John Patrick Ryan (July 30, 1936 – March 20, 2007) was an American actor. A prolific character actor known for playing "slimy villains, tough cops, and military officers," he worked with notable directors like Bob Rafelson, Francis Ford Coppola, Andrei Konchalovsky, Arthur Penn, Philip Kaufman, and The Wachowskis, and often appeared in films starring his friend Jack Nicholson.

Early life and education Ryan was born in New York City, the son of Irish immigrant parents, and graduated from Rice High School in Harlem. He studied English at the City College of New York and acting at the Actors Studio.

Career Among his stage roles, Ryan played King Henry in The Lion in Winter and Mr. DePinna in You Can't Take It with You at the 1966 Williamstown Theatre Festival. He starred in the Broadway productions Daphne in Cottage D (1967) and Medea (1973).

Ryan got into film acting at the encouragement of his friend Jack Nicholson. He appeared opposite Nicholson in Five Easy Pieces (1970), The King of Marvin Gardens (1973), The Missouri Breaks (1976), The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981), and Hoffa (1992).

He usually played supporting roles or character parts, though he played a rare leading role in the Larry Cohen-directed horror film It's Alive and its sequel It Lives Again. He also appeared in such films as Dillinger (1973), Futureworld (1976), Breathless (1983), The Right Stuff (also 1983), The Cotton Club (1984), Three O'Clock High (1987), and Best of the Best (1989). One of his best-known parts was as prison warden Ranken in Runaway Train (1985). His last role was as mobster Mickey Malnato in The Wachowskis' directorial debut Bound (1996).

Helicopter crash On May 16, 1989, while filming the Chuck Norris sequel Delta Force 2: The Colombian Connection in the Philippines, Ryan was involved in a helicopter crash. The helicopter took off to film a scene, then veered to the left and plunged into a forty-foot ravine. Four people on board were killed and roughly ten people were hospitalized, including Ryan.

Personal life Ryan was married to actress Maya Kenin, becoming the stepfather of Alexa Kenin (1962–1985). He had two daughters. Ryan was a life member of the Actors Studio, and a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Death Ryan died from a stroke in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 70.

Stage appearances Year TitleRoleVenue Notes1963The Lady of the CamelliasBuyerWinter Garden Theatre, Broadway1966Serjeant Musgrave's DanceConstableLucille Lortel Theatre, Off-BroadwayDuet for ThreeJohnCherry Lane Theatre, Off-BroadwayYou Can't Take It with YouMr. DePinnaWilliamstown Theatre FestivalThe Lion in WinterKing Henry1966-67YermaVillager / Victor (understudy)Vivian Beaumont Theater, Broadway1967Daphne in Cottage DJosephLongacre Theatre, Broadway1970Nobody Hears a Broken DrumJamie O'HanlinFortune Theater, Off-Broadway1972The Love Suicide at Schofield BarracksMaj. CassidyANTA Playhouse, BroadwayGypsyRich Man's SonTheatre at Unitarian Church of AllSouls, Off-BroadwayThe Silent PartnerMr. DrummActors Studio Theatre, Off-BroadwayTwelve Angry MenJuror No. 3Queens Theatre in the Park1973MedeaJasonCircle in the Square Theatre, Broadway1975The Country GirlStagewest, West Springfield

Filmography

Film Year TitleRole Notes 1967 The Tiger Makes OutToni's Escort1968A Lovely Way to DieHarry SamsonWhat's So Bad About Feeling Good?RogerUncredited1970Five Easy PiecesSpicer1971Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up to Me'Oeuf'1972The Legend of Nigger CharleyMartin GoldmanThe King of Marvin GardensHouston1973Shamus'Hardcore'DillingerCharles MakleyCops and RobbersPasquale 'Patsy' Aniello1974It's AliveFrank Davis1976The Missouri BreaksSiFutureworldDr. Schneider1978It Lives AgainFrank Davis1980On the NickelThe Last Flight of Noah's ArkCoslough1981The Postman Always Rings TwiceEzra Liam Kennedy1982The Escape ArtistVernon1983BreathlessLt. ParmentalThe Right StuffHead of Program1984The Cotton ClubJoe Flynn1985Runaway TrainWarden Ranken1986Avenging ForceProf. Elliott Glastenbury1987Three O'Clock HighMr. O'RourkeFatal BeautyLt. KellermanDeath Wish 4: The CrackdownFerrari / Fake Nathan WhiteRent-a-CopCmdr. WieserCity of ShadowsSgt. Fireman1989Best of the BestJennings1990Delta Force 2: The Colombian ConnectionGen. TaylorClass of 1999Mr. HardinEternityThomas Vandervere / Prosecutor1992White SandsArms DealerUncreditedHoffa"Red" BennettStar TimeSam Bones1993Batman: Mask of the Phantasm'Buzz' Bronski (voice)Young Goodman BrownThe Devil1994The PatriotsArthurBad BloodJohn Blackstone1995Tall Tale'Grub'1996BoundMickey MalnatoFinal film role

Television Year TitleRole Notes1973KojakPeter IbbotsonEpisode: "Cop in the Cage"1975Death ScreamDet. Dave LambertTelevision film1977The Rockford FilesDearbornEpisode: "Dirty Money, Black Light"1980Buck Rogers in the 25th CenturyKurt BelzackEpisode: "Twiki is Missing"1983M*A*S*HMajor Van ZandtEpisode: "That Darn Kid"Miss LonelyheartsPeter DoyleTelevision film1984Simon & SimonStewart CrawfordEpisode: "Break a Leg, Darling"1985Cagney & LaceyPhilip CorriganEpisode: "Organized Crime"1986Houston: The Legend of TexasDavid G. BurnetTelevision film1989Miami ViceJake ManningEpisode: "The Cell Within"1993The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.Sheriff Bob CavendishEpisode: "Showdown"

References

External links

at the Internet Off-Broadway Database