Ryan Spahn
American actor, writer, director, and playwright
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ryan Spahn is a Drama Desk Award–winning American actor,[1] known for his Off-Broadway work including Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ Gloria, a 2016 Pulitzer Prize finalist for Drama,[2] and for writing the play Inspired By True Events (2024), which was part of the Obie Award–winning inaugural season of Out of the Box Theatrics.[3]
Spahn began his on-screen career as a teenager on Star Trek: Voyager, portraying the Borg child "First" in the episode "Collective."[4] He has also appeared in over twenty national commercials, including Snickers: "Get Dunked On by Patrick Ewing", Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal, Ford Focus, Levi’s: "Make Them Your Own", and NY Lotto: "Fat Wallet".[5][better source needed]
As a filmmaker, he wrote and directed the feature film Nora Highland (2020), which premiered at NewFest, and was later distributed internationally by Revry.[6].
Spahn has performed in original Off-Broadway casts that went on to receive nominations from the Lucille Lortel Awards, Drama Desk Awards, Drama League Awards, Outer Critics Circle Awards, Obie Awards, Off Broadway Alliance Awards, and the New York Drama Critics' Circle.[7]
Early life and education
Spahn grew up in Troy, Michigan, and attended Interlochen Arts Academy.[8] He later earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Juilliard School.[9][10] Spahn is of Jewish, Irish, and Scottish descent.[11]
Career
Theater / Stage
| Year | Title | Venue / Company | Role / Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Richard II | Red Bull Theater / Astor Place Theatre (Off-Broadway) | Bagot / Welsh Captain | [12] |
| 2025 | Danger and Opportunity | East Village Basement (Off-Broadway) | Christian | [13] |
| 2024 | The Antiquities | Playwrights Horizons (Off-Broadway) / Goodman Theatre | Man 4 | [14] |
| 2024 | Jordans | The Public Theater (Off-Broadway) | Ryan | [15] |
| 2023 | Merry Me | New York Theatre Workshop (Off-Broadway) | Pvt. Willy Memnon | [16] |
| 2022 | Good Enemy | Audible Theater at Minetta Lane (Off-Broadway) | White Boyfriend | [17] |
| 2022 | Jane Anger | New Ohio Theatre (Off-Off-Broadway) / Shakespeare Theatre Company | Francis | [18] |
| 2020 | Mr. Toole | 59E59 Theaters (Off-Broadway) | John Kennedy Toole | [19] |
| 2020 | How to Load a Musket | 59E59 Theaters (Off-Broadway) | Ensemble | [20] |
| 2019 | Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow | MCC Theater (Off-Broadway) / Williamstown Theatre Festival | Kulygin | [21] |
| 2019 | Still at Risk | Theatre for the New City (Off-Off-Broadway) | Byron | [22] |
| 2018 | Hamlet | Shakespeare Theatre Company | Rozencrantz | |
| 2018 | Daniel's Husband | Westside Theatre / Primary Stages (Off-Broadway) / Penguin Rep Theatre | Daniel | [23] |
| 2018 | Summer and Smoke | Classic Stage Company / Transport Group (Off-Broadway) | Archie Kramer | [24] |
| 2016 | Exit Strategy | Primary Stages (Off-Broadway) / Philadelphia Theatre Company | Ricky | [25] |
| 2015 | Gloria | Vineyard Theatre (Off-Broadway) / Goodman Theatre | Dean | [26] |
| 2014 | Tribes | Actors Theatre of Louisville | Daniel |
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Parachute | Hudson | Feature film; premiered at SXSW Film Festival; directorial debut of Brittany Snow | [27] |
| 2020 | Shirley | Drunk Cad | Feature film; premiered at Sundance Film Festival; directed by Josephine Decker | [28] |
| 2020 | Nora Highland | Writer / Director | Feature film; premiered at NewFest | [29] |
| 2017 | Woven | Wallace / Writer / Producer | Feature film; premiered at the LA Film Festival | [30] |
| 2014 | Grantham & Rose | Erik Henry / Writer / Producer | Feature film; premiered at Cleveland International Film Festival | [31] |
| 2013 | He's Way More Famous Than You | Ryan / Writer / Producer | Feature film; co-written by Halley Feiffer and directed by Michael Urie; premiered at Slamdance Film Festival | [32] |
| 1998 | Polish Wedding | Kid | Feature film; directed by Theresa Connelly | [33] |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Network / Platform | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Sub/Liminal | Ben | Nebula | [34][35][36] |
| 2025 | Zero Day | Leon | Netflix | [37] |
| 2024 | Elsbeth | Danny Beck | CBS | [38] |
| 2023 | American Horror Story: Delicate | Derek | FX | [39] |
| 2023 | Succession | Coop | HBO | [40] |
| 2022 | Chicago P.D. | Charlie Kalzenski | NBC | [41] |
| 2021 | Modern Love | Billy | Amazon | [42] |
| 2021 | The Bite | Joel | Spectrum Originals | [43] |
| 2019 | The Blacklist | Roger Price | NBC | [44] |
| 2010 | Ugly Betty | Gus | ABC | |
| 2015–2017 | Cocktails & Classics | Producer / Consulting Producer / Creative Consultant | Logo TV | [45] |
| 2015 | What's Your Emergency | Sammy Halpern | Web series | [46] |
| 2004 | Tanner on Tanner | Ryan | Sundance Channel; directed by Robert Altman | |
| 2000 | Star Trek: Voyager | Borg (teenage) | UPN | [47] |
Playwriting
- Inspired By True Events (2024) — premiered Off-Broadway via Out of the Box Theatrics; licensed and published by Concord Theatricals (formerly Samuel French). The play was developed in workshops with New York Stage and Film, Vineyard Theatre, and Ensemble Studio Theatre.[48][49][50]
- Nora Highland — originally a stage piece later adapted into a film; was a finalist for the Eugene O’Neill National Playwrights Conference.[51]
- Blessed and Highly Favored — developed in workshop settings at Ensemble Studio Theatre and Vineyard Playhouse.[52]
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Drama Desk Award | Special Award | Danger and Opportunity | Won | [53] |
| 2025 | Jeff Award | Ensemble | The Antiquities | Nominated | [54] |
| 2017 | Time Out Chicago Theater Award | Best Supporting Performance | Gloria | Nominated | [55] |
| 2016 | Barrymore Award | Outstanding Ensemble | Exit Strategy | Nominated | [56] |
| 2011 | LA Weekly Theatre Awards | Best Comedy Ensemble | Stupid Kids | Winner | [57] |
Publications and essays
Spahn has written essays and commentary for American Theatre Magazine, Talkhouse, USA Today, and Metro Weekly.[58][59][60]
He has maintained a decade-long correspondence and artistic friendship with playwright Adrienne Kennedy, which began after he performed in her work while at the Juilliard School. They wrote about their letter exchange in American Theatre Magazine in "The Landscape of Memory: Letters From Playwright Adrienne Kennedy".[58]
His essays include:
- "Why I Keep Writing Letters to Adrienne Kennedy" (American Theatre Magazine)[58]
- "How You Can Count on Me Brought My Family Back Together" (Talkhouse)[61]
- "For Michael" (Talkhouse)[62]
- "Opinion: 'Trump-Biden Voter Conversation'" (USA Today), on audio journalism and representation in political discourse.[63]
Personal life
Spahn lives between New York City and Los Angeles with his longtime partner, actor Michael Urie.[64] He was previously in a relationship with actor Matt Dallas, discussed in his essay "For Michael."[65] Spahn has also maintained a decades-long friendship with actor Tessa Thompson, whom he met early in his career.[66]
External links
- Ryan Spahn at IMDb