Ryan Spahn

Ryan Spahn is an American actor, writer, director, and playwright. A Drama Desk Award–winning actor,[1] Spahn is 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 many national commercials, including Snickers: "Get Dunked On by Patrick Ewing", Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal, Levi’s: "Make Them Your Own", and NY Lotto: "Fat Wallet".[5]

As a filmmaker, he wrote and directed the feature film Nora Highland (2020), which premiered at NewFest, and was later distributed internationally.[6]

Spahn has performed in numerous 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]

Career

Theater / Stage

Year Title Venue / Company Role / Notes Ref
2025 Richard II Red Bull Theater (Off-Broadway) Bagot / Welsh Captain [11]
2025 Danger and Opportunity East Village Basement (Off-Broadway) Christian [12]
2024 The Antiquities Playwrights Horizons (Off-Broadway) Man 4 [13]
2024 Jordans The Public Theater (Off-Broadway) Ryan [14]
2023 Merry Me New York Theatre Workshop (Off-Broadway) Pvt. Willy Memnon [15]
2022 Good Enemy Audible Theater at Minetta Lane (Off-Broadway) White Boyfriend [16]
2022 Jane Anger New Ohio Theatre / Shakespeare Theatre Company Francis [17]
2020 Mr. Toole 59E59 Theaters John Kennedy Toole [18]
2020 How to Load a Musket 59E59 Theaters Ensemble [19]
2019 Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow MCC Theater / Williamstown Theatre Festival Kulygin [20]
2019 Still at Risk Theatre for the New City Byron [21]
2018 Daniel's Husband Westside Theatre / Primary Stages (Off-Broadway) Daniel [22]
2018 Summer and Smoke Classic Stage Company / Transport Group Archie Kramer [23]
2016 Exit Strategy Primary Stages (Off-Broadway) Ricky [24]
2015 Gloria Vineyard Theatre (Off-Broadway) Dean [25]

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref
2024 Parachute Hudson Feature film; directorial debut of Brittany Snow [26]
2020 Shirley Drunk Cad Feature film; directed by Josephine Decker [27]
2020 Nora Highland Writer / Director Feature film; premiered at NewFest [28]
2017 Woven Wallace / Writer / Producer Feature film; premiered at the LA Film Festival [29]
2014 Grantham & Rose Erik Henry / Writer / Producer Feature film [30]
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 [31]
1998 Polish Wedding Kid Feature film; directed by Theresa Connelly [32]


Television

Year Title Role Network / Platform Ref
2025 Sub/Liminal Ben Nebula [33][34][35]
2025 Zero Day Leon Netflix [36]
2024 Elsbeth Danny Beck CBS [37]
2023 American Horror Story: Delicate Derek FX [38]
2023 Succession Coop HBO [39]
2022 Chicago P.D. Charlie Kalzenski NBC [40]
2021 Modern Love Billy Amazon [41]
2021 The Bite Joel Spectrum Originals [42]
2019 The Blacklist Roger Price NBC [43]
2015–2017 Cocktails & Classics Producer / Consulting Producer / Creative Consultant Logo TV [44]
2015 What's Your Emergency Sammy Halpern Web series [45]
2000 Star Trek: Voyager Borg (teenage) UPN [46]

Playwriting

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Ref
2025 Drama Desk Award Special Award Danger and Opportunity Won [52]
2025 Jeff Award Ensemble The Antiquities Nominated [53]
2017 Time Out Chicago Theater Award Best Supporting Performance Gloria Nominated [54]
2016 Barrymore Award Outstanding Ensemble Exit Strategy Nominated [55]
2011 LA Weekly Theatre Awards Best Comedy Ensemble Stupid Kids Winner [56]

Publications and essays

Spahn has written essays and commentary for American Theatre Magazine, Talkhouse, USA Today, and Metro Weekly.[57][58][59]

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".[57]

His essays include:

  • "Why I Keep Writing Letters to Adrienne Kennedy" (American Theatre Magazine)[57]
  • "How You Can Count on Me Brought My Family Back Together" (Talkhouse)[60]
  • "For Michael" (Talkhouse)[61]
  • "Opinion: 'Trump-Biden Voter Conversation'" (USA Today), on audio journalism and representation in political discourse.[62]

Personal life

Spahn lives between New York City and Los Angeles with his longtime partner, actor Michael Urie.[63] He was previously in a relationship with actor Matt Dallas, discussed in his essay "For Michael."[64] Spahn has also maintained a decades-long friendship with actor Tessa Thompson, whom he met early in his career.[65]

