Robert Ryan

Robert Bushnell Ryan (November 11, 1909 – July 11, 1973) was an American actor and activist. He became known for his roles in films noir and Westerns, gaining fame for his portrayals of both hardened anti-heroes and ruthless villains. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Crossfire (1947), and a BAFTA Award for his performance in Billy Budd (1962). He was also an accomplished stage actor, winning a Drama Desk Award for a 1971 revival of Long Day's Journey into Night.

Though he never achieved the A-list stardom of some of his Hollywood peers, Ryan nonetheless remained a popular performer, well-regarded by both critics and his peers. Critic Manohla Dargis wrote, "[Ryan] was the type of next-level star and B-movie stalwart that helped make old Hollywood great" and "born to play beautifully tortured, angry souls."

Ryan was born in Chicago, the first child of Mabel Arbutus (née Bushnell), a secretary, and Timothy Aloysius Ryan, who was from a wealthy family who owned a real estate firm. He was of Irish (his paternal grandparents were from Thurles) and English descent. Ryan was raised Catholic and educated at Loyola Academy.

Ryan graduated from Dartmouth College in 1932, where he held the school's heavyweight boxing title for all four years of his attendance, along with lettering in football and track. After graduation, Ryan found employment as a stoker on a ship that traveled to Africa, a WPA worker, a ranch hand in Montana, and other odd jobs.

Ryan returned home in 1936 when his father died; after a brief stint modeling clothes for a department store, he decided to become an actor.

In 1937 Ryan joined a little theater group in Chicago. The following year he enrolled in the Max Reinhardt Workshop in Hollywood. His role in the 1939 play Too Many Husbands brought an offer from Paramount. Although he had done a screen test for them in 1938 and been turned down as "not the right type", the studio offered him a $75 a week contract.

In November 1939, Paramount signed Ryan to a six-month contract and announced he would play the lead in Golden Gloves (1940), citing his boxing experience at Dartmouth. However, after a screen test with Gloves director Edward Dmytryk, the lead went to Richard Denning and Ryan was cast in a minor, but important role as a boxing "ringer". He had his first credited role, while making a lasting association with the director in which they would make several films together.

In the same year, Ryan had small parts in The Ghost Breakers (1940) and Queen of the Mob (1940) as well as small roles in North West Mounted Police (1941) and Texas Rangers Ride Again (1941). Then Paramount dropped him.