Ryan Kwanten
Encyclopedia
Ryan Christian Kwanten is an Australian actor. He played Vinnie Patterson
from 1997 to 2002 on the Australian soap-opera Home and Away
. After his stint ended he joined the American teen-oriented drama Summerland
portraying Jay Robertson.
In 2008, he was cast as Jason Stackhouse
in True Blood
.
, and Kris, a lifeline op-shop coordinator. He is of Dutch
ancestry on his father's side. Kwanten has two brothers, Mitchell, who is a musician and Lloyd, who is a doctor. He attended Catholic school and later earned a business degree from the University of Sydney
.
, Hey Dad..!
and Spellbinder
. In 1997, he joined the cast of the Australian soap opera Home and Away
, playing lifeguard
Vinnie Patterson. He eventually chose to leave the series in 2002, shortly after his character married and became a father. Moving to the United States, Kwanten was cast as Jay Robertson in the Lori Loughlin
-starring series Summerland
, which ran from 2004 to 2005. He appeared in the films Flicka
, with Maria Bello
, Alison Lohman
and Tim McGraw
, and Dead Silence
, a horror movie in which he played the leading role.
Kwanten appeared in a Law and Order: SVU
episode that aired on December 2, 2008, in which he portrayed Dominic Pruitt, a US Marine Corps
Master Sergeant
accused of raping and murdering a fellow Marine and her unborn baby.
In 2009, he starred in the film Don't Fade Away
with Mischa Barton
and Beau Bridges
.
Kwanten currently plays the role of Jason Stackhouse
in True Blood
, an HBO television series based on Charlaine Harris
' Southern Vampire Mysteries. He stars in the psychological thriller Red Hill
, which was directed by Patrick Hughes. Kwanten earned one of the lead roles in the Joe Lynch
Horror film The Knights of Badassdom
. In October 2010, it was announced that Ryan will play Charles Manson
in the upcoming, yet-to-be-titled biopic, directed by Brad Anderson.
Vinnie Patterson
Vincent 'Vinnie' Patterson is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away. He made his first on-screen appearence on 14 July 1997 and departed on 1 March 2002...
from 1997 to 2002 on the Australian soap-opera Home and Away
Home and Away
Home and Away is an Australian soap opera that has been produced in Sydney since July 1987 and is airing on the Seven Network since 17 January 1988. It is the second-longest-running drama and most popular soap opera on Australian television...
. After his stint ended he joined the American teen-oriented drama Summerland
Summerland (TV series)
Summerland is an American drama television series created by Stephen Tolkin and Lori Loughlin. It is centered on a clothing designer in her 30s, Ava Gregory , raising her niece and nephews after their parents die in a tragic accident...
portraying Jay Robertson.
In 2008, he was cast as Jason Stackhouse
Jason Stackhouse
Jason Stackhouse is a fictional character from The Southern Vampire Mysteries book series by author Charlaine Harris. Introduced in the first novel, Dead Until Dark, Jason is Sookie Stackhouse's older brother and road crew supervisor for Bon Temps....
in True Blood
True Blood
True Blood is an American television series created and produced by Alan Ball. It is based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries series of novels by Charlaine Harris, detailing the co-existence of vampires and humans in Bon Temps, a fictional, small town in the state of Louisiana...
.
Early life
Kwanten was born in Sydney to Eddie Kwanten, a worker at NSW MaritimeNSW Maritime
NSW Maritime was an agency in the Government of New South Wales, Australia. NSW Maritime was the State Government Authority responsible for marine safety, regulation of commercial and recreational boating and oversight of port operations...
, and Kris, a lifeline op-shop coordinator. He is of Dutch
Dutch Australian
A Dutch Australian is an inhabitant of Australia with full or partial Dutch ancestry, the majority of these people are part of the Dutch diaspora.-History:...
ancestry on his father's side. Kwanten has two brothers, Mitchell, who is a musician and Lloyd, who is a doctor. He attended Catholic school and later earned a business degree from the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
.
Career
Kwanten began acting on the television shows A Country PracticeA Country Practice
A Country Practice is an Australian television drama series. One of the longest-running of its kind, produced by James Davern of JNP Productions, it ran on the Seven Network for 1,058 episodes from 18 November 1981 to 22 November 1993. It was produced in ATN-7's production facility at Epping,...
, Hey Dad..!
Hey Dad..!
