Ryan McCartan
{{short description|American actor and singer (born 1993)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Ryan McCartan
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Ryan Jerome McCartan
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1993|6|14}}
| birth_place = Excelsior, Minnesota, U.S.
| occupation = {{flatlist|
- Actor
- singer
}}
| known_for = Heathers: The Musical
The Great Gatsby
| years_active = 2011–present
| website =
}}
Ryan Jerome McCartan{{cite tweet|user=ryanmccartan|author=Ryan McCartan|number=376878405364363264|title="@NJBergs: My middle name is jerome" reppin' proud. Best middle name ever. Nathan Jerome and Ryan Jerome #ForLife|date=September 8, 2013|access-date=January 30, 2020}} (born June 14, 1993){{cite web |url=http://www.hollywood.com/celebrities/ryan-mccartan-58294903/ |title=Ryan McCartan |website=Hollywood.com |access-date=February 20, 2017}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Bys2nb4gi28/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/Bys2nb4gi28 |archive-date=December 24, 2021 |url-access=limited|title=Ryan McCartan on Instagram: "26 🎂"|website=Instagram}}{{cbignore}} is an American actor and singer. He is known for creating the role of Jason "J.D." Dean in the original Off-Broadway cast of Heathers: The Musical. His Broadway credits include playing Fiyero Tigelaar in the 15th anniversary cast of Wicked and Prince Hans in the closing cast of Frozen. As of April 2025, he is starring as Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby on Broadway.
McCartan starred as Brad Majors in the 2016 Fox musical television film The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let's Do the Time Warp Again. He also played the recurring role of Diggie Smalls on the Disney Channel sitcom Liv and Maddie.
Early life
McCartan was born in Excelsior, Minnesota. His father, Conn McCartan, was the principal at Eden Prairie High School in Eden Prairie, Minnesota until his retirement in June 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/videos/news/nation/2014/11/25/19364463/|title=Eden Prairie High School Principal Conn McCartan|work=USA Today|date=November 25, 2014|access-date=December 19, 2015}}{{cite web |title=Conn McCartan Retires As Perpich Arts High School Principal |url=https://perpich.mn.gov/conn-mccartan-retires-as-perpich-arts-high-school-principal/ |website=perpich.mn.gov|date=June 2023 }}
Career
McCartan began his career with a minor part in the stage version of Disney's High School Musical in 2007.{{cite web|author=Skinner|first=Quinton|date=January 8, 2007|title=Review: 'Disney's High School Musical'|url=https://variety.com/2007/legit/reviews/disney-s-high-school-musical-2-1200511268/|access-date=February 20, 2017|work=Variety}} In 2011 he starred in the titular role in Minnesota's first regional production of The Phantom of the Opera.{{cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/minneapolis/article/Minnetonka-High-School-Presents-MNs-First-PHANTOM-OF-THE-OPERA-Production-20110321|title=Minnetonka High School Presents MN's First PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Production|last=Denette|first=Kelsey|website=BroadwayWorld|date=March 21, 2011|access-date=February 15, 2023}} That same year, he won Best Performance by an Actor at the Jimmy Awards, given out by The Broadway League to the top performers in high school musical productions.{{Cite web|last=Hershberg|first=Marc|date=June 26, 2017|title=Jimmy Awards Jump-Start Broadway Careers|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/marchershberg/2017/06/26/jimmy-awards-jump-start-broadway-careers/|access-date=July 10, 2019|website=Forbes|language=en}}
McCartan originated the role of Jason Dean in the original Off-Broadway cast of the musical Heathers, which ran from March through August 2014. He previously played the role in the 2013 world premiere of the musical in Los Angeles.
