Cannon, Reuben (1946–)

CANNON, REUBEN (1946–). Producer, casting director. The Chicago-born Cannon attended Southeast City College before relocating to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. He landed a job in the mailroom at Universal Studios in 1970 and quickly learned the ropes. From 1977 to 1978, he became the head of television casting for Warner Brothers and started his own casting agency, Reuben Cannon & Associates, a year later. He cast for the television shows Moonlighting and Touched by an Angel , and the feature films The Color Purple , 1985; Desperado , 1995; and What’s Love Got to Do with It? 1993. Cannon’s television producing credits include The Women of Brewster Place , 1989, and the popular television sitcom Amen . His film-producing credits include Spike Lee ‘s Get on the Bus , 1996; Maya Angelou ’s Down in the Delta , 1998; Reggie "Rock" Bythewood ’s Dancing in September , 2001; and Woman Thou Art Loosed , 2004, based on the self-help book by Rev. T. D. Jakes. He is also working with gospel playwriter Tyler Perry to produce films and the original sitcom House of Payne .