Hey Dad..! was an Australian sitcom produced by Gary Reilly Productions, originally airing from 1987 to 1994 on the Seven Network.-Synopsis:Architect Martin Kelly singlehandedly raises his children Simon, Debbie and Jenny...
and Spellbinder
Spellbinder 2: Land of the Dragon Lord
Spellbinder: Land of the Dragon Lord is a teen, preteen and children's television series, and a sequel to Spellbinder. Both series deal with children travelling between parallel universes, although the only common characters between the two series are Ashka , and her sidekick Gryvon...
. In 1997, he joined the cast of the Australian soap opera Home and Away
Home and Away
Home and Away is an Australian soap opera that has been produced in Sydney since July 1987 and is airing on the Seven Network since 17 January 1988. It is the second-longest-running drama and most popular soap opera on Australian television...
, playing lifeguard
Lifeguard
A lifeguard supervises the safety and rescue of swimmers, surfers, and other water sports participants such as in a swimming pool, water park, or beach. Lifeguards are strong swimmers and trained in first aid, certified in water rescue using a variety of aids and equipment depending on...
Vinnie Patterson. He eventually chose to leave the series in 2002, shortly after his character married and became a father. Moving to the United States, Kwanten was cast as Jay Robertson in the Lori Loughlin
Lori Loughlin
Lori Anne Loughlin is an American actress, best known for her role as Rebecca Donaldson-Katsopolis on the ABC sitcom Full House. As of 2011, she portrays the role of Debbie Wilson on 90210, the spin-off of Beverly Hills, 90210...
-starring series Summerland
Summerland (TV series)
Summerland is an American drama television series created by Stephen Tolkin and Lori Loughlin. It is centered on a clothing designer in her 30s, Ava Gregory , raising her niece and nephews after their parents die in a tragic accident...
, which ran from 2004 to 2005. He appeared in the films Flicka
Flicka
-Chart performance:...
, with Maria Bello
Maria Bello
Maria Elena Bello is an American actress and singer known for her appearances in the movies Coyote Ugly, The Jane Austen Book Club, Permanent Midnight, Thank You for Smoking, A History of Violence, Payback, and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. For television she is known for her role as Dr...
, Alison Lohman
Alison Lohman
Alison Marion Lohman is an American actress. She has had lead roles in the films White Oleander, Where the Truth Lies, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Flicka and Drag Me to Hell as well as smaller parts in Matchstick Men, Big Fish, Gamer, and Beowulf...
and Tim McGraw
Tim McGraw
Samuel Timothy "Tim" McGraw is an American country singer and actor. Many of McGraw's albums and singles have topped the country music charts with total album sales in excess of 40 million units in the US, making him the eighth best-selling artist, and the third best-selling country singer, in the...
, and Dead Silence
Dead Silence
Dead Silence is a 2007 horror film, directed by James Wan and written by Leigh Whannell, the creators of Saw...
, a horror movie in which he played the leading role.
Kwanten appeared in a Law and Order: SVU
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is an American police procedural television drama series set in New York City, where it is also primarily produced...
episode that aired on December 2, 2008, in which he portrayed Dominic Pruitt, a US Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
Master Sergeant
Master Sergeant
A master sergeant is the military rank for a senior non-commissioned officer in some armed forces.-Israel Defense Forces:Rav samal rishoninsignia IDF...
accused of raping and murdering a fellow Marine and her unborn baby.
In 2009, he starred in the film Don't Fade Away
Don't Fade Away
Don't Fade Away is a 2009 coming-of-age drama film starring Mischa Barton and Ryan Kwanten. The film has been produced by Origin Entertainment Group and was shot in Los Angeles and North Carolina.It was released on DVD in Australia on April 6, 2011.-Plot:...
with Mischa Barton
Mischa Barton
Mischa Anne Marsden Barton is a British-American fashion model, film, television, and stage actress, best known for her role as Marissa Cooper in the American television series The O.C..-Early life:...
and Beau Bridges
Beau Bridges
Lloyd Vernet "Beau" Bridges III is an American actor and director.- Early life :Bridges was born in Los Angeles, the son of actor Lloyd Bridges and his college sweetheart, Dorothy Bridges . He was nicknamed "Beau" by his mother and father after Ashley Wilkes's son in Gone with the Wind, the book...
.