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. ^ "Interview: Inspired by True Events, Ryan Spahn Makes His Playwriting Debut". TheaterMania. July 16, 2024. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  4. ^ "Star Trek: Voyager — "Collective"". StarTrek.com. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  5. ^ "Ryan Spahn — IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  6. ^ "Nora Highland writer-director Ryan Spahn on casting queer actors". The Queer Review. March 31, 2021. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  7. ^ "Nine Actors Create Nearly 50 Characters In THE ANTIQUITIES". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  8. ^ "Finding pride in your work". Interlochen Center for the Arts. June 18, 2019. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  9. ^ "Ryan Spahn — Artist page". Talkhouse. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  10. ^ "Ryan Spahn — Guild Hall biography". Guild Hall. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  11. ^ "Richard II — Red Bull Theater". Red Bull Theater. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  12. ^ "Ryan Spahn — About The Artists". About The Artists. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  13. ^ "The Antiquities — Playwrights Horizons Production History". Playwrights Horizons. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  14. ^ "Jordans — The Public Theater". The Public Theater. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  15. ^ "NYTW — Production Archive". New York Theatre Workshop. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  16. ^ "Review: 'Good Enemy' Examines What We Choose to Forget". The New York Times. November 6, 2022. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  17. ^ "Review: In 'Jane Anger,' a Feminist Riposte to Shakespeare". The New York Times. March 10, 2022. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  18. ^ "Mr. Toole — 59E59 Theaters". 59E59 Theaters. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  19. ^ "Review: In 'How to Load a Musket,' History Is a Living Thing". The New York Times. January 19, 2020. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  20. ^ "Review: 'Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow' Is a Riotous 'Three Sisters'". The New York Times. July 18, 2019. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  21. ^ "Still at Risk — Theatre for the New City". Theatre for the New City. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  22. ^ "Review: 'Daniel's Husband' Puts a Face on a Fight for Gay Rights". The New York Times. October 22, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  23. ^ "Review: 'Summer and Smoke' Is a Fever Dream of Desire". The New York Times. October 23, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  24. ^ "Exit Strategy — Primary Stages". Primary Stages. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  25. ^ "Review: 'Gloria,' a Workplace War Zone in Branden Jacobs-Jenkins's New Play". The New York Times. June 18, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  26. ^ "'Parachute' Review: A Gentle, Earnest Indie About Love, Self-Loathing and Other Dependencies". Variety. April 19, 2023. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  27. ^ "Shirley movie review & film summary (2020)". RogerEbert.com. June 5, 2020. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  28. ^ "NewFest Film Festival: Ryan Spahn on Shooting his Play 'Nora Highland'". Variety. October 27, 2020. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  29. ^ "Woven — LA Film Festival Premiere". Deadline. June 18, 2017. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  30. ^ "Grantham & Rose". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  31. ^ "He's Way More Famous Than You Review". Variety. April 30, 2013. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  32. ^ "Polish Wedding movie review & film summary (1998)". RogerEbert.com. July 24, 1998. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  33. ^ "Nebula Announces Broadway-Studded Cast As Dark Anthology Series "Sub/liminal" Starts Production". Nebula Press. May 22, 2025. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  34. ^ "'Sub/liminal' Sets Leads". Variety. May 22, 2025. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  35. ^ "Nebula Orders 'Sub/liminal' Scripted Original". Deadline. January 28, 2025. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  36. ^ "Robert De Niro to Star in Netflix Limited Series 'Zero Day'". The Hollywood Reporter. March 1, 2023. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  37. ^ "Elsbeth — Official Series Page". CBS. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  38. ^ "'AHS: Delicate' Trailer: Emma Roberts, Kim Kardashian". The Hollywood Reporter. September 6, 2023. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  39. ^ "'Succession' Season 4 Trailer Released". The Hollywood Reporter. March 2, 2023. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  40. ^ "Chicago P.D. Episode Listings". NBC. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  41. ^ "Modern Love — Prime Video Series Page". Prime Video. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  42. ^ "The Bite — Official Press Page". Spectrum Originals. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  43. ^ "The Blacklist — NBC Series Page". NBC. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  44. ^ "Cocktails & Classics — Logo TV". Logo TV. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  45. ^ "What's Your Emergency Series Info". Revry. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  46. ^ "Star Trek: Voyager — "Collective" Episode Page". StarTrek.com. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  47. ^ "Off-Broadway News: Inspired by True Events Off-Broadway World Premiere Finds Full Cast". Playbill. June 5, 2024. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  48. ^ "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.
  49. ^ "Interview: Inspired by True Events, Ryan Spahn Makes His Playwriting Debut". TheaterMania. July 16, 2024. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  50. ^ "Ryan Spahn — Guild Hall biography". Guild Hall. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  51. ^ "Ryan Spahn — Guild Hall biography". Guild Hall. 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. ^ a b c 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. ^ "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. ^ "Opinion: 'Trump-Biden Voter Conversation'". USA Today. December 5, 2020. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  63. ^ "The Set-Up: Michael Urie & Ryan Spahn". Out. January 16, 2014. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  64. ^ "For Michael". Talkhouse. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  65. ^ "Tessa Thompson: Building Her Own Path". Refinery29. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
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