90210

Background:

“I think my first goal realistically is to make a living as an actor. That would be a huge accomplishment. I've more or less been able to do that since I got out of school. I'd love to do one great film. That'd be really fantastic.” Ryan Eggold (on his goals as an actor)

Actor Ryan Eggold is probably best known to television viewers as Ryan Matthews, a teacher at West Beverly Hills High School, on the television show “90210” (The CW, 2008-2009). Entering show business in 2006 after graduating from the University of Southern California's theatre department, he got his feet wet with guest or recurring roles on such TV series as “Brothers & Sisters,” “Veronica Mars,” “Young and the Restless,” and “Entourage” before landing his first regular gig on the short-lived FX show “Dirt” in 2008. Several months later, he began his prominent gig on “90210.”

After starring in two short movies, Eggold is set to make his feature film acting debut in “Trophy Kids” (2010).

USC Graduate

Childhood and Family:

Ryan James Eggold was born on August 10, 1984, in California. After graduating from Santa Margarita Catholic High School, he attended the University of Southern California's theatre arts department. He completed his studies in 2006.

Ryan can play piano and guitar. He also writes music and sings in a band.

Trophy Kids

Career:

After graduating from USC's prestigious theatre department, Ryan Eggold got his start on television in guest spots on the shows “Related,” “Brothers & Sisters,” “Veronica Mars” and “The War at Home” (all 2006). The same year, he also played the title role in the short film “Con: The Corruption of Shawn Helm,” which was written and directed by Brandon Bennett. He made his professional stage debut in the applauded Ahmanson Theatre/Center Theatre Group production “Dead End.”

Eggold next portrayed Barista in three episodes of the CBS long-running soap opera “Young and the Restless” and appeared twice in the popular HBO drama series “Entourage” (both 2007). He also had a five-episode role on Cartoon Network's first live-action, animated television series, “Out of Jimmy's Head” (2007), and made a guest appearance as Jerry on MTV's comedy show “Nick Cannon Presents: Short Circuitz” (2007).

Eggold eventually scored his first regular role on “Dirt,” a dramatic series created by Matthew Carnahan and starring Courteney Cox, Ian Hart, Laura Allen, Will McCormack, Josh Stewart and Jeffrey Nordling. Playing Farber Kauffman, he joined the FX show during season 2 in March 2008 and stayed there until its finale in April 2008. The same year, he could also be seen in the 13-minute thriller movie “Bloom,” in which he starred alongside Maria Forero, Jose Yenque, Ronnie Alvarez, Pete Brown and Alvin Bellow. The film was helmed by Lance Larson and written by David Edward Norman.

However, Eggold did not enjoy his first real success until he won the regular role of Ryan Matthews on the teen drama “90210,” whose regular cast members also include Rob Estes, Shenae Grimes, Tristan Wilds, AnnaLynne McCord and Jessica Stroup. A contemporary spin-off of “Beverly Hills, 90210,” the show premiered in the U.S. on The CW network on September 2, 2008, and received a 2009 People's Choice nomination for Favorite New TV Drama and a 2009 Prism nomination for Drama Series Multi-Episode Storyline. Commenting about his character on the show, he stated, “He's just out of college and comes from a very moneyed background himself, a similar kind of town on the east coast. He got completely into drugs and was kind of a wild child and now he's turned around and wants to show these kids that there's a bigger world out there outside of Beverly Hills. I know he'll be involved with a student. She comes to me for support because she thinks I'm the only one who understands her. I try and keep it professional at first. I don't know where it goes from there.” He added, “He really wants to instill in the kids some sense of character. More than wanting his students to read a book, he wants them to see life outside of Beverly Hills. His attitude is more unorthodox than his teaching methods though. He sometimes speaks his mind when it's inappropriate. He doesn't live up to the expectations of a high school teacher, doesn't confine himself to the rules.”

Recently, in 2009, Eggold had the prominent guest role of Tevin in Showtime's new series, “Unites States of Tara,” starring Toni Collette. As for his upcoming plans, he will play Max Wolfowitz in the movie “Trophy Kids” (2010), for director/writer Josh Sugarman. He is also rumored to have a role in Eric Amadio's dramatic feature “Walks” (2010).

Awards:
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