Jack Ryder (actor)
Jack Ryder | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jack Seigfried Ryder 21 September 1981 |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Spouse | (divorced)[2] |
Jack Seigfried Ryder (born 21 September 1981)[1] is an English actor, best known for playing Jamie Mitchell in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders from 1998 to 2002. He has subsequently established himself as a film and theatre director.
Biography
On leaving Eastenders in 2003, Ryder then aged 21, performed as Justin Timberlake on celebrity Stars in Their Eyes (which he won), appeared in the pantomime Sleeping Beauty at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury and was cast in a recurring role on Five's Family Affairs which he pulled out of when he learned that the series was soon to be axed. In 2004, he played a role in the ITV crime drama MIT: Murder Investigation Team and appeared in a play broadcast on BBC Radio 4.
After a considerable period of time out of the limelight because of personal commitments Ryder in 2006 starred in the British film Popcorn which was released in the spring of 2007. Ryder was due to become a regular character in the new ITV1 daytime series The Royal Today, a contemporary spin-off of The Royal, but he subsequently withdrew from playing the role.[3]
In 2007 aged 26, Ryder appeared in the play The Safari Party by Tim Firth and in Kenneth Branagh's production of "The Play What I Wrote" which toured the UK extensively.
In Spring 2008 he was in Christopher Luscombe's production of Alan Bennett's play Single Spies playing opposite Nigel Havers. Then Ryder played Romeo in Michael Bogdanov's production of Romeo and Juliet with Sara Lloyd Gregory as Juliet.
In October 2008, Ryder joined The Archers as Ryan.
From 2009, he played the photographer Laurence in the West End production of Calendar Girls at the Noël Coward Theatre, where he was also the assistant director. He presently continues as associate director of Calendar Girls, responsible for all theatre productions world-wide.
In December 2010 Ryder wrote and directed his first short film, an adaptation of Mary Grace Dembeck's short story Act of Memory starring Claire Skinner, Owen Teale and Anna Massey which was shot on location in London.
In February/March 2011 he was in Thea Sharrock's critically accaimed production of David Hare's Plenty at Sheffield Theatres. In April 2011 Ryder directed his own new production of "Calendar Girls" with Lesley Joseph, Sue Holderness, Deena Payne, Helen Fraser and Kacey Ainsworth, which was widely praised and toured through 2011.
In November 2011 Ryder started filming Henry V playing the part of Court for Neal Street Productions, Sam Mendes and the BBC.
In December 2011, Ryder's Film company Hendrix Productions acquired the film rights to Torey Hayden's New York Times best selling book GHOST GIRL..
January 2012, Ryder directed a new stage production of CALENDAR GIRLS, this time with the original Calendar Girl herself, Lynda Bellingham. He directed the final ever production and last-ever UK tour in September 2012.
February 2012, Ryder provided the voice of Zael from the English release of the video game The Last Story on the Wii.
It is announced that Ryder's short film Act of Memory has been officially selected for the Garden State Film Festival and the Myrtle Beach Film festival in America. March 2012 sees the Newport Beach Film Festival in California announce that Act of Memory is the official selection of a British film for its short film competition.
In May, Ryder and Act of Memory had the honour of being selected and the film screened at the 2012 CANNES FILM FESTIVAL, and was also selected for the Edinburgh short film festival, in August 2012 the film competed in the Rhode Island International Film Festival which is an Oscar qualifying competition and at the Portabello fIlm festival in London and was also selected for the prestigious Chicago International Shorts Film Festival in September 2012
SKY arts select "Act of Memory" as one of their Christmas films and choose to screen it twelve times over the period including their most prestigious time slots on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
February 2013, saw Ryder become Associate Director on the new stage play THE FULL MONTY by Oscar-Winning writer Simon Beaufoy which opened at the Lyceum Theatre Sheffield to rave reviews and is now on a major national tour. The Full Monty will now transfer to the Noël Coward theatre in Londons West End in February 2014
Personal life
Ryder is the son of Jack Hues (real name Jeremy Allan Ryder), the founder of 1980s New Wave band Wang Chung. He married former Hear’Say singer turned actress Kym Marsh in St Albans, Hertfordshire,[4] on 10 August 2002 and, after settling in St Albans, the couple had early difficulties and split for a short while before reconciling. In light of Kym wanting a regular role in north-west-produced dramas and her wanting to be closer to her family, the couple moved to Manchester in 2004
It was announced on 20 March 2008 that Kym and Jack had decided to separate and then subsequently divorced.
Ryder now lives in London. He is a supporter of Newcastle United F.C..[5]
References
- ^ a b "Easy Ryder". All About Soap (1). Attic Futura (UK) Ltd: 37. October 1999.
- ^ "Marsh, Ryder granted 'quickie' divorce - Showbiz News". Digital Spy. 2009-03-26. Retrieved 2012-01-03.
- ^ "Soaps - News - Ryder quits 'Royal Today' before first ep". Digital Spy. 2007-07-17. Retrieved 2012-01-03.
- ^ Marriages England and Wales 1984-2005
- ^ "Newcastle United Famous Fans - Newcastle United Celebrity Fans". Ave-it.net. Retrieved 2012-01-03.
External links
- Jack Ryder at IMDb