In July 2013, McCartan began playing the recurring role of Diggie on the Disney Channel comedy Liv and Maddie. He was in the show until the finale, which aired on March 24, 2017.{{cite web |author= Craig Turpin |url=http://www.nj.com/hunterdon/index.ssf/2016/05/disneys_liv_and_maddie_stars_perform_at_nj_balloon.html |title=Disney's Liv and Maddie stars perform at N.J. balloon festival |website=The Star-Ledger |date=May 4, 2016 |access-date=February 20, 2017 |quote=Ryan McCartan appears as recurring character Diggie on the show, which airs on Sunday nights.}}
In 2015, he starred in the direct-to-video film R.L. Stine's Monsterville: Cabinet of Souls.{{cite web|author=Lesas|first=Sylvie|date=July 9, 2015|title=R.L. Stine's Monsterville: Cabinet of Souls Releases on DVD and Digital HD September 29, 2015|url=http://evigshed.com/r-l-stines-monsterville-cabinet-of-souls-releases-on-dvd-and-digital-hd-september-29-2015/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630010826/http://evigshed.com/r-l-stines-monsterville-cabinet-of-souls-releases-on-dvd-and-digital-hd-september-29-2015/|archive-date=June 30, 2016|access-date=September 24, 2016|work=Evigshed Mag}} In May 2015, Dove Cameron announced that she and McCartan were officially forming a pop duo and would be releasing their first original song.{{cite web|author=Devoe|first=Noelle|date=July 16, 2015|title=Disney Channel's Dove Cameron & Ryan McCartan Take a Major Step in Their Adorable Relationship|url=http://www.seventeen.com/celebrity/celebrity-couples/news/a32415/dove-cameron-ryan-mccartan-release-video-about-new-band/|access-date=August 19, 2016|work=Seventeen}} In September 2015, they announced their group's name would be The Girl and the Dreamcatcher,{{cite web|author=Osmanski|first=Stephanie|date=September 29, 2015|title=Dove Cameron and Ryan McCartan Announce Their Band Name|url=http://www.m-magazine.com/posts/dove-cameron-and-ryan-mccartan-announce-their-band-name-72127|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324230304/http://www.m-magazine.com/posts/dove-cameron-and-ryan-mccartan-announce-their-band-name-72127|archive-date=March 24, 2016|access-date=August 20, 2016|work=M Magazine}} and their first video was released in October 2015.{{cite web|author=Johnson|first=Zach|date=October 2, 2015|title=Dove Cameron and Ryan McCartan Release 'Written in the Stars' Music Video as Duo The Girl and the Dreamcatcher|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/702353/dove-cameron-and-ryan-mccartan-release-written-in-the-stars-music-video-as-duo-the-girl-and-the-dreamcatcher|access-date=January 30, 2016|publisher=E!}} The pair broke up in October 2016.
In 2016 McCartan was cast in the lead role of Brad Majors in the 2016 Fox musical television film The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let's Do the Time Warp Again.{{cite web|author=Wagmeister|first=Elizabeth|date=January 4, 2016|title=TV News Roundup: Victoria Justice to Star in Fox's 'Rocky Horror' Special & More|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/victoria-justice-rocky-horror-picture-show-fox-1201671557/|access-date=February 20, 2017|work=Variety}}
On September 11, 2018, McCartan made his Broadway debut as Fiyero in the musical Wicked.{{cite web|date=August 30, 2018|title=Ryan McCartan Joins WICKED As Fiyero Beginning September 11|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Ryan-McCartan-Joins-WICKED-As-Fiyero-Beginning-September-11-20180830|access-date=August 31, 2018|work=BroadwayWorld}} He remained with the show until May 12, 2019, where Jessica Vosk also played her final performance as Elphaba.{{cite web|author=Lefkowitz|first=Andy|date=May 14, 2019|title=Wicked Welcomes Hannah Corneau as Elphaba in Broadway Debut|url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/195694/wicked-welcomes-hannah-corneau-as-elphaba-in-broadway-debut/|access-date=June 6, 2019|work=Broadway.com}}
