Roz Ryan

{{Infobox person

| image = Roz Ryan Singing National Anthem at Citi Field (cropped).jpg

| alt =

| caption = Ryan singing the National Anthem at Citi Field in 2011

| birth_name = Rosalyn Bowen

| birth_date =

| birth_place = Detroit, Michigan, U.S.

| occupation = {{flatlist|

Actress
singer
comedian

}}

| years_active = 1978–present

| website = {{Official URL}}

}}

Roz Ryan (born Rosalyn Bowen) is an American actress, singer and comedian who has worked for productions in film, television, and Broadway theatre for over 40 years. Ryan's first role on Broadway was in Ain't Misbehavin', a Fats Waller-influenced musical revue that debuted in 1978. She is well known for her part in the television show, Amen, for her character Amelia Hetebrink, for being the voice of Thalia, the Muse of Comedy in the 1997 Disney animated film, Hercules, and for guest starring on the Disney Channel sitcom, K.C. Undercover as Grandma Gayle.

Life and career

Ryan was born Rosalyn Bowen in Detroit, Michigan, the daughter of Gertrude and Thomas Bowen, who worked for the Board of Education.{{Cite web |title=Native Detroiter Roz Ryan Razzle Dazzles in 'Chicago' |first=Chris |last=Azzopardi |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/theater/2016/02/04/native-detroiter-roz-ryan-razzle-dazzles-chicago/79783286/ |date=February 4, 2016 |website=The Detroit News |access-date=2022-06-15 |archive-date=February 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202210807/https://www.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/theater/2016/02/04/native-detroiter-roz-ryan-razzle-dazzles-chicago/79783286/ |url-status=live }} She is a 1969 graduate of Mackenzie High School. A year later, she recorded the Stax/Volt 45, "You're My Only Temptation." For 13 years, Ryan worked as a nightclub singer in Detroit before a friend suggested she audition for Ain't Misbehavin, a Broadway musical revue featuring the music of Fats Waller.{{Cite web |title=getTV Talks Amen — An Interview with Roz Ryan |author=getTV Staff |url=https://www.get.tv/gettv-blog/gettv-talks-amen-interview-roz-ryan |website=getTV.com |access-date=2022-06-15 |archive-date=December 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211211084113/https://www.get.tv/gettv-blog/gettv-talks-amen-interview-roz-ryan |url-status=live }} Her audition was successful, and she was on stage only 10 days later. Ryan continued to star in numerous Broadway musicals including the Tony Award-winning Chicago, for which she holds the record of longest tenure for the character Matron "Mama" Morton.{{Cite web |title=Roz Ryan Returns to Chicago March 15 |first=Andrew |last=Gans |url=https://playbill.com/article/roz-ryan-returns-to-chicago-march-15-com-118447 |date=March 15, 2004 |website=Playbill.com |publisher=Playbill Inc. |access-date=2022-06-15 |archive-date=August 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813063721/https://www.playbill.com/article/roz-ryan-returns-to-chicago-march-15-com-118447 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Interview: Theatre Life with Roz Ryan |first=Elliot |last=Lanes |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/washington-dc/article/BWW-Interview-Theatre-Life-with-Roz-Ryan-20170329 |date=March 29, 2017 |website=BroadwayWorld.com |publisher=Wisdom Digital Media |access-date=2022-06-15 |archive-date=March 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307230432/https://www.broadwayworld.com/washington-dc/article/BWW-Interview-Theatre-Life-with-Roz-Ryan-20170329 |url-status=live }} Other plays Ryan has appeared in are A Christmas Carol, Dreamgirls, One Mo' Time, and the 2006 revival of The Pajama Game.

In television and film, Ryan is better known for her roles as Amelia Hetebrink on Amen, Mrs. Dixon on Good News and Flo Anderson on All About the Andersons. She also guest starred on an episode on Barbershop. She was the voice of Thalia, the Muse of Comedy in Disney's animated film Hercules and Hercules: The Animated Series. She is the voice of Bubbie the whale in the 2008 animated television series The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack. She had roles in the films I Think I Love My Wife, The Invention of Lying and Waiting for Forever. She voices Kick's teacher Ms. Fitzpatrick in the animated series Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil. She was the voice of Witch Lezah in The Looney Tunes Show. She has also played Jake's female feline counterpart Cake in the Adventure Time episodes "Fionna and Cake", "Bad Little Boy", "The Prince Who Wanted Everything", and "Five Short Tables"—and voiced the character in the spin-off series Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake. She has also starred in TVOne's The Rickey Smiley Show.

