Ryan garnered international attention early in his career, starring in the 1980 film, Kill or Be Killed. Ryan appeared as a martial arts fighter in the alternate world film. He reprised the role a year later, in Kill and Kill Again, starring alongside Miss World winner, Anneline Kriel. The sequel proved a major box office success for a low-budget South African feature, reaching no.2 on the American box office and grossing $802 900 after two weeks in American theatres.
In 1989, he starred in Space Mutiny, a South African science-fiction action film. A year later he appeared alongside Susan Sarandon and Harvey Keitel in The January Man. In 1991, he wrote and starred in The Last Hero.
In 1994 he landed a role as in Halifax f.p: Hard Corps, an Australian television drama that won two Australian Film Institute awards. A year later he returned to the Martial Arts film genre, with a role in Kickboxer 5.
In 1998, he appeared in the Australian television drama and sequel Halifax f.p: Afraid of the Dark, the acclaimed drama earned several Logie and Australian Film Institute nominations.
The following year he appeared in the From Dusk Till Dawn sequel, From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money. Since then he has appeared in films such as Red Lipstick, Global Effect and Sterne uber Madeira a German television 2-part drama alongside fellow South African, Moira Lister.
Filmography
Actor
2018
Samson as
Tobias
2014
The Perfect Wave as
Taxi Driver
2007
Geraldina die Tweede (TV Series) as
Dimitrios Papadopoulos (2007)
2005
Sterne über Madeira (TV Movie) as
Hafenmeister
2002
Global Effect as
Col. Ian Henderson
2000
Red Lipstick as
Miranda Warning
1999
The Young Girl and the Monsoon as
Man on Street
1999
From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money (Video) as
Mexican Police Chief
1995
Halifax f.p. (TV Series) as
Detective / I.I.D. Receptionist
- Profile of a Serial Killer (1997) - Detective
- Hard Corps (1995) - I.I.D. Receptionist
1995
Tales of Mystery and Imagination (TV Series) as
Edgar Allan Poe
- Biographical Portrait (1995) - Edgar Allan Poe
1995
The Syndicate (TV Series) as
George Talbot (1995)
1995
The Redemption: Kickboxer 5 (Video) as
Mr. Negaal
1994
The Visual Bible: Acts (Video) as
James, brother of Jesus
1991
Pursuit as
Jake Cody
1991
The Last Hero as
Calif Salenger
1991
Carnal Crimes (Video) as
Mr. Buns
1990
Voice in the Dark as
Vic Fenton
1990
Return to Justice as
Maj. Alverez
1990
Any Man's Death as
David Caplan
1990
The Last Samurai as
Miyagawa
1989
The Tangent Affair as
Mel Chipps
1989
Brutal Glory (Video) as
Tommy Ryan
1989
Arctic Warriors (Video)
1989
The January Man as
Newscaster / Reporter
1988
Space Mutiny as
MacPhearson
1987
Code Name Vengeance as
Tabrak
1987
Rage to Kill as
Blaine Striker
1987
Satan's Shutes (TV Movie) as
Ralph Lewis
1987
Five Corners as
Policeman
1985
Red Alert (TV Series) as
James Farino (1985)
1984
Falling in Love as
Cashier
1984
Niemand weint für immer as
Nico
1984
Go for the Gold as
Johnny Morris
1983
Mister Deathman as
Latino
1981
Kill and Kill Again as
Steve Chase
1980
Gemini as
Bill Hall
1977
Amor de Assassino as
Rodrigues
1977
Call Me Kelly (TV Series)(1977)
1976
Karate Killer as
Steve Hunt
1974
La diosa virgen as
Eric (as Jeff du Preez)
Casting Director
2023
The Carpenter
2022
Pirates (TV Series) (2022)
2020
Beat the Curve (Short)
2018
Samson (original casting director)
2014
The Perfect Wave
Director
1999
The Young Girl and the Monsoon
1995
Tales of Mystery and Imagination (TV Series) (3 episodes)
- Mr Valdemar (1995)
- Ligeia (1995)
- The Fall of the House of Usher (1995)
Writer
1999
The Young Girl and the Monsoon (writer)
1991
The Last Hero
1991
The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd (TV Series) (writer - 1 episode)
- Here's One Way to Fill Every Waking Moment (1991) - (writer)