Kwanten currently plays the role of Jason Stackhouse
Jason Stackhouse
Jason Stackhouse is a fictional character from The Southern Vampire Mysteries book series by author Charlaine Harris. Introduced in the first novel, Dead Until Dark, Jason is Sookie Stackhouse's older brother and road crew supervisor for Bon Temps....
in True Blood
True Blood
True Blood is an American television series created and produced by Alan Ball. It is based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries series of novels by Charlaine Harris, detailing the co-existence of vampires and humans in Bon Temps, a fictional, small town in the state of Louisiana...
, an HBO television series based on Charlaine Harris
Charlaine Harris
Charlaine Harris is a New York Times bestselling author who has been writing mysteries for over twenty years. She was born and raised in the Mississippi River Delta area of the United States. She now lives in southern Arkansas with her husband and three children...
' Southern Vampire Mysteries. He stars in the psychological thriller Red Hill
Red Hill (film)
Red Hill is a 2010 Australian thriller film written and directed by Patrick Hughes. The film stars Ryan Kwanten, Steve Bisley and Tom E. Lewis.-Plot:...
, which was directed by Patrick Hughes. Kwanten earned one of the lead roles in the Joe Lynch
Joe Lynch (director)
Joe Lynch is an American film director and music video director, cinematographer, and film actor.-Life and career:His directorial debut in feature film was 2007's Wrong Turn 2: Dead End, which starred Henry Rollins, Erica Leerhsen, and Texas Battle....
Horror film The Knights of Badassdom
The Knights of Badassdom
Knights of Badassdom is an upcoming American horror comedy film, directed by Joe Lynch, written by Kevin Dreyfuss and Matt Wall.-Story:A group of live action roleplayers accidentally summon a succubus demon from the underworld.-Cast:...
. In October 2010, it was announced that Ryan will play Charles Manson
Charles Manson
Charles Milles Manson is an American criminal who led what became known as the Manson Family, a quasi-commune that arose in California in the late 1960s. He was found guilty of conspiracy to commit the Tate/LaBianca murders carried out by members of the group at his instruction...
in the upcoming, yet-to-be-titled biopic, directed by Brad Anderson.
Films
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Signal One | Kid | |
| 2003 | Liquid Bridge | Nick McCallum | |
| 2004 | American Brown | Ricky Brown | |
| 2006 | Flicka Flicka -Chart performance:... |
Howard McLaughlin | |
| 2007 | Dead Silence Dead Silence Dead Silence is a 2007 horror film, directed by James Wan and written by Leigh Whannell, the creators of Saw... |
Jamie Ashen | |
| 2009 | Don't Fade Away Don't Fade Away Don't Fade Away is a 2009 coming-of-age drama film starring Mischa Barton and Ryan Kwanten. The film has been produced by Origin Entertainment Group and was shot in Los Angeles and North Carolina.It was released on DVD in Australia on April 6, 2011.-Plot:... |
Jackson White | |
| 2010 | Red Hill Red Hill (film) Red Hill is a 2010 Australian thriller film written and directed by Patrick Hughes. The film stars Ryan Kwanten, Steve Bisley and Tom E. Lewis.-Plot:... |
Shane Cooper | |
| Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole | Kludd | ||
| 2011 | Griff the Invisible Griff the Invisible Griff the Invisible is an Australian romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Leon Ford.The story is about Griff a socially awkward office worker who spends his days being bullied by his workmates. At night he is Griff the Invisible, a superhero who roams the streets of his local... |
Griff | |
| The Knights of Badassdom The Knights of Badassdom Knights of Badassdom is an upcoming American horror comedy film, directed by Joe Lynch, written by Kevin Dreyfuss and Matt Wall.-Story:A group of live action roleplayers accidentally summon a succubus demon from the underworld.-Cast:... |
Joe | ||
| Not Suitable For Children | Jona | ||
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | A Country Practice A Country Practice A Country Practice is an Australian television drama series. One of the longest-running of its kind, produced by James Davern of JNP Productions, it ran on the Seven Network for 1,058 episodes from 18 November 1981 to 22 November 1993. It was produced in ATN-7's production facility at Epping,... |
Ben Lloyd | Episode: "A Fair Cop: Part 1" Episode: "A Fair Cop: Part 2" |
| 1993–1994 | G.P. | Scott Browning | Episode: "Bloodlines" Episode: "Brotherly Love" |
| 1994 | Hey Dad! | Richard | Episode: "Rebel Without a Clue"" |
| 1995 | Echo Point Echo Point Echo Point was an Australian television soap opera produced by Southern Star Productions for Network Ten in 1995.The series was devised as an attempt by the Ten Network to rival the opposition soap Home and Away on the Seven Network... |
