David Kano (Space 1999)

Space:1999 character|if=
bgcolor = red
fgcolor = black
Title = David Kano


Caption = David Kano
Species = Human
Gender = Male
Appearance =
Height =
Hair color = Black
Eye color = Brown
Birth = 1966
Death = 2000?
Planet = Earth
Affiliation = Moonbase Alpha
Posting =
Rank = Computer Specialist, Third in Command
Section = Main Mission
Portrayed = Clifton Jones|

David Kano is a fictional character who regularly appeared during the first season of the science fiction television series "Space: 1999". He was played by actor Clifton Jones.

As part of the Moonbase Alpha senior staff, Kano was the resident computer expert of the moonbase and was said to owe his expertise to his parents, both of whom were computer programmers. Prior to his station on Alpha, Kano was also one of several volunteer test subjects for an experimental cybernetic implant that would speed human interfacing with computers. Kano was the only subject not to be rendered permanently brain damaged by the experiment. Kano had an almost symbiotic relationship with the Alpha Computer which was curiously programmed with a female voice. He also referred to the computer as "Computer" instead of "the computer" as though it were a name. He also habitually referred to Computer as "she" or "her". Kano was invaluable to Commander Koenig as the person who had the ability to ask Computer the right questions and was privy to confidential computer output before everyone else.

While not socially inept, Kano preferred to spend most of his time with Computer, often playing chess with her. He could occasionally be seen playing chess with other Alphans. Kano's faith in computers in general was unshakeable and he would tout human error over computer error every time. Well liked among the Alphans, Kano was an easygoing person who got along well with fellow key staff. While typically addressed as Kano, Paul Morrow was one of the few to address him by first name indicating that the two probably knew each other for some time. The episode "Missing Link" marks a notable instance where Kano lost his temper and harshly reprimands a junior staff member who accidentally spilled coffee on him. Morrow also almost comes to blows with Kano over what he perceives as Kano's unnecessary harsh treatment of said junior staff member. However, everyone at this time is overly stressed due to Commander Koenig's being on the brink of death due to events in that episode. These harsh exchanges were promptly forgotten when Koenig recovered.

Along with fellow regular cast members Prentis Hancock and Barry Morse, Clifon Jones did not return for season 2 of the show. The absence of these characters was never accounted for in official canon. In the fan production "Message from Moonbase Alpha" which takes place 25 years later, Sandra Benes briefly recalls Professor Bergman, Paul and other characters no longer with them at that time, although it is not specifically said that either are necessarily deceased. But she did not mention Kano which suggests either an overlook on Sandra's part or that Kano was still alive and well on Alpha but had taken up residence on Alpha offscreen in a different capacity.