In mid-2018 he originated the lead role of Eddie Corbin in the new musical Mutt House at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, and in August 2019 he played Lt. Cable in South Pacific at the Aspen Music Festival.{{cite web |url=https://www.aspentimes.com/entertainment/review-south-pacific-at-aspen-music-festival/ |title=Review: 'South Pacific' at Aspen Music Festival |website=Aspen Times |last=Steiman |first=Harvey |date=July 24, 2019}} In 2019, he starred in the role of Mac in the Roundabout Theatre Company's new musical Scotland PA.{{Cite web |title=Ryan McCartan & Taylor Iman Jones to Lead Off-Broadway Musical Scotland, PA; Full Cast Set |url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/196317/ryan-mccartan-taylor-iman-jones-to-lead-off-broadway-musical-scotland-pa-full-cast-set/ |access-date=December 11, 2023|date=July 3, 2019|website=Broadway.com |language=en}} In November 2019 he made his solo show debut at Feinstein's/54 Below.{{cn|date=January 2023}} In April 2020, he hosted the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS viewing of 25 Years of Disney Broadway.{{Cite web |date=April 6, 2020 |title=25 Magical Years of Disney on Broadway Concert Streamed For BroadwayCares-Equity Fights AIDS COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Fund - Times Square Chronicles |url=https://t2conline.com/25-magical-years-of-disney-on-broadway-concert-streamed-for-broadwaycares-equity-fights-aids-covid-19-emergency-assistance-fund/ |access-date=June 22, 2023 |website=t2conline.com |language=en-US}}
He joined the cast of Frozen on Broadway as Hans in February 2020 opposite McKenzie Kurtz as Anna and Ciara Renée as Elsa.{{Cite web|last=Gans|first=Andrew|date=February 18, 2020|title=Ciara Renée and McKenzie Kurtz Are Frozen's New Elsa and Anna on Broadway Starting February 18|url=https://playbill.com/article/ciara-renee-and-mckenzie-kurtz-are-frozens-new-elsa-and-anna-on-broadway-starting-february-18|work=Playbill|access-date=January 3, 2023}} However, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, all Broadway theatres were closed in March. Disney later announced, on May 14, 2020, that Frozen would not reopen after the lifting of the lockdown.{{cite news|last=Gans|first=Andrew|date=May 14, 2020|title=Broadway's Frozen Will Not Reopen Post-Pandemic|work=Playbill|url=https://www.playbill.com/article/broadways-frozen-will-not-reopen-post-pandemic|access-date=}} During 2022, he played Hans in the Broadway National tour of Frozen for two runs, with his final performance being September 4, 2022. His first run would reunite him with Kurtz, his Broadway Anna.{{Cite web|first=Raven|last=Brunner|date=March 1, 2022|url=https://playbill.com/article/ryan-mccartan-joins-frozen-north-american-tour-for-limited-run|title=Ryan McCartan Joins Frozen North American Tour For Limited Run|work=Playbill|access-date=January 3, 2023}}{{Cite web|first=Andrew|last=Gans|date=June 28, 2022|url=https://playbill.com/article/ryan-mccartan-will-return-to-cast-of-disneys-frozen-tour|title=Ryan McCartan Will Return to Cast of Disney's Frozen Tour|work=Playbill|access-date=January 3, 2023}}
In October 2022, McCartan was cast as Kyle Reed in the spin-off of Supernatural, The Winchesters.{{Cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/tv/the-winchesters-episode-3-john-mary-kyle-betty/|title='The Winchesters' boss talks complicating things for John and Mary with those new characters|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|accessdate=December 11, 2023}}
In June 2023, McCartan starred as Tony in a production of West Side Story at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.{{Cite web|url=https://playbill.com/article/ryan-mccartan-and-kanisha-marie-feliciano-will-star-in-lyric-opera-of-chicagos-west-side-story|title=Ryan McCartan and Kanisha Marie Feliciano Will Star in Lyric Opera of Chicago's West Side Story | Playbill|accessdate=November 11, 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://splashmags.com/|title=West Side Story Musical Review – A Beautiful Return to Chicago's Lyric Stage – Splash Magazines|date=June 12, 2023|website=Splash Magazines Worldwide: Adding Style to Your Life|accessdate=December 11, 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagoonstage.com/west-side-story-at-the-lyric/|title=West Side Story at the Lyric is a masterful production of a perfect show ||date=June 17, 2023|accessdate=December 11, 2023}}
In November 2023, McCartan starred as Cletis in the Off-Broadway production of Lone Star.{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Ryan-McCartan-Will-Lead-Off-Broadway-Premiere-of-LONE-STAR-This-Fall-20230928|title=Ryan McCartan Will Lead Off-Broadway Premiere of LONE STAR This Fall|first=Stephi|last=Wild|website=BroadwayWorld.com|accessdate=December 11, 2023}} In September 2024, he took on the titular role in Randy Newman's Faust at The Soraya in Los Angeles, California. He starred opposite Reeve Carney, Javier Munoz and Veronica Swift.
