Ryan Johnson (born 1979) is an Australian actor.
Early life Johnson attended Somerset College on the Gold Coast, and graduated from Queensland University of Technology in 1999.
Career Johnson made his acting debut in 2000 featuring in several performances on stage, television and film, including the film City Loop. That year, he also had guest roles in All Saints, Beastmaster and American TV movie Nowhere to Land. He also toured in a Sydney Theatre Company production of The Beauty Queen of Leenane.
In 2001, Johnson appeared in his first major television role in the short-lived drama series Head Start, playing Kyle Richter, followed by a recurring role as Bobby Bailey in all six episodes of the first season of comedy series Dossa and Joe in 2002. That same year he appeared opposite Tom Berenger and Ryan Kwanten in American sports drama TV movie The Junction Boys, before playing the role of Hammer in 2003 Nick Giannopoulos comedy The Wannabes (known as Criminal Ways in the U.S.), with Isla Fisher.
In 2004, Johnson appeared in comedy film Thunderstruck, alongside Sam Worthington. as well as on stage in production of Brendan Cowell's play Men in Edinburgh. He then scored a starring role in the 2005 fourth season of drama series The Secret Life of Us, playing Zelko Milanovic. The same year, he directed a stage production of Ninja at Sydney's Old Fitzroy Theatre, Sydney.
In 2007, he guested in an episode of CSI: New York, and appeared in comedy drama film All My Friends Are Leaving Brisbane. The following year, he played the role of Dylan in thriller Monkey Puzzle (also known as Enter the Wild), before landing a recurring part as Rocco Arico in the first season of crime drama Underbelly in 2008. That same year, he was cast in the ongoing role of Ian 'Stavva' Jones in drama series Out of the Blue.
Johnson played Paulie Rosetta, brother of Angelo Rosetta (Luke Jacobz), in long-running television soap opera Home and Away in 2010. He also featured in comedy film Jucy, In October 2011, it was announced that he had joined the main cast of US drama Fairly Legal for its second season, as trial attorney Ben Grogan. The series was cancelled at the end of the season, due to low ratings. From 2011 to 2015, he starred in satirical YouTube series One Step Closer to Home, playing one half of 'suburbia’s dullest married couple', Paul, opposite Alyssa McClelland as his on screen wife, Nat. The pair also created the series.
In 2014, Johnson took on several roles, including playing Gary Morris in biographical miniseries INXS: Never Tear Us Apart. He appeared opposite Jessica Marais in drama series Love Child in the ongoing role of Phillip, before playing Will Stevens in the third season of House Husbands. He then reunited with Marais in the TV movie Carlotta.
In 2015, Johnson had a recurring role as Ash Adamo in crime miniseries Hiding, before playing Tim 'Plastic' Pemberton in 2016 two-part miniseries Brock, about Australian car racing legend Peter Brock (Matthew Le Nevez). That same year, he began playing Matt Knight, brother of titular character Hugh Knight (Rodger Corser) in drama series Doctor Doctor, continuing in the role for five seasons, from 2016 to 2021. For his performance, he earned a nomination for the Logie Award for Most Outstanding Supporting Actor in 2017.
Johnson played the role of Ethan in 2018 Australian-Chinese action adventure thriller Guardians of the Tomb, opposite Kelsey Grammer and Kellan Lutz. In 2020, he was part of the supporting cast in comedy-drama series Operation Buffalo, playing Agent Martin. The following year, he joined the cast of Stan comedy drama series Bump, alongside Claudia Karvan, during its second season, appearing through to the show's final season in 2024.
In April 2022, Johnson rejoined the cast of Home and Away as wealthy gambler and villain Peter "PK" King. He also appeared in 2022 comedy drama film How to Please a Woman, in the role of Anthony. The following year, he had a starring role in two-part true crime drama miniseries The Claremont Murders, playing the role of Perth serial killer Bradley Robert Edwards.
In January 2026, Johnson starred as Hamish, opposite Brooke Satchwell as Lillian, in comedy drama miniseries Dear Life.
Johnson's television guest credits include Young Lions, White Collar Blue, The Chaser's War on Everything, My Place, Satisfaction, Sea Patrol, Rake, Laid, SLiDE, Dance Academy, Mr & Mrs Murder, Ready for This, Rake, Operation Buffalo and Upright.
Awards Year Work Award Category Result Ref. 2017 Doctor Doctor Logie Awards Most Outstanding Supporting Actor
Personal life Johnson currently lives with his wife Leah Da Gloria, a fashion designer. He also has a daughter with Tamara Asmar, a television writer.
