Ryan Cooley Bio - Ryan Cooley Biography

Ryan Cooley: Biography

Ryan Cooley was born on May,18,1988 in Orangeville ,Ontario.Ryan Cooley graduated from Orangeville District Secondary School in 2006. Ryan's biggest and most well known role was when he got a part in the popular Canadian show Degrassi:The Next Generation as J.T Yorke(James Tiberius Yorke)which lasted six years, which ended when he got the chance to go to University in 2006. He's also appeared as "Pleskit" on the show "I Was a Sixth Grade Alien" alongside other Degrassi:The Next Generation actors and actresses, Lexx the Series, Life with Derek, Are You Afraid of the Dark, The Colour Of Friendship, and the Animal Planet movie Cybermutt. As of 2006 Ryan is a student at the University of Toronto.

The Star Scoop:What kind of characters do you want to play next?

Cooley:I would like to get away from the whole class clown character J.T. I have been playing him for an awfully long time. I am looking to expand a little but, and that's why I've been taking a lot of acting lessons and classes to try and improve my craft. I would like to look into some more serious roles, because I think that I'm capable of doing it, and I want to try, so, yeah. But you know what, if, I'll take whatever comes my way. If something comes along, and I have to be the class clown again, or whatever, of course I would take that role.(edit)
The Star Scoop:You said you're doing university now. Why was that important to you?

Cooley:I've always wanted to go on to university, that was always a goal of mine. School is very, very important to me. I like to keep good marks, and all throughout Degrassi, I've really concentrated on my tutoring on set, which is something that they do for us, because we shoot sometimes during the school year, from September usually until November, we're shooting. So, I really concentrated on that because school is very, very important to me. I always wanted to go to university. I have the opportunity now, and I took it. It worked out really well because the last episode that I shot for Degrassi, was shot in the end of August, and just right after that I went into school in September. Getting my Bachelor of Arts is very important to me, and I'm really going to do my best to try and get it.(edit)
The Star Scoop:If you're not busy with school or trying to perfect your craft, what would we find you doing?

Cooley:You would probably find me hanging out with my friends. I've made a lot of new friends at university, so we go out a lot, go to movies. I love going to the movies. I like to see theater shows. I'm really into that. You'd probably find me listening to some Frank Sinatra, because I love Frank Sinatra, he's my favorite. I'm really into that kind of music, sort of the whole crooner scene. I really like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, all those kind of singers. You'd probably see me listening to them on my iPod. Or, I don't know, what else? I love to travel, I do a lot of traveling. I was in Europe this past summer. I went on a European cruise. Stuff like that, yeah. I was just at the Justin Timberlake concert in Toronto. Yeah, Justin Timberlake came to Toronto, so I went to see him, which was an interesting experience.(edit)
The Star Scoop:How are you different from the character that everyone saw? What is the real Ryan like. Fans want to get to know you a little bit more as you're branching away from the show.

Cooley:I'm probably not as much of a class clown as J.T. was. I'm a better student, I suppose. I'm a good boy. I don't get in much trouble. Like I said, I've never had the experience of getting somebody pregnant or anything like that. It's kind of a weird situation, because I'll tell you what happened. When I first auditioned for the show, I actually auditioned for the character of Toby. Not many people know that. J.T.'s character didn't exist at all when I first auditioned. Based on my auditioned, and my personality, they actually created the character of J.T. So perhaps I have a lot in common [with him], because they saw my audition tape and sort of created a character out of what they saw. There's a lot in common, too, but it's hard to say. It's hard to say. It's kind a weird situation, because the character was created out of sort of, my personality. It's developed in its own way throughout the years. It sometimes a hard distinction to make. I am Ryan, I'm not J.T. That's a challenge for me, with future work and auditions.(edit)
The Star Scoop:What do you do from here now?

Cooley:Well, right now I'm actually at University. I'm studying theater at the University of Toronto, so that's what I'm concentrating on right now, and when my school year finishes in April, I'm going to concentrate on doing more auditions and trying to see if I can get any other work. I'm looking forward to just starting that up, and just seeing what's out there, you know? Just maybe looking for some feature films to audition for. I've got a couple things on the go, I think. Anything that comes my way really. I'm just going to keep acting, I've got my theater in school, and that's something that I'm very interested in right now, is working on stage. I've been doing movies and television since I was eight years old, so I'm really interested in working on stage and exploring that side of acting.(edit)
The Star Scoop: You've had the benefit of knowing the full story of your character, to his end. What have you been able to learn from his life that will help you in your life as you move forward?

Cooley:Well, I always said that as we shot Degrassi, kids watching the show are learning a lot. We deal with some really heavy issues, very realistic issues, you know? We try and teach kids lessons, sort of, of life. I feel like acting on the show has also taught me a lot of things. I've grown up on the show, much like the kids watching have grown up with the show. I mean, I've been doing this show since I was twelve years old. I've learned a lot of things as well. Playing the character J.T. has really been an amazing experience. The character has gone through some more heavy things, that personally I haven't gone through in my life [laughs]...I mean, I haven't gotten a girl pregnant. But, you know, there are things that I've taken from the character, yeah.(edit)
The Star Scoop:You knew it was coming for quite a while?

