About Ryan David Heywood
I never knew how 2 years in Kazakhstan was going to affect my acting career. But I was able to draw on that experience as the roles started to come in - Russian business man, homeless man and a WWII German. What other roles will my experiences walk me into?
My blue eyes and my height tend to make a lot of choices for me. In the eyes of directors it goes from creepy loner to arrogant villain to good-looking sweet leading man. Let my eyes be your crystal ball into the future - the handyman neighbor, the confused rebel, the young broken husband.
I was brought up through the improv/sketch training centers of Chicago - from iO to Annoyance to Second City. The last few years I have added other arrows to my quiver. Meisner Training from The Artistic Home Theatre. Scene Study at Profile's Theatre and Cold Reading at the Acting Studio. The list is growing as I add more arrows to my (yup I get to use that word again) quiver.
I often think about how my acting career is like marathon training. For me it's about the long haul not the sprint. I have to be dedicated to go the distance. I have run 4 marathons, and there is nothing more vulnerable than at the finish line when you are filled with happiness and extreme exhaustion (plus the sweat and smell - yikes!) and the stream of words that come out of my mouth. Two words: No Filter. Just like being in front of a camera or on stage - I get a chance to see what I am made of - I like that challenge. Plus all that training helped me to wear a 1940's speedo, 4 times a week for 2.5 hours at a time.
I have gathered experiences from around the world, walked in the unknown in front of people hundreds of times and put myself into self-induced vulnerable states. I am willing to walk into the unknown with you…are you?
My blue eyes and my height tend to make a lot of choices for me. In the eyes of directors it goes from creepy loner to arrogant villain to good-looking sweet leading man. Let my eyes be your crystal ball into the future - the handyman neighbor, the confused rebel, the young broken husband.
I was brought up through the improv/sketch training centers of Chicago - from iO to Annoyance to Second City. The last few years I have added other arrows to my quiver. Meisner Training from The Artistic Home Theatre. Scene Study at Profile's Theatre and Cold Reading at the Acting Studio. The list is growing as I add more arrows to my (yup I get to use that word again) quiver.
I often think about how my acting career is like marathon training. For me it's about the long haul not the sprint. I have to be dedicated to go the distance. I have run 4 marathons, and there is nothing more vulnerable than at the finish line when you are filled with happiness and extreme exhaustion (plus the sweat and smell - yikes!) and the stream of words that come out of my mouth. Two words: No Filter. Just like being in front of a camera or on stage - I get a chance to see what I am made of - I like that challenge. Plus all that training helped me to wear a 1940's speedo, 4 times a week for 2.5 hours at a time.
I have gathered experiences from around the world, walked in the unknown in front of people hundreds of times and put myself into self-induced vulnerable states. I am willing to walk into the unknown with you…are you?
My Resume
Eyes: Blue Hair: Blonde Height: 6'3" Weight: 180
THEATER
Hauptmann Circle-Machine The Orchestra The Night of the Iguana Marisol Martyr Standin Water Tangerine How You Will Die The Space Behind Your Heart Hardcore Yard Sale The Waiting Room Oops... I Christmased Again Confessions of a Tramp Stamp Fatallica |
Lindbergh Hermann Hannu Wolfgang Homeless Man Dorflinger/Menrath (u/s) Kiel Jerrett Eckels Connor Leo V Justin Bieber Himself Mop |
City Lit Theater Oracle Theatre Akvavit Theatre The Artistic Home Theatre The Artistic Home Theatre Steep Theatre Chemically Imbalanced Comedy The Artistic Home Studio Fury Theatre Cold Basement Dramatics The Artistic Home Studio The Artistic Home Studio Comedy Sportz Theater The Annoyance Theater The Annoyance Theater |
TELEVISION/FILM
Chicago Fire Paramedic Field Chief Such Creatures Lead Actor - Lee Dekker Empty Space Hank Self-Deortation Happy Husband Here Goes Nothing Drunk Wise Guy Scotty Works Out Speedy IMPROVISATION Burrito Wilson Whiskey Rebellion Panic Room |
Dir: Laneuville Dir: Thomas Dir: Choi Dir: Park Dir: Eisenberg Dir: Pal Ensemble Ensemble Ensemble |
NBC Productions 1Kn1ghts Productions Beachwood Pictures Full Spectrum Features Tall Tale Productions Dan Pal Productions The Playground Theatre iO-Chicago Independent |
TRAINING
The Green Room Studio Profile's Training The Acting Studio The Artistic Home iO Training Center Second City Writing Program Jimmy Carrane |
On-Camera Intensive scene study Cold reading Meisner technique Improvisation Sketch writing The Art of Slow Comedy |
David Murphy and Sean Bradley Darryl Cox Adrianne Curry Kathy Scambiaterra, John Mossman, Mary Ann Thebus Noah Gregoropoulos, Michael Patrick O'Brien, Shad Kunkle, Holly Laurent, Jay Sukow Mary Ann Scruggs Jimmy Carrane |
SPECIAL SKILLS
Dog whisperer, Endurance Running, Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Kazakhstan), Yoga, Safe Driver, Welding, Insightfulness
Dog whisperer, Endurance Running, Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Kazakhstan), Yoga, Safe Driver, Welding, Insightfulness