Jay Ryan (actor)

{{Infobox person

| name = Jay Ryan

| image = Jay Ryan by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg

| imagesize =

| caption = Ryan at the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con

| birthname = Jay Bunyan

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1981|08|29}}

| birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand

| occupation = Actor

| yearsactive = 1998–present

| spouse = Dianna Fuemana

| children = 1

| website =

}}

Jay Ryan (born Jay Bunyan; 29 August 1981) is a New Zealand actor. He is best known for his roles as Jack Scully in Neighbours (2002–2005), Seaman Billy 'Spider' Webb in Sea Patrol (2007–2009), Kevin in Go Girls (2009–2012), Vincent Keller in Beauty & the Beast (2012–2016), Detective Ben Wesley in Mary Kills People (2017–2019) and Bobby in Creamerie (2021–2023).

Ryan made his feature film breakthrough playing adult Ben Hanscom in It Chapter Two (2019), 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 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 2005.

From 2007 to 2009, Ryan played Seaman William "Billy" Webb a.k.a. 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.tvnz.co.nz/Go-Girls |title=Go Girls | Television New Zealand | Television | TV One, TV2, U, TVNZ 7 |publisher=Tvnz.co.nz |date=22 February 1999 |access-date=30 December 2011}} In 2011, he joined the cast of the Australian comedy/drama series Offspring.{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1848273/|title=The Return|access-date=30 September 2018|via=www.imdb.com}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.tvline.com/2012/03/jay-ryan-beauty-and-the-beast-cw/|title=Scoop: Terra Nova Stud Cast Opposite Kristin Kreuk in The CW's Beauty and the Beast Pilot|first=Michael|last=Ausiello|date=2 March 2012|access-date=30 September 2018|archive-date=6 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306030328/http://www.tvline.com/2012/03/jay-ryan-beauty-and-the-beast-cw/|url-status=dead}} The CW officially announced the series at the May 2012 Up Fronts in New York.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/tv-column/post/a-look-at-cws-new-series-beauty-and-the-beast-video/2012/05/17/gIQA1uJuWU_blog.html|title=A look at CW's new series: 'Beauty and the Beast' [Video]|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=30 September 2018}}

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.

Personal life

Ryan has a daughter (born 2013) with his wife, the playwright and director, Dianna Fuemana.

In March of 2023, Ryan became a Canadian citizen{{cite web|last=Leon|first=Anya|date=August 2013|title=Jay Ryan Welcomes Daughter Eve|url=https://people.com/parents/jay-ryan-welcomes-daughter-eve/|access-date=31 July 2013|work=People Magazine}}

Filmography

=Film=

class="wikitable" \|+ ! Year	Title	Role	Notes
2010	Lou	Cosmo
2019	It Chapter Two	Ben Hanscom	Shared role with Jeremy Ray Taylor
2020	The Furnace	Shaw
2022	Muru	Gallagher
2025	Wolf Creek: Legacy	{{TableTBA}}	{{Cite web \|url=https://deadline.com/2024/08/wolf-creek-reboot-legacy-john-jarratt-back-as-killer-mick-taylor-1236073642/ \|title=Horror Franchise 'Wolf Creek' Getting Third Movie In Which American Tourists Are Hunted In The Outback; 2025 Shoot Planned & John Jarratt Back As Killer Mick Taylor — TIFF Market \|last=Wiseman \|first=Andreas \|date=30 August 2024 \|website=Deadline \|access-date=30 October 2024}}

=Television=

class="wikitable sortable" ! Year	Title	Role	class="unsortable"\|Notes
1998	Young Hercules	Cadet	Episode: "Keeping Up with the Jasons"
1999	Xena: Warrior Princess	Zortis (uncredited)	Episode: "Fallen Angel"
rowspan="3"\|2002	The Tribe	Blue (uncredited)	2 episodes
Being Eve	Sam Hooper	Series regular; 13 episodes
Superfire	Dennis	Television film
2002–2005	Neighbours	Jack Scully	Series regular (as Jay Bunyan)
2003	You Wish!	Charles	Television film
2005	Interrogation	Police Constable Dean Salmon	Guest role; 3 episodes
2007–2009	Sea Patrol	Seaman Billy "Spider" Webb	Series regular; 39 episodes
2009–2012	Go Girls	Kevin	Series regular; 46 episodes
2010	Legend of the Seeker	Alastair	Episode: "Eternity"
rowspan="2"\|2011	Offspring	Fraser King	6 episodes
Terra Nova	Curran	3 episodes
2012–2016	Beauty & the Beast	Vincent Keller / Alistair in S2 episode set in 1854	Series regular
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
rowspan="2"\|2021	Together Forever Tea	Matt Slater	Television film
My Life Is Murder	Joe Gorman	Episode: "Crushed Dreams"
2021–2023	Creamerie	Bobby	Series regular
rowspan="2"\|2023	No Escape	Aaron	7 episodes{{Cite web\|website=Digital Spy\|first=Sam\|last=Warner\|date=April 13, 2023\|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a43576206/no-escape-trailer-abigail-lawrie-rhianne-barreto/\|title= Tin Star and Honour stars in first-look trailer of new thriller No Escape\|access-date=10 May 2023}}{{Cite journal\|url=https://deadline.com/2022/03/paramount-the-blue-1234970947/\|title=Paramount+ Greenlights Fourth UK Original 'The Blue'; Filming To Commence In Thailand Later This Year\|journal=Deadline\|first=Max\|last=Goldbart\|date=7 March 2022\|access-date=17 October 2022}}
Scrublands	Byron Swift	Miniseries; 4 episodes
2024	Territory	Campbell Miller	6 episodes
2025	North of North	Alistair

Awards

class="wikitable"
scope="col" \| Year ! scope="col" \| Award ! scope="col" \| Work ! scope="col" \| Result
style="text-align:center"\|2003 \| Logie Award for Most Popular New Male Talent \| style="text-align:center"\|Neighbours \| {{nom}}
style="text-align:center"\|2014 \| Equity Ensemble Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Miniseries or Telemovie \| style="text-align:center"\|Top of the Lake \| {{won}}

class="wikitable"

scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Award

! scope="col" | Work

! scope="col" | Result

style="text-align:center"|2003

| Logie Award for Most Popular New Male Talent

| style="text-align:center"|Neighbours

| {{nom}}

style="text-align:center"|2014

| Equity Ensemble Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Miniseries or Telemovie

| style="text-align:center"|Top of the Lake