Quick Facts
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Biography
Jay Ryan is a New Zealand actor. He is best known for his roles as Jack Scully in the Australian soap opera Neighbours, Kevin in the New Zealand comedy-drama programme Go Girls, Mark Mitcham in the internationally produced New Zealand television programme Top of the Lake, Vincent Keller in the American television series Beauty & the Beast and Detective Ben Wesley in the Canadian television series Mary Kills People.
Ryan made his feature film breakthrough playing adult Ben Hanscom in It Chapter Two, a sequel to the 2017 horror film It, based on the 1986 novel of the same name.
Career
Under the name Jay Bunyan, he appeared as "Glen" in the "Scallywag Pirates" (2000) and had a minor role in Xena: Warrior Princess. He is known for his portrayal of Jack Scully in the Australian soap opera Neighbours from late 2002 until January 2009.
From 2007 to 2009, Ryan played Seaman William "Billy" Webb aka Spider in the popular Australian drama, Sea Patrol.
From a theatre background Ryan has shared the stage with the likes of John Cleese and toured internationally with The Packer, an acclaimed solo show written by NZ/Niuean playwright Dianna Fuemana.
From 2009 to 2012, Ryan played Kevin in the New Zealand comedy/drama series Go Girls. In 2011, he joined the cast of the Australian comedy/drama series Offspring.Also in 2011, Ryan guest starred on the American science fiction series Terra Nova, playing a murderer.For this role, Ryan used an American accent.
In 2012, Ryan was cast as the male lead in the CW's Beauty & the Beast pilot. The CW officially announced the series at the May 2012 Up Fronts in New York.
Ryan starred as the adult Ben Hanscom in the 2019 horror film It Chapter Two, the sequel to It (2017). He shares the character with Jeremy Ray Taylor.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Superfire | Dennis | Television movie |
| 2003 | You Wish! | Charles | Television movie |
| 2008 | Mockingbird | Joel | Short film |
| 2008 | Bleeders | Finn | Short film |
| 2009 | Franswa Sharl | Sonny | Short film |
| 2010 | Lou | Cosmo | |
| 2019 | It Chapter Two | Ben Hanscom | Shared role with Jeremy Ray Taylor |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Young Hercules | Cadet | "Keeping Up with the Jasons" (S01E08) |
| 1999 | Xena: Warrior Princess | Zortis | "Fallen Angel" (S05E01) |
| 2002 | The Tribe | Season 4 Episodes 38, 39 | |
| 2002 | Being Eve | Sam Hooper | Series regular (Season 2); 13 episodes |
| 2002-2005 | Neighbours | Jack Scully | Main role: 13 November 2002 – 11 January 2005; 222 episodes |
| 2005 | Interrogation | Police Constable Dean Salmon | Guest role; 3 episodes |
| 2007-2009 | Sea Patrol | Seaman Billy "Spider" Webb | Main role: 39 episodes |
| 2009-2012 | Go Girls | Kevin | Main role (Seasons 1–4): 46 episodes |
| 2010 | Legend of the Seeker | Alastair | "Eternity" (S02E20) |
| 2011 | Offspring | Fraser King | "The Return" (S02E01) "Baby Bumps" (S02E02) Dates, Decisions & Divorces" (S02E03) "Together, We Are One" (S02E04) "The Way You Are" (S02E05) "Behind Closed Doors" (S02E06) |
| 2011 | Terra Nova | Curran | "Bylaw" (S01E06) "Proof" (S01E08) "Within" (S01E11) |
| 2012-2016 | Beauty & the Beast | Vincent Keller | Main role |
| 2013 | Top of the Lake | Mark Mitcham | Miniseries; 6 episodes |
| 2017-2019 | Mary Kills People | Detective Ben Wesley | Series regular |
| 2018 | Fighting Season | Sgt Sean Collins | Miniseries; 6 episodes |
Personal life
Jay Ryan and Dianna Fuemana had a daughter in 2013.
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Logie Award for Most Popular New Male Talent | Neighbours | Nominated |
| 2014 | Equity Ensemble Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Miniseries or Telemovie | Top of the Lake | Won |