Ryan grew up in the suburbs of Cleveland, OH where he started his theatrical training by watching episodes of “FAME” and singing in the school choir. He went on to study Musical Theatre under the direction of Victoria Bussert at the prestigious Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory.

In New York Ryan appeared in the Broadway Concerts of CHESS and A WONDERFUL LIFE, Off-Broadway in ILLYRIA (Prospect Theater), STAR MESSENGERS and BITTEROOT with the Talking Band (La MaMa), in the NYMF and New York Fringe Festivals as well as readings at Second Stage, The York and many more. His one-man show THE BOX TURTLE INCIDENT was developed and performed at The P.I.T. where Ryan also studied and performed long form improv.

Ryan made his on screen debut as a teenager in the feature “Shooting Star” and has since appeared in the short films “Target Audience”, “Mission Improbable”, “Extra’s on the Strip”, “Waffle Jet”, “Office Jam” and “The Joke”. On television Ryan Guest Starred as Dennis the AD on Steven Levitan's ("Modern Family")'s new series "REBOOT" on HULU, appearing in 7 of the 8 episodes and working alongside Paul Riser, Keegan Michael Key, Rachel Bloom, Judy Greer, Johnny Knoxville, Calum Worthy, & Lawrence Pressmen. He also Co-Starred on FOX's "The Mick" and Seth McFarlane's "The Orville" and played Renee Taylor’s Psychic on “Celebrity Ghost Stories” and in commercials for Doordash, Quibi, Turbo Tax, Twinings Tea, Virginia Lottery and Renaissance Hotels. He also appeared on “The Onion News Network”.

After graduating from Baldwin-Wallace Ryan won critical acclaim for his performance as the Courier in the National Tour of “1776”. He toured nationally and internationally with the world-renowned Reduced Shakespeare Company as the Professor in ALL THE GREAT BOOKS (ABRIDGED). Regionally Ryan has appeared at acclaimed theatres such as the Tony Award winning Cleveland Play House, Pasadena Playhouse, Paper Mill Playhouse, Geva Theatre. Great Lakes Theater, Riverside Theatre, Clarence Brown Theater, Hangar Theatre, Northern Stage to name a few. Ryan's most recent stage appearce was as Avram the Bookseller and Understudying both Mordcha & the Rabbi in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF starring Jason Alexander for a sold out run at La Mirada Theatre/McCoy Rigby in 2024. 

Ryan has had a long association with Disney, originating Pain in the original company of Hunter Bell and Jeff Bowen’s VILLAINS TONIGHT for Disney Cruise Line and traveling the Baltic, Mediterranean, Caribbean and to the Bahamas on board The Disney Magic for two years. Ryan performed Iago in the closing company of ALADDIN: A MUSICAL SPECTACULAR and appeared in the entire four year run of FROZEN: LIVE AT THE HYPERION as Olaf and The Duke of Weselton, directed by Liesl Tommy at Disneyland California Adventure.

As an educator Ryan is a proud teaching artist at California School of the Arts - San Gabriel Valley where he teaches in the Acting and Musical Theatre Conservatory as well as serving as Assistant to the Chair of Theatre. At CSArts-SGV, Ryan as Directed & Chorographed JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, Assistant Directed FLOYD COLLINS, Assistant Directed and Assistant Choreographed ONCE UPON A MATTRESS and will be Directing METAMORPHOSIS by Mary Zimmerman.

After many years in New York City, Ryan and his husband, writer Josh Levine, now reside in Los Angeles, CA with their two children.