McCann earned a doctorate at Cambridge University and, before becoming a full-time writer, was a fellow and lecturer in social and political theory at King's College, Cambridge.[2][3][4][5][6] Among his fields of expertise is American culture, and in 1993 he lectured on "Aspects of American Culture" at the university.[7] He also taught in the university's continuing education programme, primarily in the subject of the history of British political thought.[2]
McCann has published at least 17 books.[8] His 1988 biography of Marilyn Monroe was the first to approach her life from a sociological perspective.[9][10] This subject was revisited in his chapter "Biographical Boundaries: Sociology and Marilyn Monroe" in The Body: Social Processes and Cultural Theory published in 1991. He followed this with a biography of Woody Allen (1991),[11] and with Rebel Males (1993), an analysis of the influence of Montgomery Clift, Marlon Brando and James Dean and their transformative role in moving the masculine heroic role in American popular culture closer to a sensitivity associated with bisexuality.[12] He received praise for his 1997 biography of Cary Grant, A Class Apart.[13][14] Andrea Highbie of The New York Times described the book as "well-researched",[15] while Publishers Weekly considered it a more comprehensive account than Geoffrey Wansell's Cary Grant: Dark Angel book.[16]
Amnesty International (4 October 2012). Graham McCann (ed.). A Poke in the Eye (With a Sharp Stick): Amnesty Presents the Best of the Secret Policeman's Ball (Main ed.). Canongate Books. ISBN978-0857867346. – 2 editions
A Very Courageous Decision: The Inside Story of Yes Minister. Aurum Press Ltd. 1 November 2014. ISBN978-1781311899. – 5 editions
Bounder!: The Biography of Terry-Thomas. Aurum Press. 2009. ISBN9781845134419. – 5 editions
Eisler, Hanns; Adorno, Theodor W.; McCann, Graham (Introduction) (11 December 2007) [1947]. Composing for Films (Illustrated ed.). Continuum. ISBN9780826499028. – 10 editions
Dad's Army: The Story of a Very British Comedy: The Story of a Classic Television Show (New ed.). Fourth Estate. 1 September 2002. ISBN978-1841153094.
Do You Think That's Wise?: The Life of John Le Mesurier. Aurum Press. 8 November 2010. ISBN978-1845136529. – 5 editions
Spike & Co: Inside the House of Fun with Milligan, Sykes, Galton & Simpson. Hodder & Stoughton Paperbacks. 11 January 2006. ISBN9780340898093. – 4 editions
Still Open All Hours: The Story of a Classic Comedy. BBC Books. 30 October 2014. ISBN978-1849908863. – 4 editions
The Comedy Carpet Blackpool: The Making of a World Class Monument to Comedy. Booth Clibborn. 1 November 2013. ISBN978-1861543394.