Actor. He played craggy, wild-eyed characters. During his 40-year Hollywood career, he was typically cast as slimy villains, tough cops, and military officers. He is probably best remembered as the brutal prison warden who has a fateful showdown with convict Jon Voight in "Runaway Train," the 1985 film. Born in New York City, he was the son of Irish immigrates and studied English at the City College of New York. He served in the United States Army for six years and worked as a welfare investigator before taking an interest in acting. In 1967 he was introduced to films by his friend Jack Nicholson, who later gave him prominent parts in "Five Easy Pieces" (1970), "The King of Marvin Gardens" (1972), "The Missouri Breaks" (1976), "The Postman Always Rings Twice" (1981), and "Hoffa" (1992). Ryan's only sympathetic lead was as the bewildered father of a monster baby in "It's Alive" (1974) and "It's Alive II" (1978). His other big screen credits include "Dillinger" (1973), "Futureworld" (1976), "The Right Stuff" (1983), "The Cotton Club" (1984), "Death Wish 4" (1987), and "Bound" (1996). He also made dozens of appearances in such TV series as "Kojak", "The Rockford Files", "Hawaii Five-O", "M*A*S*H", and "Cagney & Lacey". On the set of "Delta Force 2" in 1989, Ryan was seriously hurt in a helicopter crash that killed five and injured two others. In his later years he gave private acting lessons and was an advocate of spiritual healing. He died of a stroke in Los Angeles.
Actor. He played craggy, wild-eyed characters. During his 40-year Hollywood career, he was typically cast as slimy villains, tough cops, and military officers. He is probably best remembered as the brutal prison warden who has a fateful showdown with convict Jon Voight in "Runaway Train," the 1985 film. Born in New York City, he was the son of Irish immigrates and studied English at the City College of New York. He served in the United States Army for six years and worked as a welfare investigator before taking an interest in acting. In 1967 he was introduced to films by his friend Jack Nicholson, who later gave him prominent parts in "Five Easy Pieces" (1970), "The King of Marvin Gardens" (1972), "The Missouri Breaks" (1976), "The Postman Always Rings Twice" (1981), and "Hoffa" (1992). Ryan's only sympathetic lead was as the bewildered father of a monster baby in "It's Alive" (1974) and "It's Alive II" (1978). His other big screen credits include "Dillinger" (1973), "Futureworld" (1976), "The Right Stuff" (1983), "The Cotton Club" (1984), "Death Wish 4" (1987), and "Bound" (1996). He also made dozens of appearances in such TV series as "Kojak", "The Rockford Files", "Hawaii Five-O", "M*A*S*H", and "Cagney & Lacey". On the set of "Delta Force 2" in 1989, Ryan was seriously hurt in a helicopter crash that killed five and injured two others. In his later years he gave private acting lessons and was an advocate of spiritual healing. He died of a stroke in Los Angeles.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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