Ryan Spahn

Ryan Spahn
Ryan Spahn
Spahn in 2025
Born
Ryan Christopher Spahn

(1980-06-18) June 18, 1980 (age 46)
Wilmington, Delaware
EducationInterlochen Arts Academy
Juilliard School
OccupationActor
Years active1998-present

Ryan Spahn is a Drama Desk Award–winning American actor, known for his Off-Broadway work including Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ Gloria, a 2016 Pulitzer Prize finalist for Drama, 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.

Early life and education

Spahn was born on June 18, 1980, grew up in Troy, Michigan, and attended Interlochen Arts Academy. He later earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Juilliard School. Spahn is of Jewish, Irish, and Scottish descent.

Career

Spahn began his on-screen career as a teenager on Star Trek: Voyager, portraying the Borg child "First" in the episode "Collective." 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".[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.

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.

Filmography

Theater / Stage

YearTitleVenue / CompanyRole / NotesRef
2026 An American Daughter Pershing Square Signature Center / La Femme Theatre Productions (Off-Broadway) Morrow McCarthy
2025Richard IIRed Bull Theater / Astor Place Theatre (Off-Broadway)Bagot / Welsh Captain
2025Danger and OpportunityEast Village Basement (Off-Broadway)Christian
2024The AntiquitiesPlaywrights Horizons (Off-Broadway) / Goodman TheatreMan 4
2024JordansThe Public Theater (Off-Broadway)Ryan
2023Merry MeNew York Theatre Workshop (Off-Broadway)Pvt. Willy Memnon
2022Good EnemyAudible Theater at Minetta Lane (Off-Broadway)White Boyfriend
2022Jane AngerNew Ohio Theatre (Off-Off-Broadway) / Shakespeare Theatre CompanyFrancis
2020Mr. Toole59E59 Theaters (Off-Broadway)John Kennedy Toole
2020How to Load a Musket59E59 Theaters (Off-Broadway)Ensemble
2019Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow MoscowMCC Theater (Off-Broadway) / Williamstown Theatre FestivalKulygin
2019Still at RiskTheatre for the New City (Off-Off-Broadway)Byron
2018HamletShakespeare Theatre CompanyRozencrantz
2018Daniel's HusbandWestside Theatre / Primary Stages (Off-Broadway) / Penguin Rep TheatreDaniel
2018Summer and SmokeClassic Stage Company / Transport Group (Off-Broadway)Archie Kramer
2016Exit StrategyPrimary Stages (Off-Broadway) / Philadelphia Theatre CompanyRicky
2015GloriaVineyard Theatre (Off-Broadway) / Goodman TheatreDean
2014TribesActors Theatre of LouisvilleDaniel

Film

YearTitleRoleNotesRef
2024ParachuteHudsonFeature film; premiered at SXSW Film Festival; directorial debut of Brittany Snow
2020ShirleyDrunk CadFeature film; premiered at Sundance Film Festival; directed by Josephine Decker
2020Nora HighlandWriter / DirectorFeature film; premiered at NewFest
2017WovenWallace / Writer / ProducerFeature film; premiered at the LA Film Festival
2014Grantham & RoseErik Henry / Writer / ProducerFeature film; premiered at Cleveland International Film Festival
2013He's Way More Famous Than YouRyan / Writer / ProducerFeature film; co-written by Halley Feiffer and directed by Michael Urie; premiered at Slamdance Film Festival
1998Polish WeddingKidFeature film; directed by Theresa Connelly

Television

YearTitleRoleNetwork / PlatformRef
2025Sub/LiminalBenNebula
2025Zero DayLeonNetflix
2024ElsbethDanny BeckCBS
2023American Horror Story: DelicateDerekFX
2023SuccessionCoopHBO
2022Chicago P.D.Charlie KalzenskiNBC
2021Modern LoveBillyAmazon
2021The BiteJoelSpectrum Originals
2019The BlacklistRoger PriceNBC
2010Ugly BettyGusABC
2015–2017Cocktails & ClassicsProducer / Consulting Producer / Creative ConsultantLogo TV
2015What's Your EmergencySammy HalpernWeb series
2004Tanner on TannerRyanSundance Channel; directed by Robert Altman
2000Star Trek: VoyagerBorg (teenage)UPN

Playwriting

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef
2025Drama Desk AwardSpecial AwardDanger and OpportunityWon
2025Jeff AwardEnsembleThe AntiquitiesNominated
2017Time Out Chicago Theater AwardBest Supporting PerformanceGloriaNominated
2016Barrymore AwardOutstanding EnsembleExit StrategyNominated
2011LA Weekly Theatre AwardsBest Comedy EnsembleStupid KidsWinner

Publications and essays

Spahn has written essays and commentary for American Theatre Magazine, Talkhouse, USA Today, and Metro Weekly.

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".

His essays include:

Personal life

Spahn lives between New York City and Los Angeles with his longtime partner, actor Michael Urie. He was previously in a relationship with actor Matt Dallas, discussed in his essay "For Michael." Spahn has also maintained a decades-long friendship with actor Tessa Thompson, whom he met early in his career.

