Robert Ryan
Robert Ryan was an American actor who was born on November 11, 1909, in Chicago, Illinois. He passed away on July 11, 1973, in New York City, New York. Ryan had a prolific career in film, television, and stage, spanning several decades.
Ryan attended Dartmouth College, where he excelled in both academics and athletics. He was an accomplished boxer and even considered pursuing a career in professional boxing. However, his interest in acting led him to leave college and study at the Max Reinhardt Workshop in Hollywood.
In 1940, Ryan made his film debut in "Golden Gloves" and quickly established himself as a versatile actor. He was known for his intense performances and often portrayed complex and morally ambiguous characters. Ryan appeared in numerous film noirs and Westerns, where he showcased his ability to portray both heroic and villainous roles.
Some of his notable films include "Crossfire" (1947), for which he received an Academy Award nomination, "The Set-Up" (1949), "Bad Day at Black Rock" (1955), and "The Wild Bunch" (1969). He also worked with renowned directors such as Fritz Lang, Jean Renoir, and Samuel Fuller throughout his career.
In addition to his film work, Ryan also appeared on Broadway and in various television shows. He received critical acclaim for his stage performances in plays like "The Time of Your Life" and "The Front Page."
Robert Ryan was also an outspoken political activist and advocate for civil rights. He was actively involved in several organizations dedicated to racial equality and social justice. Ryan's political beliefs often influenced his choice of roles, and he used his platform to address important social issues.
Throughout his career, Ryan received praise for his acting abilities and earned several award nominations. He was regarded as one of the finest actors of his generation and left a lasting impact on the film industry. His powerful and nuanced performances continue to be celebrated by audiences and critics alike.
Despite his talent and success, Robert Ryan battled personal demons, including struggles with alcoholism. He passed away at the age of 63 from lung cancer, leaving behind a legacy as a talented and socially conscious actor.
Ryan attended Dartmouth College, where he excelled in both academics and athletics. He was an accomplished boxer and even considered pursuing a career in professional boxing. However, his interest in acting led him to leave college and study at the Max Reinhardt Workshop in Hollywood.
In 1940, Ryan made his film debut in "Golden Gloves" and quickly established himself as a versatile actor. He was known for his intense performances and often portrayed complex and morally ambiguous characters. Ryan appeared in numerous film noirs and Westerns, where he showcased his ability to portray both heroic and villainous roles.
Some of his notable films include "Crossfire" (1947), for which he received an Academy Award nomination, "The Set-Up" (1949), "Bad Day at Black Rock" (1955), and "The Wild Bunch" (1969). He also worked with renowned directors such as Fritz Lang, Jean Renoir, and Samuel Fuller throughout his career.
In addition to his film work, Ryan also appeared on Broadway and in various television shows. He received critical acclaim for his stage performances in plays like "The Time of Your Life" and "The Front Page."
Robert Ryan was also an outspoken political activist and advocate for civil rights. He was actively involved in several organizations dedicated to racial equality and social justice. Ryan's political beliefs often influenced his choice of roles, and he used his platform to address important social issues.
Throughout his career, Ryan received praise for his acting abilities and earned several award nominations. He was regarded as one of the finest actors of his generation and left a lasting impact on the film industry. His powerful and nuanced performances continue to be celebrated by audiences and critics alike.
Despite his talent and success, Robert Ryan battled personal demons, including struggles with alcoholism. He passed away at the age of 63 from lung cancer, leaving behind a legacy as a talented and socially conscious actor.
Quotes:
[on being listed as one of the screen's all-time best heavies] "I guess they never saw me in most of my pictures. Still, I've never stopped working so I can't complain."
[on young actors] "Each one assumes that his mere presence is God's gift to humanity and he finds out over the years that this isn't the case, but that the acquisition of the skills is equally important. You find out[on the 'amazing experience' of old Hollywood] The conformity of the material was a problem, true. But the old system had virtues. [They] would gamble once in a while on an offbeat picture... We all had to go to film school, and we worked in hordes of pictures - B pictures - which were shot very fast. that the essence of it is simplification."
[on the 'amazing experience' of old Hollywood] "The conformity of the material was a problem, true. But the old system had virtues. [They] would gamble once in a while on an offbeat picture... We all had to go to film school, and we worked in hordes of pictures - B pictures - which were shot very fast."
- Robert Ryan
Trivia:
Shortly before his death, Ryan moved out of his apartment (number 72) at the Dakota in New York City. Ryan leased (and then his estate later sold) the apartment to John Lennon and Yoko Ono.
Ryan managed to get along with John Wayne while filming Flying Leathernecks (1951), although he was appalled by Wayne's active support for blacklisting in Hollywood. However the two stars did not get along at all while filming The Longest Day (1962).
In an interview on Scene by Scene (1996), Jeff Bridges tells an anecdote about Ryan during the filming of The Iceman Cometh (1973). The young Bridges noticed that a pool of sweat had formed under Ryan's hand as it rested on a table, and realized that despite his granite demeanor, the veteran star was nervous that they were about to go for a take. When Bridges asked him about this, he replied, 'I'd really be scared if I wasn't scared'.
He has appeared in three films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: The Naked Spur (1953), Bad Day at Black Rock (1955) and The Wild Bunch (1969).
Ryan managed to get along with John Wayne while filming Flying Leathernecks (1951), although he was appalled by Wayne's active support for blacklisting in Hollywood. However the two stars did not get along at all while filming The Longest Day (1962).
In an interview on Scene by Scene (1996), Jeff Bridges tells an anecdote about Ryan during the filming of The Iceman Cometh (1973). The young Bridges noticed that a pool of sweat had formed under Ryan's hand as it rested on a table, and realized that despite his granite demeanor, the veteran star was nervous that they were about to go for a take. When Bridges asked him about this, he replied, 'I'd really be scared if I wasn't scared'.
He has appeared in three films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: The Naked Spur (1953), Bad Day at Black Rock (1955) and The Wild Bunch (1969).
