Do master Pat E. Johnson.

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