References

  1. ↑ "Drama Desk Award Winners 2025: The Full List". Playbill. June 2025. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  2. ↑ "2016 Pulitzer Prizes for Drama". Pulitzer.org. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  3. 1 2 "Interview: Inspired by True Events, Ryan Spahn Makes His Playwriting Debut". TheaterMania. July 16, 2024. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Finding pride in your work". Interlochen Center for the Arts. June 18, 2019. Archived from the original on August 2, 2021. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Ryan Spahn — Artist page". Talkhouse. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 "Ryan Spahn". Guild Hall. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  7. ↑ Bloom, Kelsey (December 5, 2020). "Trump–Biden voter conversation: Two men discuss politics, identity and America". USA Today. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Star Trek: Voyager — "Collective"". StarTrek.com. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Ryan Spahn — IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Nora Highland writer-director Ryan Spahn on casting queer actors". The Queer Review. March 31, 2021. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Nine Actors Create Nearly 50 Characters In THE ANTIQUITIES". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Sarna Lapine to Direct An American Daughter at La Femme Theatre Productions". BroadwayWorld. March 19, 2026. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  13. ↑ "An American Daughter at the Irene Diamond Stage (2026)". About the Artists. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Richard II — Red Bull Theater". Red Bull Theater. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Ryan Spahn — About The Artists". About The Artists. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  16. ↑ "The Antiquities — Playwrights Horizons Production History". Playwrights Horizons. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Jordans — The Public Theater". The Public Theater. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  18. ↑ "NYTW — Production Archive". New York Theatre Workshop. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Review: 'Good Enemy' Examines What We Choose to Forget". The New York Times. November 6, 2022. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Review: In 'Jane Anger,' a Feminist Riposte to Shakespeare". The New York Times. March 10, 2022. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  21. ↑ "Mr. Toole — 59E59 Theaters". 59E59 Theaters. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  22. ↑ "Review: In 'How to Load a Musket,' History Is a Living Thing". The New York Times. January 19, 2020. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  23. ↑ "Review: 'Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow' Is a Riotous 'Three Sisters'". The New York Times. July 18, 2019. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  24. ↑ "Still at Risk — Theatre for the New City". Theatre for the New City. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  25. ↑ "Review: 'Daniel's Husband' Puts a Face on a Fight for Gay Rights". The New York Times. October 22, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  26. ↑ "Review: 'Summer and Smoke' Is a Fever Dream of Desire". The New York Times. October 23, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  27. ↑ "Exit Strategy — Primary Stages". Primary Stages. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  28. ↑ "Review: 'Gloria,' a Workplace War Zone in Branden Jacobs-Jenkins's New Play". The New York Times. June 18, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  29. ↑ "'Parachute' Review: A Gentle, Earnest Indie About Love, Self-Loathing and Other Dependencies". Variety. April 19, 2023. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  30. ↑ "Shirley movie review & film summary (2020)". RogerEbert.com. June 5, 2020. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  31. ↑ "NewFest Film Festival: Ryan Spahn on Shooting his Play 'Nora Highland'". Variety. October 27, 2020. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  32. ↑ "Woven — LA Film Festival Premiere". Deadline. June 18, 2017. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  33. ↑ "Grantham & Rose". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  34. ↑ "He's Way More Famous Than You Review". Variety. April 30, 2013. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  35. ↑ "Polish Wedding movie review & film summary (1998)". RogerEbert.com. July 24, 1998. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  36. ↑ "Nebula Announces Broadway-Studded Cast As Dark Anthology Series "Sub/liminal" Starts Production". Nebula Press. May 22, 2025. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  37. ↑ "'Sub/liminal' Sets Leads". Variety. May 22, 2025. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  38. ↑ "Nebula Orders 'Sub/liminal' Scripted Original". Deadline. January 28, 2025. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  39. ↑ "Robert De Niro to Star in Netflix Limited Series 'Zero Day'". The Hollywood Reporter. March 1, 2023. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  40. ↑ "Elsbeth — Official Series Page". CBS. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  41. ↑ "'AHS: Delicate' Trailer: Emma Roberts, Kim Kardashian". The Hollywood Reporter. September 6, 2023. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  42. ↑ "'Succession' Season 4 Trailer Released". The Hollywood Reporter. March 2, 2023. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  43. ↑ "Chicago P.D. Episode Listings". NBC. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  44. ↑ "Modern Love — Prime Video Series Page". Prime Video. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  45. ↑ "The Bite — Official Press Page". Spectrum Originals. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  46. ↑ "The Blacklist — NBC Series Page". NBC. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  47. ↑ "Cocktails & Classics — Logo TV". Logo TV. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  48. ↑ "What's Your Emergency Series Info". Revry. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  49. ↑ "Star Trek: Voyager — "Collective" Episode Page". StarTrek.com. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  50. ↑ "Off-Broadway News: Inspired by True Events Off-Broadway World Premiere Finds Full Cast". Playbill. June 5, 2024. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  51. ↑ "Inspired By True Events receives developmental workshops with New York Stage & Film, Vineyard Theatre, and EST". Out of the Box Theatrics. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  52. ↑ "Drama Desk Award Winners 2025: The Full List". Playbill. June 2025. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  53. ↑ "Equity Nominees — Jeff Awards". Jeff Awards. September 2025. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  54. ↑ "Time Out Chicago Theater Awards 2017". Time Out Chicago. December 2017. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  55. ↑ "Barrymore Award nominations cite 41 productions". WHYY. August 10, 2016. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  56. ↑ "LA Weekly Theatre Awards 2011 Winners". ArtsBeatLA. April 5, 2011. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  57. 1 2 3 Spahn, Ryan; Kennedy, Adrienne (March 8, 2016). "The Landscape of Memory: Letters From Playwright Adrienne Kennedy". American Theatre. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  58. ↑ "Ryan Spahn — Talkhouse Author Page". Talkhouse. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  59. 1 2 "Opinion: 'Trump-Biden Voter Conversation'". USA Today. December 5, 2020. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  60. ↑ "How 'You Can Count on Me' Brought My Family Back Together". Talkhouse. November 12, 2023. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  61. ↑ "For Michael". Talkhouse. March 2022. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  62. ↑ "The Set-Up: Michael Urie & Ryan Spahn". Out. January 16, 2014. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  63. ↑ "For Michael". Talkhouse. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  64. ↑ "Tessa Thompson: Building Her Own Path". Refinery29. Retrieved October 10, 2025.