{{short description|New Zealand actor and model}} {{Use Australian English|date=April 2021}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = Tim Kano | image = Tim Kano Cleo Bachelor Competition.jpg | caption = Kano in 2017 | birth_date = | birth_place = Christchurch, New Zealand | years_active = 2001–present }}
'''Tim Kano''' is a New Zealand actor, known for playing Leo Tanaka in the Australian television soap opera ''Neighbours'' from 2016. He also stars in the 2021 horror film ''Great White''.
==Early life== Kano's mother Sue is from New Zealand with Irish heritage, and his father Fujio, was Japanese.<ref name=":0">{{cite news|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/lifestyle/home-mag/for-a-new-zealander-who-has-lived-worked-studied-and-travelled-abroad-neighbours-star-tim-kano-is-happy-to-call-melbourne-home/news-story/087deefca0c7b17bc67fe585ccd7b757|title=For a New Zealander who has lived, worked, studied and travelled abroad, Neighbours star Tim Kano is happy to call Melbourne home|last=Nikas-Boulos|first=Catherine|date=2 June 2017|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=19 August 2022}}</ref> Kano was born in Christchurch and grew up between Wellington and Japan with his sister Maya.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=18 April 2017|title=Actor Focus: Tim Kano|url=https://cinemaaustralia.com.au/2017/04/18/actor-focus-tim-kano/|access-date=6 July 2021|website=Cinema Australia|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> Upon returning to New Zealand after spending his primary school years in Japan, Kano took modelling and acting jobs and completed a media and film studies course. Kano returned to Japan to study Political Science at university in Tokyo.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /> Working in politics was a goal for Kano, who worked for MP Chris Carter for a year.<ref name=":0" />
== Career == Beginning his career in New Zealand, Kano played an extra in ''The Lord of the Rings'' and had some other small parts in TV and movies from 2001.{{cn|date=May 2024}} In 2009, he starred in the interactive online drama series ''Reservoir Hill''.<ref name="Hawkins">{{cite news|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A504684419/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=4bf32b35|title=Tim Kano|last=Hawkins|first=Joanne|date=16 September 2017|work=Herald Sun|access-date=24 May 2024|via=Gale|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
Kano's big break came when he joined Australian soap opera, ''Neighbours'' in 2016 as entrepreneur Leo Tanaka. He obtained the role after auditioning for both Leo and his twin brother David Tanaka, which eventually went to Takaya Honda.<ref name=":1" /> Kano said he grew up watching ''Neighbours'' in New Zealand and found meeting the actors "amazing but a bit confronting".<ref name="Hawkins"/> With the goal of making a life in Hollywood, Kano left ''Neighbours'' in 2019, but made a return in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kilkelly|first=Daniel|date=30 May 2021|title=Exclusive: Neighbours star Tim Kano discusses Leo Tanaka return|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/neighbours/a36576628/neighbours-spoilers-tim-kano-leo-tanaka-return-plot/|access-date=6 July 2021|publisher=Digital Spy|language=en-GB}}</ref>
In 2019, Kano filmed the movie ''Great White'' in which he plays Joji, a Japanese businessman.<ref>{{Cite web|first2=Ian|last2=Sandwell|last=Kilkelly|first=Daniel|date=26 May 2021|title=Neighbours star Tim Kano explains how Great White is different to Jaws|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a36530682/neighbours-tim-kano-interview-great-white/|access-date=6 July 2021|publisher=Digital Spy|language=en-GB}}</ref> In 2021, Kano played Ian in the TV comedy series, ''The Power of the Dream''.<ref>{{Cite web|date=30 May 2021|title=Comedy mockumentary series, The Power of the Dream, follows aspiring Olympians with no sporting skill|url=https://tvblackbox.com.au/page/2021/05/31/comedy-mockumentary-series-the-power-of-the-dream-follows-aspiring-olympians-with-no-sporting-skill/|access-date=6 July 2021|website=TV Blackbox|language=en-AU}}</ref> He also featured in the Paramount+ comedy series ''Spreadsheet''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2021/10/spreadsheet.html|title=Spreadsheet|last=Knox|first=David|date=17 October 2021|publisher=TV Tonight|access-date=19 August 2022}}</ref>
== Personal life == Kano resides in Melbourne with his dog and is a fan of 1950s American men's style.<ref>{{Cite web|date=7 May 2020|title=At Home With... Tim Kano|url=https://www.theiconic.com.au/edition/at-home-with-tim-kano-style|access-date=6 July 2021|website=The Iconic}}</ref>
Once a singer in a punk band, Kano can also play guitar.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />
Franklin Fisher of the band Algiers, is Kano's brother in-law.<ref name=":0" />
In 2018, Kano was nominated as a ''Cosmopolitan'' Bachelor of the Year.<ref>{{Cite web|date=23 February 2018|title=Cosmopolitan & Tinder Host Bachelor of the Year Competition|url=https://www.globaldatinginsights.com/news/cosmopolitan-tinder-host-bachelor-year-competition/|access-date=6 July 2021|website=Global Dating Insights|language=en-GB}}</ref>
==Filmography== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |- ! scope="row" |2001 | ''The Tribe'' | Chosen Guard Clark | Guest role |- ! scope="row" |2003 | ''Freaky'' | Ryan | Episode: "Slide, Lab-Rats & Radio" |- ! scope="row" |2008 | ''Loss of Innocence'' | Major Phelps | Short film |- ! scope="row" |2009–2010 | ''Reservoir Hill'' | Matt Moorland | Guest role |- ! scope="row" |2015 | ''Holding The Man'' | Ian | Guest role |- ! rowspan="2" scope="row" | 2016 | ''Winners & Losers'' | Jamie Walton | Episode: "Ready Set Go" |- | ''Road Trip'' | Leo Tanaka | Web series |- ! scope="row" | 2016–2025 | ''Neighbours'' | Leo Tanaka | Main cast |- ! scope="row" | 2016 | ''Summer Stories'' | Leo Tanaka | Web series |- ! scope="row" | 2017 | ''Neighbours vs Time Travel'' | Leo Tanaka | Web series |- ! rowspan="3" scope="row" |2021 | ''Great White'' | Joji Minase | Feature film |- | ''The Power Of The Dream'' | Ian | Guest role |- | ''Spreadsheet'' | Chase | Episode: "Banjos & Dirty Duck" |- ! scope="row"| 2022 | ''La Brea'' | Anthony | Episode: "The Fog" |- ! scope="row"| 2023 | ''Love Me'' |Lindsay |1 episode |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|2922563}}
{{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Kano, Tim}} Category:New Zealand male film actors Category:New Zealand male television actors Category:1986 births Category:New Zealand male soap opera actors Category:New Zealand people of Irish descent Category:New Zealand people of Japanese descent Category:Actors from Christchurch Category:Living people Category:New Zealand expatriates in Australia