Robert Ryan

Acting · Born 1909-11-11 in Chicago, Illinois, USA

Biography

Robert Bushnell Ryan (November 11, 1909 – July 11, 1973) was an American actor who often played hardened cops and ruthless villains. Ryan was born in Chicago, Illinois, the first child of Timothy Ryan and his wife Mabel Bushnell Ryan. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1932, having held the school's heavyweight boxing title all four years of his attendance. After graduation, the 6'4" Ryan found employment as a stoker on a ship, a WPA worker, and a ranch hand in Montana. Ryan attempted to make a career in show business as a playwright, but had to turn to acting to support himself. He studied acting in Hollywood and appeared on stage and in small film parts during the early 1940s. In January 1944, after securing a contract guarantee from RKO Radio Pictures, Ryan enlisted in the United…

Filmography

• The Wild Bunch as Deke Thornton
• The Dirty Dozen as Col. Everett Dasher Breed
• The Naked Spur as Ben Vandergroat
• The Professionals as Ehrengard
• The Longest Day as Brig. Gen. James M. Gavin
• King of Kings as John the Baptist
• Bad Day at Black Rock as Reno Smith
• Billy Budd as John Claggart, Master of Arms
• House of Bamboo as Sandy Dawson
• Clash by Night as Earl Pfeiffer

TV

• Kraft Suspense Theatre as Thomas Bollington
• The David Susskind Show as Self
• Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
• World War One as Narrator
• Alcoa Theatre as Trilbridge
• Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre as Matt Jessop
• The Steve Allen Show as Self
• The Oscars as Self
• Alcoa Theatre as Mike Ripetti
• Goodyear Theatre as Frank Berry