Raised in Tralee, he made his debut appearing in school plays and pageants produced by his father.
Later that year, he was invited by English actor/director Margery Mason to join her fledgling company, the Bangor New Theatre, becoming the founder member.
[7] Fanning made his TV debut in a 1959 episode of Great Expectations and this was followed by roles in Dixon of Dock Green, Z-Cars, Ghost Squad, No Hiding Place, Softly, Softly, The Avengers, The Troubleshooters, The Champions, Budgie, Follyfoot, The Onedin Line, Warship, Hadleigh, Softly, Softly: Task Force, Within These Walls, Fall of Eagles, The Brothers, Doctor Who, All Creatures Great and Small, Blake's 7, Emmerdale Farm, The Sandbaggers, The Gentle Touch, Juliet Bravo, Play for Today, Casualty, Peak Practice, The Bill, Father Ted and Doctors among others.
Using his real name, Fanning contributed episodes to Ballykissangel, The Legend of William Tell, The Adventures of Swiss Family Robinson, Peak Practice and Relic Hunter.
[11] On 2 October 2021, his wife, the actress Karen Ford, took part in a Memory Walk around Willen Lake in Milton Keynes in his honour, cutting the blue ribbon at the starting line and raising over £1200 for the cause.