Born in Rustenburg, South Africa, 15th August 1927. Studied dance in Cape Town and moved to London in 1945 where he joined Sadlers Wells Ballet which later became The Royal Ballet and with which he had much success. Aged 23, he had given up performing to concentrate on choreography. In 1961, Cranko was asked by Walter Erich Schaefer, the General Director of the Württemberg State Theatre, to become director of the Stuttgart Ballet. In 1961, Cranko was asked by Walter Erich Schaefer, the General Director of the Württemberg State Theatre, to become director of the Stuttgart Ballet.
John Cranko choked to death after suffering an allergic reaction to a sleeping pill he took during a transatlantic flight, on his return from a highly successful production in New York.
