Drew Ray Tanner

Tanner was born in Victoria, British Columbia. When he was two years old, his father left, and his mother decided to move to Aldergrove, in Fraser Valley, British Columbia, where Tanner was raised.{{cite news |last1=Ip |first1=Stephanie |title=Riverdale: B.C.'s Jordan Connor and Drew Ray Tanner vote yearbook titles |url=https://vancouversun.com/entertainment/local-arts/riverdale-b-c-s-jordan-connor-and-drew-ray-tanner-vote-yearbook-titles |access-date=4 May 2021 |publisher=Vancouver Sun |date=May 11, 2018}} His mother is a teacher and he has an older brother. Tanner's grandfather would often do magic tricks and involve Tanner when he was child, which inspired him to join the entertainment industry.{{cite news |last1=Loewen |first1=Emily |title=Riverdale's Drew Ray Tanner On Acting, Following Your Heart And Enjoying The Ride |url=https://terroirmag.com/articles/2018/10/9/riverdales-drew-ray-tanner-on-acting-following-your-heart-and-enjoying-the-ride |access-date=4 May 2021 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008051148/https://terroirmag.com/articles/2018/10/9/riverdales-drew-ray-tanner-on-acting-following-your-heart-and-enjoying-the-ride |archive-date=October 8, 2020 | publisher=Terroir Mag |date=October 9, 2018}} In eighth and ninth grade, Tanner participated in a local improv group. He attended Aldergrove Community Secondary School and later transferred to W. J. Mouat Secondary School.{{cite news |last1=Ip |first1=Stephanie |title=B.C.'s Riverdale stars Jordan Connor and Drew Ray Tanner spill on the Southside Serpents |url=https://vancouversun.com/entertainment/television/riverdales-jordan-connor-and-drew-ray-tanner-talk-southside-serpents |access-date=4 May 2021 |publisher=Vancouver Sun |date=May 23, 2018}} He also played football. Tanner received the role of John Proctor in a production of The Crucible at his school. During his teenage years, Tanner also formed a rap group with a friend.{{cite news |last1=Valentine |first1=Claire |title=DREW RAY TANNER AND VANESSA MORGAN OF 'RIVERDALE' STARTED A BAND |url=https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/drew-ray-tanner-vanessa-morgan-sleep-when-im-dead |access-date=4 May 2021 |publisher=Nylon |date=May 15, 2020}} Following his high school graduation, Tanner turned down football scholarships and began working at a local tire retread plant so that he could support himself and travel to Vancouver for auditions.{{cite news |last1=Karmel |first1=Laurenne |title=Jordan Connor and Drew Ray Tanner talk Riverdale and #Swangs (VIDEO) |url=https://dailyhive.com/toronto/jordan-connor-drew-ray-tanner-riverdale-swangs-podcast |access-date=4 May 2021 |publisher=Daily Hive |date=May 16, 2018}}

In 2015, Tanner auditioned for the roles of Jughead Jones and Reggie Mantle in Riverdale, but did not receive either role. In 2016, Tanner's friends invited him to visit Rocko's Diner in Mission, British Columbia, which is famous for its milkshakes and was used as the filming location for diner scenes in Riverdale. When they arrived, there was a line of fans around the corner and Tanner made it his goal to have a role on Riverdale. When season two of the show began casting, Tanner auditioned for the role of Sweet Pea. While auditioning, he noted they were also casting for the role of Fangs Fogarty, so Tanner went in and auditioned for Fangs's character as well. Tanner joined the cast of Riverdale as Fangs Fogarty, the love interest of Kevin Keller, during season two, which began airing in 2017.{{cite news |last1=UYTDEWILLIGEN |first1=RYAN |title=Aldergrove actor Drew Ray Tanner gets promoted to series regular on Riverdale |url=https://www.aldergrovestar.com/entertainment/aldergrove-actor-drew-ray-tanner-gets-promoted-to-series-regular-on-riverdale/ |access-date=4 May 2021 |publisher=Aldergrove Star |date=October 2, 2020}} Originally, Tanner was only supposed to appear in a couple episodes, but he was brought back several times until season four, when his character had a role in a major story arc. After three years in a recurring role, Tanner was promoted to be a series regular for season five of the show, which aired in 2021.{{cite news |last1=Piester |first1=Laura |title=Riverdale Promotes Drew Ray Tanner to Series Regular For Season 5 |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1192716/riverdale-promotes-drew-ray-tanner-to-series-regular-for-season-5 |access-date=4 May 2021 |publisher=E! News |date=September 30, 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Fowler |first1=Nikki |title=DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE COVER: Drew Ray Tanner on the New Season of 'Riverdale,' the Time Jump, His Music, Dream Role, Identity, Isolation, and More |url=https://glittermagrocks.com/connect/2021/01/15/digital-exclusive-cover-drew-ray-tanner-on-the-new-season-of-riverdale-the-time-jump-music-his-dream-role-identity-isolation-and-more/ |access-date=4 May 2021 |publisher=Glitter |date=January 15, 2021}}

Tanner and his Riverdale co-star Vanessa Morgan bonded on set over their love of music and formed a group, These Girls These Boys. They released their first single, Sleep When I'm Dead, in May 2020.{{cite news |last1=Uy |first1=Megan |title=Vanessa Morgan and Drew Ray Tanner Have Officially Won Our 'TikTok Challenge Challenge' |url=https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/celebs/a33053393/these-girls-these-boys-tiktok-challenge-challenge-cosmo/ |access-date=4 May 2021 |publisher=Cosmopolitan |date=July 3, 2020}}

In 2019, Tanner appeared in the Netflix film Work It as the romantic interest of one of the main characters.{{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=Brett |title=How a Riverdale Star Got Shredded for His Next Movie in Just 21 Days |url=https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a28250687/drew-ray-tanner-work-it/ |access-date=4 May 2021 |publisher=Men's Health |date=July 3, 2019}}{{cite news |last1=N'Duka |first1=Amanda |title=Jordan Fisher, Drew Ray Tanner, Michelle Buteau Join Sabrina Carpenter In Netflix Dance Comedy 'Work It' |url=https://deadline.com/2019/07/jordan-fisher-drew-ray-tanner-michelle-buteau-sabrina-carpenter-netflix-movie-1202641240/ |access-date=4 May 2021 |publisher=Deadline |date=July 2, 2019}} The role required Tanner to engage in improvisational acting. To prepare for the role, he lost nineteen pounds in twenty-one days through an intensive diet and training program.

Tanner is biracial.

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Category:Living people

Category:Canadian male film actors

Category:Canadian male television actors

Category:Male actors from Victoria, British Columbia

Category:Canadian male actors of Chinese descent

Category:Canadian people of Jamaican descent

Category:Black Canadian male actors

Category:1992 births