In 2024, McCartan was announced to star in the Ahmanson Theatre and Broadway productions of Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends from February to June 2025.{{Cite web|url=https://playbill.com/article/beth-leavel-daniel-yearwood-ryan-mccartan-more-join-broadways-stephen-sondheims-old-friends|title=Beth Leavel, Daniel Yearwood, Ryan McCartan, More Join Broadway's Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends|website=Playbill}} However, it was later announced McCartan would be replaced by Kyle Selig, and instead join the cast of The Great Gatsby on Broadway beginning in January 2025 replacing Jeremy Jordan in the title role.{{Cite web|url=https://playbill.com/article/ryan-mccartan-will-be-broadways-new-the-great-gatsby|title=Ryan McCartan Will Be Broadway's New The Great Gatsby|website=Playbill}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/204918/ryan-mccartan-to-take-over-title-role-in-the-great-gatsby-on-broadway-in-january/|title=Ryan McCartan to Take Over Title Role in The Great Gatsby on Broadway in January|website=Broadway.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/205107/jacob-dickey-and-kyle-selig-join-stephen-sondheims-old-friends-on-broadway/|title=Jacob Dickey and Kyle Selig Join Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends on Broadway|website=Broadway.com}}
Personal life
McCartan began dating actress and singer Dove Cameron who was his Liv & Maddie co-star in August 2013. He officially announced that Cameron was his fiancée on April 14, 2016,{{cite web |url=http://www.whosay.com/articles/5581-ryan-mccartan-kirstin-chenoweth-dove-cameron-photo|title= See Ryan McCartan Tower Over Kirstin Chenoweth and Dove Cameron|author= |work=WhoSay |access-date=April 11, 2015}}{{cite news|author=Vulpo|first=Mike|date=October 5, 2016|title=Dove Cameron and Ryan McCartan Call Off Their Engagement|work=E! News|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/800095/dove-cameron-and-ryan-mccartan-break-up-less-than-six-months-after-getting-engaged|access-date=October 6, 2016}} but the relationship ended in October 2016.{{cite news |author=Alexia Fernández |url=https://people.com/tv/dove-cameron-ryan-mccartan-split/ |title=Dove Cameron and Ryan McCartan Split Less Than Six Months After Getting Engaged |work=People |date=October 6, 2016 |access-date=January 3, 2023}}
In October 2017, McCartan began dating Samantha Fekete, with whom he ran a YouTube channel called The Stage Door, previously known as Sam & Ryan.{{Cite web|title=Sam & Ryan - YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCv19RzW397qeEapawhWko4w|access-date=February 5, 2021|via=YouTube}} In September 2023, McCartan and Fekete revealed that they had amicably ended their romantic relationship, but planned to continue running The Stage Door together and remain friends.{{cite web |title=We Broke Up and You Didn't Notice |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ixs1eD3e5Y |via=YouTube| date=September 22, 2023 }} Later however, the duo announced the discontinuation of the channel on a YouTube community post.{{Cite web |title=Announcement Post |url=https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCv19RzW397qeEapawhWko4w/community?lb=Ugkxi2Y5ej3sKwtPCt4vyUWvwYbP772Kskme |access-date=January 20, 2025 |via=YouTube}}
On July 29, 2014, McCartan revealed in a tweet that he has had Type-1 diabetes since age six.{{Cite web|last=McNamara|first=Brittney|title=Why Ryan McCartan Spent Halloween in the Hospital|url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/ryan-mccartan-spent-halloween-in-hospital|access-date=June 17, 2020|website=Teen Vogue|date=November 2, 2016 |language=en-us}} In 2019, McCartan stated in an interview that he had been sexually abused by a theatre mentor when he was 12.{{Cite web|last=Bowling|first=Suzanna|date=November 7, 2019|title=Ryan McCartan Talks About Being Sexually Abused and How He Has Conquered and Won|url=https://t2conline.com/ryan-mccartan-talks-about-being-sexually-abused-and-how-he-has-conquered-and-won/|access-date=April 25, 2020|website=Times Square Chronicle|language=en-US}}
In multiple Sam & Ryan videos and other Internet media, McCartan has self-identified as either queer or bisexual.{{Citation |title=Getting Drunk And Gossiping! (Disney Channel, Friendships, & More) | date=February 26, 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6ni7fUUrPw |access-date=December 13, 2023 |language=en}}{{Citation |title=Your Assumptions About Us Were So Accurate It's Scary... (reacting to assumptions about us!) | date=March 31, 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sAZy2cG9Ns |access-date=December 13, 2023 |language=en}}
Filmography
