John P. Ryan
Biography
John P. Ryan was a character actor born in New York City on July 30, 1936. The son of Irish immigrant parents, he graduated from Rice High School and studied English at the City College of New York, where his interest in acting first developed. Before pursuing an acting career, he served six years in the United States Army and worked as a welfare investigator. Known for his manic, pale-eyed, craggy-faced, and intense screen presence, Ryan was frequently cast as nasty villains and hard-boiled police officers. He made his film debut in the 1967 comedy The Tiger Makes Out and appeared in five pictures for Jack Nicholson, including a memorable turn as male nurse Spicer in Five Easy Pieces. Ryan died on March 20, 2007, at the age of seventy.
Career overview
Character actor John P. Ryan was born in New York City on July 30, 1936. The son of Irish immigrant parents, he graduated from Rice High School and studied English at the City College of New York, where he first developed an interest in acting. Before pursuing his acting career, Ryan served six years in the United States Army and worked as a welfare investigator.
Ryan made his film debut in the 1967 comedy The Tiger Makes Out. Over the course of his career, he appeared in five pictures for Jack Nicholson and is especially memorable as the male nurse Spicer in Five Easy Pieces. Described as manic, pale-eyed, and craggy-faced, with an often intense and explosive screen presence, Ryan was frequently cast in film roles as nasty villains and hard-boiled police officers.
Throughout his life and career, Ryan accumulated numerous known acting credits. He passed away on March 20, 2007, at the age of seventy.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
70 titles- The Pixar Story (2007) as Dr. Schneider (archive footage)
- Bound (1996) as Mickey Malnato
- The Patriots (1994) as Arthur
- Bad Blood (1994) as John Blackstone
- The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. (1993) as Sheriff Bob Cavendish
- Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993) as Buzz Bronski (voice)
- Young Goodman Brown (1993) as The Devil
- Hoffa (1992) as Red Bennett
- White Sands (1992) as Arms Dealer (Uncredited)
- Star Time (1992) as Sam Bones
- Blood River (1991) as Henry Logan
- Delta Force 2: The Colombian Connection (1990) as Gen. Taylor
- Eternity (1990) as Thomas Vandervere / Prosecutor
- Class of 1999 (1990) as Mr. Hardin
- Best of the Best (1989) as Jennings
- Paramedics (1988) as Captain Prescott
- Death Wish 4: The Crackdown (1987) as Nathan White
- Three O'Clock High (1987) as Mr. O'Rourke
- Fatal Beauty (1987) as Lt. Kellerman
- Rent-a-Cop (1987) as Wieser
- Faerie Tale Theatre: Rip Van Winkle (1987) as Hendrick Hudson / Narrator (voice)
- City of Shadows (1987) as Sergeant Fireman
- Avenging Force (1986) as Prof. Elliott Glastenbury
- Houston: The Legend of Texas (1986) as David Burnett
- Runaway Train (1985) as Ranken
- Hollywood Beat (1985)
- Miami Vice (1984) as Jake Manning
- The Cotton Club (1984) as Joe Flynn
- Breathless (1983) as Lt. Parmental
- The Right Stuff (1983) as Head of Program
- Shooting Stars (1983) as McGee
- American Playhouse (1982) as Peter Doyle
- Cagney & Lacey (1982) as Philip Corrigan
- Faerie Tale Theatre (1982) as Hendrick Hudson / Narrator (voice)
- Matt Houston (1982)
- The Escape Artist (1982) as Vernon
- Simon & Simon (1981)
- The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981) as Kennedy
- The Last Flight of Noah's Ark (1980) as Coslough
- Hart to Hart (1979)
- Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979) as Kurt Belzack
- Paris (1979)
- Kaz (1978)
- It Lives Again (1978) as Frank Davis
- A Killing Affair (1977) as Flagler
- Kill Me If You Can (1977) as Johnson
- Futureworld (1976) as Dr. Mort Schneider
- The Missouri Breaks (1976) as Si
- Starsky & Hutch (1975)
- Matt Helm (1975) as Carl Ainsley
- Archer (1975) as Lieutenant Barney Brighton
- Death Scream (1975) as Detective Dave Lambert
- Target Risk (1975) as Ralph Sloan
- The Rockford Files (1974) as Dearborn
- Police Woman (1974)
- It's Alive (1974) as Frank Davis
- Kojak (1973) as Peter Ibbotson
- Shamus (1973) as Col. Craig C. Hardcore
- Dillinger (1973) as Charles Mackley
- Cops and Robbers (1973) as Patsy O'Neill
- M*A*S*H (1972) as Major Van Zandt
- The King of Marvin Gardens (1972) as Surtees
- The Legend of Nigger Charley (1972) as Houston
- Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up to Me (1971) as Oeuf
- Five Easy Pieces (1970) as Spicer
- Hawaii Five-O (1968) as Guido Marioni
- A Lovely Way to Die (1968) as Harry Samson (uncredited)
- A Hatful of Rain (1968) as Chuck
- The F.B.I. (1965) as Ernie Flood
- The F.B.I. (1965) as William Quine
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is John P. Ryan best known for?
John P. Ryan is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Bound (1996), The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. (1993), Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993), Hoffa (1992).
When and where was John P. Ryan born?
John P. Ryan was born on July 30, 1936 in New York City, New York, USA. They passed away on March 20, 2007.
How many credits does John P. Ryan have?
John P. Ryan has accumulated over 70 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1965 to 2007.
What is John P. Ryan's background in cinema and television?
John P. Ryan was a character actor born in New York City on July 30, 1936. The son of Irish immigrant parents, he graduated from Rice High School and studied English at the City College of New York, where his interest in acting first developed. Before pursuing an acting career, he served six years in the United States ...
John P. Ryan by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Faerie Tale Theatre (1982) as Hendrick Hudson / Narrator (voice) — aged about 45
- M*A*S*H (1972) as Major Van Zandt — aged about 35
- Matt Helm (1975) as Carl Ainsley — aged about 38
- The Rockford Files (1974) as Dearborn — aged about 37
- Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993) as Buzz Bronski (voice) — aged about 56
- Miami Vice (1984) as Jake Manning — aged about 47
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