She most recently starred on Broadway in Scandalous: The Life and Trials of Aimee Semple McPherson. In late May 2016 Ryan begun her 13th run in Chicago as Matron "Mama" Morton.

Broadway stage

Scandalous: The Life and Trials of Aimee Semple McPherson (2012)
The Pajama Game (2006)
One Mo' Time (2002)
Chicago (1996–2019)
Dreamgirls (1981–1985)
Ain't Misbehavin' (1978–1981)

Filmography

=Film=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" ! scope="col" \| Year ! scope="col" \| Title ! scope="col" class="unsortable" \| Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" \| Notes
rowspan=2\| 1997 ! scope="row" \| Hercules \| Thalia, the Muse of Comedy (voice) \|
scope="row"\| The Brave Little Toaster to the Rescue \| Computer Parts / Additional voices (voice) \| Direct-to-video
1998 ! scope="row"\| Went to Coney Island on a Mission from God... Be Back by Five \| Nurse \|
rowspan=2\| 1999 ! scope="row"\| Hercules: Zero to Hero \| Thalia (voice) \| Direct-to-video
scope="row"\| Nikita’s Blues \| Mildred \| Short film
rowspan=3\| 2007 ! scope="row"\| I Think I Love My Wife \| Landlady \|
scope="row"\| Divine Intervention \| Mother Candice \|
scope="row"\| Whatever Lola Wants \| Postal Worker \|
rowspan=2\| 2009 ! scope="row"\| Steppin: The Movie \| Roz \|
scope="row"\| The Invention of Lying \| Nurse Barbara \|
2010 ! scope="row"\| Waiting for Forever \| Dorothy \|
2015 ! scope="row"\| Hello, My Name Is Doris \| Nurse Patty \|

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"

! scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Role

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes

rowspan=2| 1997

! scope="row" | Hercules

| Thalia, the Muse of Comedy (voice)

scope="row"| The Brave Little Toaster to the Rescue

| Computer Parts / Additional voices (voice)

| Direct-to-video

1998

! scope="row"| Went to Coney Island on a Mission from God... Be Back by Five

| Nurse

rowspan=2| 1999

! scope="row"| Hercules: Zero to Hero

| Thalia (voice)

