Robert Ryan: Movies & Box Office

Robert Bushnell Ryan (November 11, 1909 - July 11, 1973) was an esteemed American actor and activist. He was widely recognized for his portrayals of hardened police officers and ruthless villains, performing on screen for over three decades. Ryan was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the film noir drama Crossfire in 1947. Born and raised in Chicago, he graduated from Dartmouth College in 1932. Ryan held a remarkable array of jobs after graduation, before deciding to pursue acting in 1936 following his father's death.

He joined a theater group in Chicago in 1937 and later enrolled in the Max Reinhardt Workshop in Hollywood. Ryan made his way to the silver screen in the 1939 play Too Many Husbands, which led to an offer from Paramount. Despite facing initial rejection, he was eventually offered a $75 per week contract. Ryan was signed by RKO after performing on Broadway in a production of the Clash by Night. His popularity grew in the 1940s, featuring in numerous successful films including Tender Comrade and Marine Raiders. During World War II, Ryan served as a drill instructor at Camp Pendleton, in Southern California, and took up painting. His breakthrough role came in Crossfire, for which he earned a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the Academy Awards. Ryan continued to work despite being diagnosed with inoperable cancer in the early 1970s, remarking that he had a 'good shot at life.'