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John P. Ryan
Ryan in Futureworld, 1976
Born	John Patrick Ryan (1936-07-30)July 30, 1936 New York City, New York, U.S.
Died	March 20, 2007(2007-03-20) (aged 70) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Education	Rice High School
Alma mater	City College of New York Actors Studio
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1966–1996
Children	3, including Alexa Kenin

John Patrick Ryan (July 30, 1936 – March 20, 2007) was an American actor. A prolific character actor known for playing "slimy villains, tough cops, and military officers," he worked with notable directors like Bob Rafelson, Francis Ford Coppola, Andrei Konchalovsky, Arthur Penn, Philip Kaufman, and The Wachowskis, and often appeared in films starring his real-life friend Jack Nicholson.

Early life and education

Ryan was born in New York City, the son of Irish immigrant parents, and graduated from Rice High School in Harlem. He studied English at the City College of New York and acting at the Actors Studio.

Career

Among his stage roles, Ryan played King Henry in The Lion in Winter and Mr. DePinna in You Can't Take It with You at the 1966 Williamstown Theatre Festival. He starred in the Broadway productions Daphne in Cottage D (1967) and Medea (1973).

Ryan got into film acting at the encouragement of his friend Jack Nicholson. He appeared opposite Nicholson in Five Easy Pieces (1970), The King of Marvin Gardens (1973), The Missouri Breaks (1976), The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981), and Hoffa (1992).

He usually played supporting roles or character parts, though he played a rare leading role in the Larry Cohen-directed horror film It's Alive and its sequel It Lives Again. He also appeared in such films as Dillinger (1973), Futureworld (1976), Breathless (1983), The Right Stuff (also 1983), The Cotton Club (1984), Three O'Clock High (1987), and Best of the Best (1989). One of his best-known parts was as prison warden Ranken in Runaway Train (1985). His last role was as mobster Mickey Malnato in The Wachowskis' directorial debut Bound (1996).

Personal life

Ryan was married to actress Maya Kenin, becoming the stepfather of Alexa Kenin (1962-1985). He had two daughters.

Ryan was a life member of the Actors Studio, and a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Death

Ryan died from a stroke in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 70. His remains were buried at Genola Rural Cemetery in East Northport, New York.

Stage appearances

Filmography

Film

Television

References

1. ^ "John Patrick Ryan (1936-2007) - Find a Grave..." www.findagrave.com. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
2. ^ "John P. Ryan, 70, actor". Variety. March 27, 2007. ISSN 0042-2738.
3. ^ Garfield, David (1980). "Appendix: Life Members of The Actors Studio as of January 1980". A Player's Place: The Story of The Actors Studio. New York: MacMillan Publishing Co., Inc. p. 279. ISBN 0-02-542650-8.
4. "New York Times". September 12, 1985. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
5. "John P. Ryan Obituary". The New York Times. March 28, 2007.
6. https://www.nytimes.com/1972/12/04/archives/theater-12-angry-men-rose-tv-play-staged-at-queens-playhouse.html. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)

External links

• John P. Ryan at IMDb
• John P. Ryan at the Internet Broadway Database
• John P. Ryan at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
• John P. Ryan at AllMovie

• 1936 births
• 2007 deaths
• American male film actors
• American male television actors
• American people of Irish descent
• Male actors from New York City
• 20th-century American male actors
• American male stage actors
• City College of New York alumni
• Actors Studio alumni