Jay Ryan (actor)
New Zealand actor (born 1981)
title: "Jay Ryan (actor)" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["living-people", "new-zealand-film-actors", "new-zealand-soap-opera-actors", "new-zealand-television-actors", "male-actors-from-auckland", "1981-births", "20th-century-new-zealand-actors", "21st-century-new-zealand-actors", "new-zealand-emigrants-to-canada", "canadian-film-actors", "canadian-soap-opera-actors", "canadian-television-actors", "new-zealand-people-of-english-descent", "new-zealand-people-of-welsh-descent", "new-zealand-people-of-irish-descent", "canadian-people-of-english-descent", "canadian-people-of-welsh-descent", "canadian-people-of-irish-descent", "20th-century-canadian-male-actors", "21st-century-canadian-male-actors", "naturalized-citizens-of-canada"] description: "New Zealand actor (born 1981)" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_Ryan_(actor)" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary New Zealand actor (born 1981) ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox person"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Jay Ryan |
| image | Jay Ryan by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg |
| caption | Ryan at the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con |
| birthname | Jay Bunyan |
| birth_date | |
| birth_place | Auckland, New Zealand |
| citizenship | * New Zealand |
| * Canada (since 2023)<ref name | "citizenshipcanada"/ |
| occupation | Actor |
| yearsactive | 1991–present |
| other_names | Jay Ryan |
| spouse | Dianna Fuemana |
| children | 1 |
| :: |
| name = Jay Ryan | image = Jay Ryan by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg | imagesize = | caption = Ryan at the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con | birthname = Jay Bunyan | birth_date = | birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand | citizenship = * New Zealand
- Canada (since 2023) | occupation = Actor | yearsactive = 1991–present | other_names = Jay Ryan | spouse = Dianna Fuemana | children = 1 | website =
Jay Ryan (born Jay Bunyan; 29 August 1981) is a New Zealand actor. He is best known for his roles as Jack Scully in Neighbours (2002–2005), Seaman Billy 'Spider' Webb in Sea Patrol (2007–2009), Kevin in Go Girls (2009–2012), Vincent Keller in Beauty & the Beast (2012–2016), Detective Ben Wesley in Mary Kills People (2017–2019) and Bobby in Creamerie (2021–2023).
Ryan made his feature film breakthrough playing adult Ben Hanscom in It Chapter Two (2019), a sequel to the 2017 horror film It, based on the 1986 novel of the same name.
Career
Under the name Jay Bunyan, he appeared as Glen in Scallywag Pirates (2000) and had a minor role in Xena: Warrior Princess. He is known for his portrayal of Jack Scully in the Australian soap opera Neighbours from late 2002 until January 2005.
From 2007 until 2009, Ryan played Seaman William "Billy" Webb a.k.a. "Spider" in the popular Australian drama, Sea Patrol.
From a theatre background, Ryan has shared the stage with the likes of John Cleese and toured internationally with The Packer, an acclaimed solo show written by NZ/Niuean playwright Dianna Fuemana.
From 2009 to 2012, Ryan played Kevin in the New Zealand comedy/drama series Go Girls. In 2011, he joined the cast of the Australian comedy/drama series Offspring. Also in 2011, Ryan guest-starred in the American science-fiction series Terra Nova, playing a murderer. For this role Ryan used an American accent.
In 2012 Ryan was cast as the male lead in the CW's Beauty & the Beast pilot. The CW officially announced the series at the May 2012 Up Fronts in New York.
Ryan starred as the adult Ben Hanscom in the 2019 horror film It Chapter Two, the sequel to It (2017). He shares the character with Jeremy Ray Taylor.
On 21 November 2025, Ryan was announced in the cast for ABC series Dustfall.
Personal life
Ryan is of English, Welsh and Irish descent. He has a daughter (born 2013) with his wife, the playwright and director Dianna Fuemana. In June 2023, Ryan stated in an interview with New Zealand newspaper Stuff that he and his family had moved back to New Zealand after the COVID-19 pandemic and that he had become a naturalized citizen of Canada.
Filmography
Film
::data[format=table title=""] | Year || Title || Role || Notes | |---| | 2010 | | 2019 | | 2020 | | 2022 | | 2025 | ::
Television
::data[format=table] | Year || Title || Role || class="unsortable"|Notes | |---| | 1998 | | 1999 | | 2002 | | Being Eve | | Superfire | | 2002–2005 | | 2003 | | 2005 | | 2007–2009 | | 2009–2012 | | 2010 | | 2011 | | Terra Nova | | 2012–2016 | | 2013 | | 2017–2019 | | 2018 | | 2021 | | My Life Is Murder | | 2021–2023 | | 2023 | | Scrublands | | 2024 | | 2025 | | 2025 | | 2025 | | 2026 | ::
Awards
::data[format=table]
| Year | Award | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Logie Award for Most Popular New Male Talent | Neighbours | |
| 2014 | Equity Ensemble Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Miniseries or Telemovie | Top of the Lake | |
| :: |
References
References
- Campbell, Ali. (22–28 September 2007). "You asked... Jay Ryan". [[TV Week]].
- (22 February 1999). "Go Girls | Television New Zealand | Television | TV One, TV2, U, TVNZ 7". Tvnz.co.nz.
- Ausiello, Michael. (2 March 2012). "Scoop: Terra Nova Stud Cast Opposite Kristin Kreuk in The CW's Beauty and the Beast Pilot".
- "A look at CW's new series: 'Beauty and the Beast' [Video]". Washington Post.
- Knox, David. (2025-11-21). "Production underway on ABC crime drama, Dustfall. {{!}} TV Tonight".
- Leon, Anya. (August 2013). "Jay Ryan Welcomes Daughter Eve". People Magazine.
- (28 June 2023). "Creamerie star Jay Ryan tells why he won't take success for granted". [[Stuff (website).
- Wiseman, Andreas. (30 August 2024). "Horror Franchise 'Wolf Creek' Getting Third Movie In Which American Tourists Are Hunted In The Outback; 2025 Shoot Planned & John Jarratt Back As Killer Mick Taylor — TIFF Market".
- Warner, Sam. (April 13, 2023). "Tin Star and Honour stars in first-look trailer of new thriller No Escape".
- Goldbart, Max. (7 March 2022). "Paramount+ Greenlights Fourth UK Original 'The Blue'; Filming To Commence In Thailand Later This Year". Deadline.
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