Filmography
Television Year Title Role Notes Ref. 2000 All Saints Nick Patterson Season 3, episode 12: "Food for Thought" Beastmaster Reon Season 2, episode 8: "Heart Like a Lion" Nowhere to Land Chad TV movie 2001 Head Start Kyle Richter Season 1, all 40 episodes 2002 Dossa and Joe Bobby Bailey Season 1, all 6 episodes Young Lions Alex Brooks Season 2, episode 5: "Boy School Bullies" The Junction Boys Mike Hess TV movie 2003 White Collar Blue Jared 'Mungo' Muntz Season 2, episodes 2 & 17 2005 The Secret Life of Us Zelko Milanovic Season 4, 10 episodes 2007 All Saints Conrad Hagan Season 10, episode 7: "Back on Track" CSI: NY Bob Smith Season 3, episode 20: "What Schemes May Come" 2008 Underbelly Rocco Arico Season 1, episodes 4-6 Out of the Blue Ian 'Stavva' Jones 79 episodes 2009 The Chaser's War on Everything Marco Season 3, episode 3: "The Chaser's Waster of Taxpayer's Money" All Saints Jake Season 12, episode 35: "The Two of Us" My Place PC Moroney Season 1, episode 8: "1938 Colum" 2010 Satisfaction Steve Season 3, episodes 6 & 7 Sea Patrol Darryl Season 4, episode 10: "Rawhide" Home and Away Paulie Rosetta Rake Marty Season 1, episode 2: "R vs Marx" 2011 Laid Dave Season 1, episodes 1 & 6 SLiDE Rob Season 1, episode 4 2011–2015 One Step Closer to Home Paul 'Pauly' Shaw Web series; Seasons 1–2, all 19 episodes (also creator) 2012 Dance Academy Dr Dave Season 3, episodes 12 & 13 Fairly Legal Ben Grogan Season 2, 13 episodes Two Flies Ryan TV movie 2013 Mr & Mrs Murder Michael Gorman Season 1, episode 11: "Keeping Up Appearances" 2014 INXS: Never Tear Us Apart Gary Morris Miniseries, 2 episodes Love Child Phillip Paige Season 1, 5 episodes House Husbands Will Stevens Season 3, 8 episodes Carlotta Peter TV movie 2015 Hiding Ash Adamo Season 1, 4 episodes Ready for This Dave Season 1, episode 4: "Shadow Boxing" 2016 Rake Raymond Season 4, episodes 2 & 3 Brock Tim 'Plastic' Pemberton Miniseries, 2 episodes 2016–2021 Doctor Doctor Matt Knight Seasons 1–5, all 48 episodes 2017 Kiki and Kitty Brandon Web series; Season 1, 3 episodes 2020 Operation Buffalo Agent Martin Season 1, 3 episodes 2021–2024 Bump Tim 11 episodes 2022 Upright Tocca (voice) 1 episode Home and Away PK 8 episodes 2023 The Claremont Murders Bradley Robert Edwards Miniseries, 2 episodes 2026 Dear Life (aka Love Divided by Eleven) Hamish Vandenberg TV series
Film Year Title Role Notes Ref. 2000 City Loop (aka Bored Olives) Misha Feature film 2001 Jet Set Young Tourist Short film 2002 Stuffed Bunny Marcus Short film 2003 The Wannabes Hammer Feature film Ned Henchman Shanahan Feature film 2004 Thunderstruck Lloyd Feature film Book Em Warren Short film Kevin Needs to Make New Friends: Because Everyone Hates Him for Some Reason Stewart Short film 2005 Europe European man Short film Son of the Mask Chad Feature film 2007 Ghost Rider Waiter Feature film All My Friends Are Leaving Brisbane Tyson Feature film Fallers Kenneth Short film 2008 Monkey Puzzle (aka Enter the Wild) Dylan Feature film 2010 Jucy Alex Feature film Nic & Shauna Nicholai Short film 2011 Family Values Tom Short film 2012 Gull Teddy Short film 2016 Perry Ben Short film 2018 Concern for Welfare Sambo Short film Guardians of the Tomb Ethan Feature film 2022 How to Please a Woman Anthony Feature film
Theatre Year Title Role Notes Ref. 2000 The Beauty Queen of Leenane Ray Dooley Bridge Theatre Coniston, Playhouse Canberra with STC 2004 Men, by Brendan Cowell Pleasance Dome, Edinburgh 2005 Ninja Old Fitzroy Theatre, Sydney 2007 Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train Angel Cruz Belvoir, Sydney 2008 Rabbit Tom Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC 2009 The Lonesome West Father Welsh Belvoir, Sydney 2016 80 Minutes No Interval Louis Old Fitzroy Theatre, Sydney
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