John P. Ryan

Person

John P. Ryan

Acting July 30, 1936

New York City, New York, USA

Character actor John P. Ryan was born on July 30, 1936 in New York City. The son of Irish immigrant parents, Ryan graduated from Rice High School and studied English at the City C…

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Known for

Popular titles

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm

7.5 1993 Movie
M*A*S*H

M*A*S*H

7.9 1972 TV Show
Bound

Bound

7.2 1996 Movie
Miami Vice

Miami Vice

7.4 1984 TV Show
The Right Stuff

The Right Stuff

7.4 1983 Movie
Runaway Train

Runaway Train

7.0 1985 Movie
The Rockford Files

The Rockford Files

7.6 1974 TV Show
Five Easy Pieces

Five Easy Pieces

7.1 1970 Movie
Hawaii Five-O

Hawaii Five-O

7.2 1969 TV Show
The Postman Always Rings Twice

The Postman Always Rings Twice

6.5 1981 Movie
Starsky & Hutch

Starsky & Hutch

7.3 1975 TV Show
The Cotton Club

The Cotton Club

6.5 1984 Movie

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Biography

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Character actor John P. Ryan was born on July 30, 1936 in New York City. The son of Irish immigrant parents, Ryan graduated from Rice High School and studied English at the City College of New York, where he first developed an interest in acting. He served six years in the US Army and worked as a welfare investigator prior to pursuing an acting career. John made his film debut in the 1967 comedy "The Tiger Makes Out." He appeared in five pictures for Jack Nicholson; he's especially memorable as male nurse Spicer in "Five Easy Pieces." Manic, pale-eyed and craggy-faced, with an often intense and explosive screen presence, Ryan was frequently cast as nasty villains, hard-boiled police officers, and strict military men. John gave a strong and touching performance in a rare change-of-pace sympathetic role as Frank Davis, the bitter and regretful father of a murderous monster mutant baby in Larry Cohen's excellent "It's Alive." He also portrayed Davis in the okay sequel "It Lives Again." Other notable movie parts include the fanatical Colonel Hardcore in "Shamus," shrewd mob capo Patsy O'Neill in the witty "Cops and Robbers," evil scientist Schneider in "Futureworld," the dogged Lt. Parmental in "Breathless," vicious Irish mobster Joe Flynn in "The Cotten Club;" at his ferocious best as sadistic prison Warden Ranken in the powerful "Runaway Train," hateful fascist lunatic Glastenbury in the exciting "Avenging Force," ruthless drug kingpin Nathan White in the cruddy "Death Wish IV: The Crackdown," ramrod high school principal Mr. O'Rourke in the amusing "Three O'Clock High," and lethal robot history teacher Mr. Hardin in "Class of 1999." Among the TV shows Ryan did guest spots on are "M.A.S.H.," "The Rockford Files," "Hawaii Five-O," "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century," "Starsky & Hutch," "Kojak," "Hart to Hart," "The F.B.I.," and "Miami Vice." John had a recurring role on the TV series "Archer." In addition to his film and TV credits, Ryan also appeared in over 90 stage plays. Following his final film appearance in "Bound," John spent his later years giving acting lessons and was an advocate of spiritual healing. John P. Ryan died from a stroke at age 70 on March 20, 2007 in Los Angeles, California; he's survived by two daughters.

Filmography

Movies and shows, newest first

  1. 2007
    The Pixar Story

    Movie Dr. Schneider (archive footage)

  2. 1996
    Bound

    Movie Mickey Malnato

  3. 1994
    Bad Blood

    Movie John Blackstone

  4. 1994
    The Patriots

    Movie Arthur

  5. 1993
    Batman: Mask of the Phantasm

    Movie Buzz Bronski (voice)

  6. 1993
    The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.

    TV show Sheriff Bob Cavendish

  7. 1993
    Young Goodman Brown

    Movie The Devil

  8. 1992
    Hoffa

    Movie Red Bennett

  9. 1992
    White Sands

    Movie Arms Dealer (Uncredited)

  10. 1992
    Star Time

    Movie Sam Bones

  11. 1991
    Blood River

    Movie Henry Logan

  12. 1990
    Eternity

    Movie Thomas Vandervere / Prosecutor

  13. 1990
    Delta Force 2: The Colombian Connection

    Movie Gen. Taylor

  14. 1990
    Class of 1999

    Movie Mr. Hardin

  15. 1989
    Best of the Best

    Movie Jennings

  16. 1988
    Paramedics

    Movie Captain Prescott

More credits
  1. 1987
    City of Shadows

    Movie Sergeant Fireman

  2. 1987
    Rent-a-Cop

    Movie Wieser

  3. 1987
    Fatal Beauty

    Movie Lt. Kellerman

  4. 1987
    Three O'Clock High

    Movie Mr. O'Rourke

  5. 1987
    Death Wish 4: The Crackdown

    Movie Nathan White

  6. 1987
    Faerie Tale Theatre: Rip Van Winkle

    Movie Hendrick Hudson / Narrator (voice)

  7. 1986
    Houston: The Legend of Texas

    Movie David Burnett

  8. 1986
    Avenging Force

    Movie Prof. Elliott Glastenbury

  9. 1985
    Runaway Train

    Movie Ranken

  10. 1985
    Hollywood Beat

    TV show

  11. 1984
    The Cotton Club

    Movie Joe Flynn

  12. 1984
    Miami Vice

    TV show Jake Manning

  13. 1983
    The Right Stuff

    Movie Head of Program

  14. 1983
    Shooting Stars

    Movie McGee

  15. 1983
    Breathless

    Movie Lt. Parmental

  16. 1982
    Matt Houston

    TV show

  17. 1982
    Faerie Tale Theatre

    TV show Hendrick Hudson / Narrator (voice)

  18. 1982
    The Escape Artist

    Movie Vernon

  19. 1982
    Cagney & Lacey

    TV show Philip Corrigan

  20. 1982
    American Playhouse

    TV show Peter Doyle

  21. 1981
    Simon & Simon

    TV show

  22. 1981
    The Postman Always Rings Twice

    Movie Kennedy

  23. 1980
    The Last Flight of Noah's Ark

    Movie Coslough

  24. 1979
    Paris

    TV show