| Direct-to-video

scope="row"| Nikita’s Blues

| Mildred

| Short film

rowspan=3| 2007

! scope="row"| I Think I Love My Wife

| Landlady

scope="row"| Divine Intervention

| Mother Candice

scope="row"| Whatever Lola Wants

| Postal Worker

rowspan=2| 2009

! scope="row"| Steppin: The Movie

| Roz

scope="row"| The Invention of Lying

| Nurse Barbara

2010

! scope="row"| Waiting for Forever

| Dorothy

2015

! scope="row"| Hello, My Name Is Doris

| Nurse Patty

=Television=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" ! scope="col" \| Year ! scope="col" \| Title ! scope="col" class="unsortable" \| Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" \| Notes
1986–91 ! scope="row"\| Amen \| Amelia Hetebrink \| Main role, 110 episodes
1997 ! scope="row"\| Sparks \| Loretta \| Episode: "Rehearsal of Fortune"
1997–98 ! scope="row"\| Good News \| Hattie Dixon \| Main role, 22 episodes
rowspan=2\| 1998 ! scope="row"\| Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction \| Sister Louise Pittman \| Episode: "Kirby/Dust/Malibu Cop/A Joyful Noise"
scope="row"\| The Journey of Allen Strange \| Merle \| Episode: "The Truth About Lies"
1998–99 ! scope="row"\| Hercules \| Thalia (voice) \| Recurring role, 24 episodes
2000 ! scope="row"\| Buzz Lightyear of Star Command \| Madam President (voice) \| Recurring role, 7 episodes
2001 ! scope="row"\| Danny \| Chickie \| Main role, 9 episodes
2002–07 ! scope="row"\| Kim Possible \| Wade’s mom / Park Ranger (voice) \| Episodes: "Crush", "Monkey Fist Strikes", "Mother’s Day" and "The Cupid Effect"
2003–04 ! scope="row"\| All About the Andersons \| Florence "Flo" Anderson \| Main role, 16 episodes
rowspan=2\| 2004 ! scope="row"\| Half & Half \| Josephine Baylor \| Episode: "The Big Practice What You Preach Episode"
scope="row"\| Lilo & Stitch: The Series \| Dr. Gladys (voice) \| Episode: "Spike: Experiment 319"
rowspan=2\| 2005 ! scope="row"\| JAG \| Loretta McKee \| Episode: "Unknown Soldier"
scope="row"\| Barbershop \| Mae \| Episodes: "Madonna Is a Ho", "Family Business" and "Debates and Dead People"
2008 ! scope="row"\| The Bobby Lee Project \| Aunt Viola \| Television film
2008–10 ! scope="row"\| The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack \| Bubbie (voice) \| Main role, 44 episodes
2010–12 ! scope="row"\| Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil \| Ms. Fitzpatrick (voice) \| Recurring role, 6 episodes
2011–13 ! scope="row"\| The Looney Tunes Show \| Witch Lezah (voice) \| Recurring role, 12 episodes
2011–17 ! scope="row"\| Adventure Time \| Cake (voice) \| Recurring role, 5 episodes
rowspan=3\| 2012 ! scope="row"\| Let's Stay Together \| Mrs. Galloway \| Episode: "All Juice, No Seeds"
scope="row"\| Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated \| Gorgeous G (voice) \| Episode: "The Night the Clown Cried II: Tears of Doom!"
scope="row"\| General Hospital \| Esther Love \| Episode: "1.12632"
2012–14 ! scope="row"\| The Rickey Smiley Show \| Aunt Sylvia \| Main role, 22 episodes
rowspan=2\| 2014 ! scope="row"\| Teen Titans Go! \| Cyborg's Grandma Voice (voice) \| Episode: "Grandma Voice"
scope="row"\| Bee and PuppyCat \| Temp Bot No. 3 (voice) \| Episode: "Cats"
2015 ! scope="row"\| Mickey Mouse \| Cow (voice) \| Episode: "Movie Time"
2015–17 ! scope="row"\| K.C. Undercover \| Grandma Gayle King \| Episodes: "Off the Grid", "KC and Brett: The Final Chapter, Part 1", "The Legend of Bad, Bad Cleo Brown" and "Out of the Water and Into the Fire"
2018 ! scope="row"\| Mighty Magiswords \| Steel Magnolia (voice) \| Episode: "Suitable Armor"
rowspan=2\| 2019 ! scope="row"\| Nowhere USA \| Martha \| Television film
scope="row"\| Raven's Home \| Miss Bertha \| Episodes: "Friend-Ship" and "Lost at Chel-Sea"
2019–21 ! scope="row"\| Summer Camp Island \| Elder Yeti / The Death Cap / Additional voices (voice) \| Recurring role, 7 episodes
2021; 2022 ! scope="row"\| That Girl Lay Lay \| Velma \| Episodes: "Ha-Lay-Lay-Lujah" and "Lay Lay’s Beauty Shop Day Day"
2022 ! scope="row"\| Mickey Mouse Funhouse \| Thalia (voice) \| Episode: "Daisy and the Muses/Keep on the Ball" and "Farfus' Family!/The Adventure Parade!"
2023–present ! scope="row"\| Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake \| Cake (voice) \| Main role

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"

! scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Role

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes

1986–91

! scope="row"| Amen

| Amelia Hetebrink

| Main role, 110 episodes

1997

! scope="row"| Sparks

| Loretta

| Episode: "Rehearsal of Fortune"

1997–98

! scope="row"| Good News

| Hattie Dixon

| Main role, 22 episodes

rowspan=2| 1998

! scope="row"| Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction

| Sister Louise Pittman

| Episode: "Kirby/Dust/Malibu Cop/A Joyful Noise"

scope="row"| The Journey of Allen Strange

| Merle

| Episode: "The Truth About Lies"