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Film roles |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| rowspan="2" | 2015
| Liam | |
| R.L. Stine's Monsterville: Cabinet of Souls
| Hunter | Direct-to-video film |
| rowspan="2" | 2016
| Emma's Chance | Jacob Murphy | |
| The Standoff
| Farrell Bennett | |
| 2018
| The Forbidden Cure | Dr. Max Gerson | Nominated for Best Short Film at Burbank International Film Festival |
| 2022
| Love You Anyway | Daniel | Direct-to-video film |
| {{TBA}}
| Only Good Feelings | Benny | Post-production |
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Television roles |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2011
| Extremely Decent | Jeff | Television film |
| rowspan="2" | 2013
| Ryan | Episode: "Valentine's Day IV" |
| Monday Mornings
| Daniel | Episode: "The Legend and the Fall" |
| 2013–2017
| Diggie | Recurring role; |
| rowspan="2" | 2014
| Matt | Episode: "Tasers" |
| Royal Pains
| William "Cinco" Phipps V | Recurring role (season 6); |
| 2015
| Billie | Episode: "Duos & Deception"{{cite web|author=Wagmeister|first=Elizabeth|date=April 7, 2015|title=Watch: Bella Thorne & Zendaya Reunite on 'K.C. Undercover' (Exclusive Clip)|url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/kc-undercover-watch-bella-thorne-zendaya-video-1201467745/|access-date=April 10, 2015|work=Variety}} |
| 2016
| The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let's Do the Time Warp Again | Brad Majors | Television film |
| rowspan="2" | 2017
| Jeremy | Episodes: "Riders on the Storm", "The Virgin Sacrifice" |
| Freakish
| Oliver | Recurring role (season 2); |
| 2018
|Love Daily | Dylan | Episode: "Love and Cheese" |
| 2018-2019
|Princess Rap Battle | Mad Hatter | 2 digital episodes |
| 2022-2023
| Kyle Reed | Recurring role; |
Theatre credits
* Credits in bold indicate Broadway venues
Discography
{{See also|The Girl and the Dreamcatcher#Discography}}
=Studio albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" style="width:12em;"| Title ! scope="col" style="width:18em;"| Details |
| scope="row"| Heart Attack
|
|
|---|
= Soundtrack albums =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ ! scope="col" style="width:12em;" | Title ! scope="col" style="width:18em;" | Album details |
| scope="row"| Heathers: The Musical
|
|
|---|
| scope="row"| The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let's Do the Time Warp Again
|
|
=Extended plays=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" style="width:10em;"| Title ! scope="col" style="width:18em;"| Details |
| scope="row"|The Opposite
|
|
|---|
| scope="row"|Seventh Avenue
|
|
=Singles=
=Promotional singles=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
! scope="col" style="width:16em;"| Title ! scope="col"| Year ! scope="col"| Album |
| scope="row"| "You Can't Unlove Me"
| 2014 | {{N/A|Non-album promotional single}} |
|---|
=Other appearances=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" style="width:18em;" | Title ! scope="col"| Year ! scope="col"| Other artist(s) ! scope="col"| Album |
| scope="row" | "Ours To Lose"
| rowspan="3" | 2015 | Megan Nicole, Anna Grace Barlow, Alyson Stoner | rowspan="3" | Summer Forever |
|---|
| scope="row" | "About Tonight"
| Megan Nicole |
| scope="row"| "Big Time"
| {{N/A|None}} |
| scope="row"| "Pulled Back Down"
| 2020 | Within Earshot, Britney Johnson | Within Earshot: Anthems For The In-Between |
| scope="row"| "This Nearly Was Mine"
| 2021 | {{N/A|None}} | R&H Goes Pop! |
=Music videos=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" border="1"
! scope="col" style="width:18em;"| Title ! scope="col"| Year ! scope="col"| Director |
| scope="row"| "This Nearly Was Mine"
| 2021 | Jeff Barry & Shawn Willis{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxxVZ2JUJiE|title=Ryan McCartan 'This Nearly Was Mine' R&H Goes Pop! (Official Music Video)|via=YouTube|date=March 27, 2021|access-date=September 22, 2021}} |
|---|
Awards
In 2011, he received a Jimmy Award for Best Performance by an Actor.{{Cite web|title=2011 Jimmy Awards {{!}} The National High School Musical Theatre Awards|url=https://www.jimmyawards.com/winners-and-nominees/2011-jimmy-awards/|access-date=February 11, 2021|website=jimmyawards.com}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|5524124}}
- {{Twitter}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McCartan, Ryan}}
Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people
Category:21st-century American male actors
Category:21st-century American male singers
Category:21st-century American singers
Category:American LGBTQ male actors
Category:American LGBTQ singers
Category:American male television actors
Category:The Girl and the Dreamcatcher members