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Actor

1936-07-30 · New York City, New York, USA · Male

13 series in the catalog

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 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).

Helicopter crash

On May 16, 1989, while filming the Chuck Norris sequel Delta Force 2: The Colombian Connection in the Philippines, Ryan was involved in a helicopter crash. The helicopter took off to film a scene, then veered to the left and plunged into a forty-foot ravine. Four people on board were killed and roughly ten people were hospitalized, including Ryan.

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.