1998–99

! scope="row"| Hercules

| Thalia (voice)

| Recurring role, 24 episodes

2000

! scope="row"| Buzz Lightyear of Star Command

| Madam President (voice)

| Recurring role, 7 episodes

2001

! scope="row"| Danny

| Chickie

| Main role, 9 episodes

2002–07

! scope="row"| Kim Possible

| Wade’s mom / Park Ranger (voice)

| Episodes: "Crush", "Monkey Fist Strikes", "Mother’s Day" and "The Cupid Effect"

2003–04

! scope="row"| All About the Andersons

| Florence "Flo" Anderson

| Main role, 16 episodes

rowspan=2| 2004

! scope="row"| Half & Half

| Josephine Baylor

| Episode: "The Big Practice What You Preach Episode"

scope="row"| Lilo & Stitch: The Series

| Dr. Gladys (voice)

| Episode: "Spike: Experiment 319"

rowspan=2| 2005

! scope="row"| JAG

| Loretta McKee

| Episode: "Unknown Soldier"

scope="row"| Barbershop

| Mae

| Episodes: "Madonna Is a Ho", "Family Business" and "Debates and Dead People"

2008

! scope="row"| The Bobby Lee Project

| Aunt Viola

| Television film

2008–10

! scope="row"| The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack

| Bubbie (voice)

| Main role, 44 episodes

2010–12

! scope="row"| Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil

| Ms. Fitzpatrick (voice)

| Recurring role, 6 episodes

2011–13

! scope="row"| The Looney Tunes Show

| Witch Lezah (voice)

| Recurring role, 12 episodes

2011–17

! scope="row"| Adventure Time

| Cake (voice)

| Recurring role, 5 episodes

rowspan=3| 2012

! scope="row"| Let's Stay Together

| Mrs. Galloway

| Episode: "All Juice, No Seeds"

scope="row"| Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated

| Gorgeous G (voice)

| Episode: "The Night the Clown Cried II: Tears of Doom!"

scope="row"| General Hospital

| Esther Love

| Episode: "1.12632"

2012–14

! scope="row"| The Rickey Smiley Show

| Aunt Sylvia

| Main role, 22 episodes

rowspan=2| 2014

! scope="row"| Teen Titans Go!

| Cyborg's Grandma Voice (voice)

| Episode: "Grandma Voice"

scope="row"| Bee and PuppyCat

| Temp Bot No. 3 (voice)

| Episode: "Cats"

2015

! scope="row"| Mickey Mouse

| Cow (voice)

| Episode: "Movie Time"

2015–17

! scope="row"| K.C. Undercover

| Grandma Gayle King

| Episodes: "Off the Grid", "KC and Brett: The Final Chapter, Part 1", "The Legend of Bad, Bad Cleo Brown" and "Out of the Water and Into the Fire"

2018

! scope="row"| Mighty Magiswords

| Steel Magnolia (voice)

| Episode: "Suitable Armor"

rowspan=2| 2019

! scope="row"| Nowhere USA

| Martha

| Television film

scope="row"| Raven's Home

| Miss Bertha

| Episodes: "Friend-Ship" and "Lost at Chel-Sea"

2019–21

! scope="row"| Summer Camp Island

| Elder Yeti / The Death Cap / Additional voices (voice)

| Recurring role, 7 episodes

2021; 2022

! scope="row"| That Girl Lay Lay

| Velma

| Episodes: "Ha-Lay-Lay-Lujah" and "Lay Lay’s Beauty Shop Day Day"

2022

! scope="row"| Mickey Mouse Funhouse

| Thalia (voice)

| Episode: "Daisy and the Muses/Keep on the Ball" and "Farfus' Family!/The Adventure Parade!"

2023–present

! scope="row"| Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake

| Cake (voice)

| Main role

=Video games=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" ! scope="col" \| Year ! scope="col" \| Title ! scope="col" class="unsortable" \| Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" \| Notes
rowspan=2\| 1997 ! scope="row"\| Disney’s Animated Storybook: Hercules \| rowspan=2\| Thalia \|
scope="row"\| Disney’s Hercules \|
1999 ! scope="row"\| Tonic Trouble \| The Barmain \|
2022 ! scope="row"\| MultiVersus \| Cake (Jake variant) \|

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"

! scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Role

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes

rowspan=2| 1997

! scope="row"| Disney’s Animated Storybook: Hercules

| rowspan=2| Thalia

scope="row"| Disney’s Hercules

1999

! scope="row"| Tonic Trouble

| The Barmain