Martin McCann grew up with a brother and sister in the Divis Flats area of Falls Road in Belfast.

In 2006 Lord Richard Attenborough cast McCann in his film after seeing him play Alex in a stage production of A Clockwork Orange. Attenborough called Spielberg and recommended McCann. He was invited to LA to audition for 'The Pacific' HBO miniseries, Attenborough sent along scenes from his film for Spielberg to view. McCann was cast in The Pacific as R.V. Burgin.