# Ryan Cooley

Ryan Hadison Cooley (born May 18, 1988) is a Canadian consultant and former actor. He is best known for his role as James Tiberius "J.T." Yorke on Degrassi: The Next Generation which he starred in from 2001 until 2007.
He is currently the Vice President of Konrad Group, a digitial agency that creates apps and products.

## Career

Prior to joining the Degrassi cast, he had a two-year run as Pleskit, the alien lead in the television series I Was a Sixth Grade Alien. Cooley's other television credits include the series, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Queer as Folk, Lexx: The Series and Life with Derek. He has also appeared in the features Sachsenhausen 1944, Toy Men, Disney Channel film The Color of Friendship, the Animal Planet film Cybermutt and CBC television film Happy Christmas Miss King alongside his Degrassi co-star Lauren Collins.
In 2001, Cooley began appearing on Degrassi: The Next Generation as a regular character in the first season of the show and continued until his character's death in 2007, the show’s sixth season. In 2002, Cooley was nominated for a Young Artist Award (LA) for Best Performance in a TV Comedy Series for the show.
Cooley has also appeared in the 2007 film The Tracey Fragments with Elliot Page.
In 2012, Cooley guest starred in a YouTube miniseries Millie and Midge, in episodes 2 and 4 as Parker.
Cooley was to appear in former co-star Drake's 2018 music video for the single "I'm Upset," however he declined due to believing it was a scam. The video was set around a Degrassi reunion.

## Personal life

Following his departure from Degrassi, Cooley took a break from acting and attended the University of Toronto where he studied theatre.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1998 | After | Johnathan Madison | Short film |
| 1998 | Happy Christmas, Miss King | Daniel King | Television film |
| 2000 | The Color of Friendship | Billy | Television film |
| 2003 | Cybermutt | Nino | Television film |
| 2005 | God's Goodness | Mike | Short film |
| 2007 | The Tracey Fragments | David Goldberg | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1999 | Real Kids, Real Adventures | Bud Toole | Episode: "Amy to the Rescue: The Amy Toole Story" |
| 1999–2001 | I Was a Sixth Grade Alien | Pleskit | Main role |
| 2000 | Are You Afraid of the Dark? | Waif Kid | 3 episodes |
| 2001 | Queer as Folk | Hank Cameron | Supporting role |
| 2001 | Lexx | Digby | 3 episodes |
| 2001–2007 | Degrassi: The Next Generation | J.T. Yorke | Main cast |
| 2005 | Life with Derek | Frank | Episode: "The Poxfather" |
| 2010 | The Dating Guy | Booyah's son | Voice, episode: "Weekend at Booyah's" |
| 2012 | Lost Girl | Website Owner | Episode: "Midnight Lamp" |
| 2013–2015 | Oh No! It's an Alien Invasion | Louis | Voice, main cast |
| 2014 | BeyWarriors: BeyRaiderz | Task Landau | Voice, main cast |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| 2002 | Young Artist Awards | Best Ensemble in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) | Degrassi: The Next Generation | Won |
| 2002 | Young Artist Awards | Best Performance in a TV Comedy Series - Leading Young Actor | Degrassi: The Next Generation | Nominated |
| 2003 | Young Artist Awards | Best Ensemble in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) | Degrassi: The Next Generation | Nominated |
| 2005 | Young Artist Awards | Outstanding Young Performers in a TV Series | Degrassi: The Next Generation | Nominated |
| 2006 | Young Artist Awards | Best Young Ensemble in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) | Degrassi: The Next Generation | Nominated |