# Jay Ryan (actor)

Jay Ryan (born Jay Bunyan; 29 August 1981) is a New Zealand actor. He is best known for his roles as Jack Scully in Neighbours (2002–2005), Seaman Billy 'Spider' Webb in Sea Patrol (2007–2009), Kevin in Go Girls (2009–2012), Vincent Keller in Beauty & the Beast (2012–2016), Detective Ben Wesley in Mary Kills People (2017–2019) and Bobby in Creamerie (2021–2023).
Ryan made his feature film breakthrough playing adult Ben Hanscom in It Chapter Two (2019), a sequel to the 2017 horror film It, based on the 1986 novel of the same name.

## Career

Under the name Jay Bunyan, he appeared as "Glen" in Scallywag Pirates (2000) and had a minor role in Xena: Warrior Princess. He is known for his portrayal of Jack Scully in the Australian soap opera Neighbours from late 2002 until January 2005.
From 2007 to 2009, Ryan played Seaman William "Billy" Webb a.k.a. Spider in the popular Australian drama, Sea Patrol.
From a theatre background, Ryan has shared the stage with the likes of John Cleese and toured internationally with The Packer, an acclaimed solo show written by NZ/Niuean playwright Dianna Fuemana.
From 2009 to 2012, Ryan played Kevin in the New Zealand comedy/drama series Go Girls. In 2011, he joined the cast of the Australian comedy/drama series Offspring. Also in 2011, Ryan guest starred on the American science fiction series Terra Nova, playing a murderer. For this role, Ryan used an American accent.
In 2012, Ryan was cast as the male lead in the CW's Beauty & the Beast pilot. The CW officially announced the series at the May 2012 Up Fronts in New York.
Ryan starred as the adult Ben Hanscom in the 2019 horror film It Chapter Two, the sequel to It (2017). He shares the character with Jeremy Ray Taylor.

## Personal life

Ryan has a daughter (born 2013) with his wife, the playwright and director, Dianna Fuemana. In March of 2023, Ryan became a Canadian citizen

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2010 | Lou | Cosmo | |
| 2019 | It Chapter Two | Ben Hanscom | Shared role with Jeremy Ray Taylor |
| 2020 | The Furnace | Shaw | |
| 2022 | Muru | Gallagher | |
| 2025 | Wolf Creek: Legacy | TBA | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1998 | Young Hercules | Cadet | Episode: "Keeping Up with the Jasons" |
| 1999 | Xena: Warrior Princess | Zortis (uncredited) | Episode: "Fallen Angel" |
| 2002 | The Tribe | Blue (uncredited) | 2 episodes |
| 2002 | Being Eve | Sam Hooper | Series regular; 13 episodes |
| 2002 | Superfire | Dennis | Television film |
| 2002–2005 | Neighbours | Jack Scully | Series regular (as Jay Bunyan) |
| 2003 | You Wish! | Charles | Television film |
| 2005 | Interrogation | Police Constable Dean Salmon | Guest role; 3 episodes |
| 2007–2009 | Sea Patrol | Seaman Billy "Spider" Webb | Series regular; 39 episodes |
| 2009–2012 | Go Girls | Kevin | Series regular; 46 episodes |
| 2010 | Legend of the Seeker | Alastair | Episode: "Eternity" |
| 2011 | Offspring | Fraser King | 6 episodes |
| 2011 | Terra Nova | Curran | 3 episodes |
| 2012–2016 | Beauty & the Beast | Vincent Keller / Alistair in S2 episode set in 1854 | Series regular |
| 2013 | Top of the Lake | Mark Mitcham | Miniseries; 6 episodes |
| 2017–2019 | Mary Kills People | Detective Ben Wesley | Series regular |
| 2018 | Fighting Season | Sgt Sean Collins | Miniseries; 6 episodes |
| 2021 | Together Forever Tea | Matt Slater | Television film |
| 2021 | My Life Is Murder | Joe Gorman | Episode: "Crushed Dreams" |
| 2021–2023 | Creamerie | Bobby | Series regular |
| 2023 | No Escape | Aaron | 7 episodes |
| 2023 | Scrublands | Byron Swift | Miniseries; 4 episodes |
| 2024 | Territory | Campbell Miller | 6 episodes |
| 2025 | North of North | Alistair | |

## Awards

| Year | Award | Work | Result |
| 2003 | Logie Award for Most Popular New Male Talent | Neighbours | Nominated |
| 2014 | Equity Ensemble Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Miniseries or Telemovie | Top of the Lake | Won |