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Ryan McPartlin
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Ryan McPartlin

Ryan McPartlin makes his primetime television debut as Riley Martin, the younger live-in boyfriend of Fran Reeves (Fran Drescher) on The WB's new romantic comedy, Living With Fran.

McPartlin and his three siblings were raised in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. His love of sports earned him the spot of captain of his high school football team. McPartlin was recruited by the University of Illinois to play football, however, an injury during his junior year brought his dream of making it to the NFL to a halt. McPartlin then decided that he would give his other interests, movies and television, a try. While attending the University of Illinois, McPartlin signed up for a student exchange program abroad at the University of New South Wales in Australia. While there, McPartlin visited the National Institute of Dramatic Arts, a school Mel Gibson attended. It was then that he decided to take the less traditional path of becoming an actor. He graduated from University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Speech Communications, and then was determined to make his way to Hollywood.

Upon his return to Chicago, McPartlin worked countless jobs, including bartending and selling life insurance. The day after his birthday in 1998, on the Fourth of July, McPartlin declared his own independence, packed up and moved his life to Los Angeles. He immediately enrolled in a summer program at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Pasadena, and was later accepted into their three-year program. Eager to take his career to the next level, he studied under famed acting coach, Janet Alhanti.

Ironically, McPartlin landed his first job as a guest star on The Nanny, and appeared in a number of national TV and print campaigns, including modeling in the Abercrombie & Fitch catalogue. He focused on his acting classes and shied away from modeling full time, choosing to wait tables and bartend in between acting gigs. Originally, he even turned down the chance to screen test for the role of Hank on the daytime drama Passions. However, over a year later, when the show came back to him a second time and made him an offer he couldn't refuse, McPartlin happily accepted the role of Hank Bennett, which he portrayed for three years. While on the show, he also guest starred on Three Sisters, According to Jim, Still Standing and North Shore, to name a few.

McPartlin continues to hone his craft and is constantly striving to be the best actor he can be. He also plays golf, football, basketball and loves to snowboard, wakeboard and, of course, go to the gym.

McPartlin lives in Los Angeles, California, with his wife.


Note: This profile was written in or before 2005.

Ryan McPartlin Facts

OccupationActor
BirthdayJuly 3, 1975 (48)
SignCancer
BirthplaceChicago, Illinois, USA
Height6' 3" (1m91)  How tall is Ryan McPartlin compared to you?

Selected Filmography

Not available.