Nathan Potter | Unknown episodes |
| 1996 | Water Rats Water Rats (TV series) Water Rats is an Australian TV police procedural broadcast on the Nine Network from 1996 to 2001. The series was based around the men and women of the Sydney Water Police who fight crime across Sydney Harbour and surrounding locales. The show was set on and around Goat Island in Sydney... |
Nipper | Episode: "Iron Man" |
| 1997 | Spellbinder: Land of the Dragon Lord | Josh Morgan | 26 episodes |
| 1997–2002 | Home and Away Home and Away Home and Away is an Australian soap opera that has been produced in Sydney since July 1987 and is airing on the Seven Network since 17 January 1988. It is the second-longest-running drama and most popular soap opera on Australian television... |
Vinnie Patterson Vinnie Patterson Vincent 'Vinnie' Patterson is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away. He made his first on-screen appearence on 14 July 1997 and departed on 1 March 2002... |
regular |
| 2002 | The Junction Boys | Claude Gearheart | TV movie |
| 2003 | The Handler The Handler (TV series) The Handler is a crime series created by Canadian writer-producer Chris Haddock, airing in the United States on CBS in the 2003-04 season. The show starred Joe Pantoliano as Joe Renato, an FBI agent assigned to train and handle young undercover officers in the FBI. Other cast members included... |
Barnes | Episode: "Off the Edge" |
| 2004 | Tru Calling Tru Calling Tru Calling is an American television supernatural drama series that premiered on Fox Network on October 30, 2003. It ran for two seasons before being canceled.... |
Jake Voight | Episode: "Closure" |
| 2004–2005 | Summerland Summerland (TV series) Summerland is an American drama television series created by Stephen Tolkin and Lori Loughlin. It is centered on a clothing designer in her 30s, Ava Gregory , raising her niece and nephews after their parents die in a tragic accident... |
Jay Robertson | 26 episodes |
| 2007 | Nurses | Owen Harris | TV movie |
| 2008 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is an American police procedural television drama series set in New York City, where it is also primarily produced... |
Master Sgt. Dominic Pruitt | Episode: "PTSD" |
| 2008–present | True Blood True Blood True Blood is an American television series created and produced by Alan Ball. It is based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries series of novels by Charlaine Harris, detailing the co-existence of vampires and humans in Bon Temps, a fictional, small town in the state of Louisiana... |
Jason Stackhouse Jason Stackhouse Jason Stackhouse is a fictional character from The Southern Vampire Mysteries book series by author Charlaine Harris. Introduced in the first novel, Dead Until Dark, Jason is Sookie Stackhouse's older brother and road crew supervisor for Bon Temps.... |
Regular |
| 2010 | Rake Rake Rake may refer to:* Rake , a horticultural implement, a long-handled tool with tines* Rake or hay rake, a farm implement* Rake or castor angle – various fork offset angles in bicycle and motorcycle geometry... |
Bill | Episode: "R V Dana" |
| 2012 | "Transformers: Darkness Rising" | Dead End | Voice Only |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Organization | Work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Satellite Award | International Press Academy International Press Academy The International Press Academy is a large and diverse association of professional entertainment journalists, representing both domestic and foreign markets in print, television, radio, cable and new media outlets. The academy was founded in 1996 by Mirjana Van Blaricom... |
Jason Stackhouse Jason Stackhouse Jason Stackhouse is a fictional character from The Southern Vampire Mysteries book series by author Charlaine Harris. Introduced in the first novel, Dead Until Dark, Jason is Sookie Stackhouse's older brother and road crew supervisor for Bon Temps.... , True Blood True Blood True Blood is an American television series created and produced by Alan Ball. It is based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries series of novels by Charlaine Harris, detailing the co-existence of vampires and humans in Bon Temps, a fictional, small town in the state of Louisiana... |
Best Ensemble, Television | Won |
| Scream Award | Spike TV | Best Horror Actor | Nominated | ||
| 2010 | Screen Actors Guild Award | Screen Actors Guild Screen Actors Guild The Screen Actors Guild is an American labor union representing over 200,000 film and television principal performers and background performers worldwide... |
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Nominated | |
| Teen Choice Award | Fox Broadcasting Company Fox Broadcasting Company Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the... |
Choice TV Actor: Fantasy/Sci-Fi | Nominated | ||