Ryan Cassidy

Short Biography

Ryan Cassidy is the youngest of the Cassidy brothers and is often placed into context with brothers David (half-brother), Shaun and Patrick or parents Shirley Jones and the late Jack Cassidy. At first Ryan was unswayed by the lure of show business and considered a career in law enforcement. However, after graduating from Beverly Hills High School in 1984, he embarked on an acting career that lasted through the late `80s. During this time, he appeared in the Lionel Ritchie music video "Penny Lover", the NBC sitcom "The Facts of Life" as Kevin Metcalf (a role designed around Ryan himself) and as Jake Hittman in an episode of the short-lived CBS series "Jesse Hawkes". He left show business in the `90s and pursued different avenues, finally settling on work behind the scenes, working first in the art department at Jim Henson Productions and later set dressing for such shows as "King of Queens", "My Wife and Kids", "According to Jim" and, most recently, "Summerland". In the spring of 2000, Ryan decided to actively re-establish himself as an actor and is pursuing more dramatic roles. His portrayal of Chris McPherson in the 2002 stage production of "The Family Game" earned the praise of Daily Variety and he just finished working on the independent film "Paradise".