Robert Ryan Overview:

Legendary character actor, Robert Ryan, was born Robert Bushnell Ryan on Nov 11, 1909 in Chicago, IL. Ryan died at the age of 63 on Jul 11, 1973 in New York City, NY and was cremated and his ashes scattered in unknown location.

MINI BIO:

Tall, lean, dark-haired American actor who, after a spotty early career interrupted by war service, found that his whippy, gritty performances earned him some good leading roles at RKO from 1947 to 1952. After that, often cast as embittered men, he was mostly second or third on the cast list of largely unworthy films, although working steadily. He received an Oscar nomination for his performance in Crossfire. Died from cancer.

(Source: available at Amazon Quinlan's Film Stars).

HONORS and AWARDS:

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Although Ryan was nominated for one Oscar, he never won a competitive Academy Award.

Academy Awards

YearAwardFilm nameRoleResult
1947Best Supporting ActorCrossfire (1947)MontgomeryNominated
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BlogHub Articles:

James Mason, Barbara Bel Geddes, and are "Caught"

By Stephen Reginald on Jul 18, 2022 From Classic Movie Man

James Mason, Barbara Bel Geddes, and are "Caught" Caught (1949) is an American film noir directed by Max Ophuls and starring James Mason, Barbara Bel Geddes, and . The screenplay was by Arthur Laurents from the novel Wild Calendar by Libbie Block.Leonora Eames (Bel Geddes... Read full article


Noir Nook: Spring Trivia ? Joan Bennett, Robert Mitchum, Ann Blyth, , Jean Hagen, and Richard Widmark

By Karen Burroughs Hannsberry on May 12, 2022 From Classic Movie Hub Blog

Spring Trivia ? Joan Bennett, Robert Mitchum, Ann Blyth, , Jean Hagen, and Richard Widmark There aren?t many things I love in life more than classic movie trivia. In celebration of spring, this month?s Noir Nook is serving up some trivial tidbits on some of my favorite noir actors an... Read full article


Harry Belafonte and are up against the “Odds Against Tomorrow”

By Stephen Reginald on Jan 5, 2022 From Classic Movie Man

Harry Belafonte and are up against the “Odds Against Tomorrow” Odds Against Tomorrow (1959) is an American film noir, produced and directed by Robert Wise and starring Harry Belafonte, , and Shelley Winters. The film features a jazz film score directed by John... Read full article


On Blu-ray: John Wayne and Butt Heads in Flying Leathernecks (1951)

By KC on Nov 4, 2020 From Classic Movies

Flying Leathernecks (1951) is an unusual entry in World War II cinema. While it leans into the familiar camaraderie and hijinks of many war films from the era, it offers a few visceral glimpses at the violent realities of war. This is most likely due to the influence of director Nicholas Ray, who wa... Read full article


On Blu-ray: and Audrey Totter in the Boxing Noir The Set-Up (1949)

By KC on Nov 12, 2019 From Classic Movies

The rough-edged boxing noir The Set-up (1949) is notable for starring two of the best movie villains, and Audrey Totter, as a loving married couple. It’s nice to see them be the good guys for once in a film where the rest of the world feels rotten to the core. I recently watched th... Read full article


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Robert Ryan Quotes:

Deke Thornton: [addressing his posse] You think Pike and old Sykes haven't been watchin' us. They know what this is all about - and what do I have? Nothin' but you egg-suckin', chicken stealing gutter trash with not even sixty rounds between you. We're after men - and I wish to God I was with them. The next time you make a mistake, I'm going to ride off and let you die.


Ben Vandergroat: Money splits better two ways than it does with three.


Reno Smith: Tim, you've got the body of a hippo but the brain of a rabbit; now don't overtax it.


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Best Supporting Actor Oscar 1947





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Robert Ryan Facts
He was considered for Stephen Boyd's role as Messala in Ben-Hur (1959).

While performing in a stock play version of "A Kiss for Cinderella" in 1941 with actress Luise Rainer, Rainer's ex-husband, Clifford Odets, saw him and offered him the featured juvenile part in his Broadway play "Clash by Night" as "Joe Doyle", opposite Tallulah Bankhead. A decade later he starred in the film version but had outgrown the juvenile role and instead played Earl Pfeiffer, one of the leads, originated on Broadway by Joseph Schildkraut. His "Joe Doyle" character was played by Keith Andes in the film Clash by Night (1952).

Co-founded the Theatre Group at the University of California at Los Angeles with John Houseman and Sidney Harmon in 1959. Nine years later in 1968 he co-founded the Plumstead Playhouse Repertory Company, with Henry Fonda and Martha Scott.

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