Robert Ryan

Robert Ryan Headshot

Actor • Activist

Birth Date: November 11, 1909

Death Date: July 11, 1973 — 63 years old

Birth Place: Chicago, Illinois

Imposing, ruggedly handsome lead who made his film debut in "Golden Gloves" (1940) and signed with RKO two years later. Ryan hit his stride in the late 1940s playing a string of psychopathic or hard-boiled types, notably the anti-Semitic murderer in "Crossfire" (1947) and the over-the-hill pug in the classic boxing drama, "The Set-Up" (1949).

He went on to appear in a host of films through the mid-70s, often giving fine performances in decidedly mediocre vehicles. Ryan was memorable as William Holden's buddy-turned-nemesis in Sam Peckinpah's "The Wild Bunch" (1969).

Credits

LawmanStream

Actor
Sabbath Marshal Cotton Ryan
Movie
1971
73%

The Love Machine

Actor
Gregory Austin
Movie
1971

The Wild BunchStream

Actor
Deke Thornton
Movie
1969
91%

Hour of the GunStream

Actor
Ike Clanton
Movie
1967
88%

The Dirty DozenStream

Actor
Col. Everett Dasher Breed
Movie
1967
82%

The ProfessionalsStream

Actor
Hans Ehrengard
Movie
1966
89%

Battle of the BulgeStream

Actor
Gen. Joe Grey
Movie
1965
63%

The Longest DayStream

Actor
Brig. Gen. James M. Gavin
Movie
1962
84%

Billy BuddStream

Actor
John Claggart
Movie
1962
92%

King of KingsStream

Actor
John The Baptist
Movie
1961
80%

Day of the OutlawStream

Actor
Blaise Starrett
Movie
1959
100%

Odds Against TomorrowStream

Actor
Earle Slater
Movie
1959
88%

LonelyheartsStream

Actor
William Shrike
Movie
1958
70%

Men in WarStream

Actor
Lt. Benson
Movie
1957
89%

Zane Grey Theater

Actor
Series
1956

The Proud OnesStream

Actor
Marshal Cass Silver
Movie
1956

Back From EternityStream

Actor
Bill Lonagan
Movie
1956

Bad Day at Black RockStream

Actor
Reno Smith
Movie
1955
97%

The Tall MenStream

Actor
Nathan Stark
Movie
1955
78%

House of Bamboo

Actor
Sandy Dawson
Movie
1955
85%

The Naked SpurStream

Actor
Ben Vandergroat
Movie
1953
100%

Horizons West

Actor
Dan Hammond
Movie
1952

Clash by NightStream

Actor
Earl Pfeiffer
Movie
1952
63%

Flying LeathernecksStream

Actor
Capt. Carl `'Griff'` Griffin
Movie
1951
75%

On Dangerous GroundStream

Actor
Jim Wilson
Movie
1951
90%

Best of the BadmenStream

Actor
Jefferson "Jeff" Clanton
Movie
1951

Born to Be BadStream

Actor
Nick Bradley
Movie
1950
71%

The Set-UpStream

Actor
Stoker
Movie
1949
85%

Act of Violence

Actor
Joe Parkson
Movie
1949
94%

The Boy With Green HairStream

Actor
Dr. Evans
Movie
1948
80%

Berlin ExpressStream

Actor
Robert Lindley
Movie
1948
80%

Return of the Bad MenStream

Actor
Sundance Kid
Movie
1948

CrossfireStream

Actor
Montgomery
Movie
1947
88%

The Woman on the Beach

Actor
Scott
Movie
1947