TEEN BEAT: For fans who haven't seen the movie yet, can you tell us what your character is like in Karate Kid III?
SEAN KANAN: My character is named Mike Barnes. Mike is known as the "bad boy of karate." He's been thrown out of all these tournaments because of excessive violence and basically playing pretty dirty.
TB: Do you think Mike Barnes is a lot like the other Karate Kid villains?
SEAN: I think my character is the worst of all!
TB: How did you land the role?
SEAN: I was studying karate back in New Castle, PA, and our head instructor was Fumio Demura, Pat Morita's double in the movies. Fumio would come from California twice a year and talk about working on the Karate Kid. I asked him if there was any way he could help me, and he said it was one of those things I had to do by myself. So I went on an audition, and I got the part. It really was a dream come true!
TB: You had a bad accident on the set, didn't you?
SEAN: I had to jump eight feet and land on my side, which I probably did about 10 or 15 times. It was a freak accident, because I've never even broken a bone, but I perforated a blood vessel. I was in the hospital for about a week-and-a-half before I told them to discharge me or else I would lose the part. My doctors convinced the producers I could finish the movie.
TB: That's really pretty amazing!
SEAN: It's kind of a miracle, but I was able to do it.
TB: Is it true that you used to do stand-up comedy?
SEAN: When I was 16, my friends and I used to write routines and do impersonations at local comedy clubs. It was fun!
TB: What do you like to do when you aren't working?
SEAN: I really enjoy going out with my friends. I'm a pretty normal guy in that respect. I shoot pool, and I'm a complete videoholic. I go to arcades at least once a week. I love going to see movies, at least twice a week, especially by myself. I like to eat out a lot. I work out and keep up with my karate. And I go to school at UCLA.
TB: Are you dating anyone right now?
SEAN: I don't know...I have to call her and see! But sort of!
TB: What qualities do you admire in people?
SEAN: I like people with a sense of strength, independence, honesty and loyalty. Intelligence is important too. And I like people who have a strong sense of family.
TB: What would you tell teens who want to get into acting?
SEAN: Show business is just what it says - it's a business. You have to be very serious about it and really committed because it's very difficult. On the flip side, if you know in your heart that it's what you want, then don't let anyone talk you out of it. Anything is possible, and I think I'm living proof of that. I auditioned against two thousand guys for the part of Mike Barnes and still beat the odds!