Cooley:Yeah, I knew it was coming, because we started shooting in the summer of 2006, so they sort of told me just before then, that it was going to be happening before the season started shooting, just to sort of see how I felt about it. They wanted me to know the story line and how it was gonna happen. They wanted to know if I was cool with doing the story line. So I knew ahead of time, yeah.(edit)
The Star Scoop:Even we can't believe it! J.T. is really gone. Why has there been such a massive reaction to your character's final episodes?

Ryan Cooley:It's a really amazing response that we've been getting. I think this is because this is the first time that Degrassi has actually killed off a major character. Other characters that have been killed off on the show usually were just guest stars, were on for one or two or three episodes. But, my character, J.T., has been on ever since day one, six seasons I've done on the show. So my departure has been sort of a big deal. So I think that's why I'm getting the response, and it's really quite amazing.(edit)
TheTVAddict:I can�t end this interview without asking you about your strangest fan experience.
That�s easy! We used to do these crazy mall tours in the United States. I�ve been to Chicago, Los Angeles, Orlando, Tucson and New York. We�d arrive at these malls and have thousands of screaming girls waiting for us. I�m just a guy from Toronto Canada, having four thousand people coming up for your autograph, well it�s a huge honour.

Ryan Cooley: One time we were in LA, and when we finished our session, we had to let 1000 people go because we couldn�t get out of the mall. When we told the people we were leaving, the crowd went nuts. The security guards had to create a human chain to get us out of there. Me and Adamo Ruggiero [Marco] were chased through JC Penny as we exited the mall. Fans were jumping out of clothing racks trying to touch us and get our photo. It was unbelievable.(edit)

Ryan knew for quite a while that he was going to get killed in Degrassi, but kept it as a secret from the other cast.(edit)
Ryan was in God's Goodness as Mike.(edit)
Ryan was on the Tracey Fragments and played as David.(edit)
Ryan has brownish coloured hair.(edit)
There was a rumor that Ryan was dating Miriam McDonald who played Emma Nelson on Degrassi.(edit)
Ryan has brown eyes.(edit)
Ryan is studying in university to obtain his bachelor of Arts. (edit)
In the future Ryan wants to steer away from the class clown role.(edit)
Ryan wanted to maintain good marks, so during the filming of Degrassi, he had a tutor teach him before episodes.(edit)
Ryan loves to travel.(edit)
When Ryan did a mall tour, fans chased him through the mall.(edit)
Ryan's personality in real life is much different to that of his character on Degrassi.(edit)
When Ryan's character JT was killed, people made memorial videos and other things dedicated to Ryan, even though it was his character who died.(edit)
Ryan is close friends with most of the cast of Degrassi.(edit)
When Ryan auditioned for Degrassi: The Next Generation he wanted to be Toby but his character, JT, was created by Degrassi from Ryan's personality.(edit)
Ryan graduated at Orangeville Secondary School in 2006.(edit)
Ryan was born in Orangeville, Ontario.(edit)
When Ryan's character J.T. was killed off in Degrassi, Ryan was forbidden to change his hair because it could cause some confusing among the fans.(edit)
According to Ryan, the song that sums up his life is "I Did it My Way" by Frank Sinatra.(edit)
According to Ryan, his favorite person in the world is his grandma.(edit)
Ryan's favorite movie is Braveheart and his favorite TV show is Entourage.(edit)
The most amazing thing he's ever seen is The Colleseum in Italy.(edit)
He departed Degrassi: The Next Generation because he wanted to focus on his movie career and he wanted to go to university.(edit)
Ryan was also a 2003 and 2004 nominee and the 2002 winner of a "Young Artist Award" for 'Best Ensemble Actor' in a TV Series for Degrassi: The Next Generation.(edit)
Ryan spends most of his money on food and gas. (edit)
His perfect Sunday afternoon would be sitting outside and reading at his house, and his perfect Saturday night would be going out for dinner with his girlfriend.(edit)
If he had to define himself in three words, they would be 'funny', 'caring' and 'loud'. (edit)
He likes to watch movies, TV, read, and hike.(edit)
The most fun he's had was when he went on a European cruise.(edit)
Ryan worked with Deanna Casaluce and Daniel Clark before in I Was A Sixth Grade Alien and Degrassi: The Next Generation.(edit)
Ryan is the first regular actor on Degrassi: The Next Generation to have his character killed off.(edit)
Ryan and his Degrassi: The Next Generation co-star Lauren Collins previously worked together in the CBC Road to Avonlea 1998 TV special, Happy Christmas Miss King, and I Was A Sixth Grade Alien.(edit)
Ryan likes to listen to rat pack music like Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra.(edit)
Ryan was only 10 years old when he starred in I was a Sixth Grade Alien.(edit)
Ryan is most recognized with his role on Degrassi: The Next Generation as J.T. York.(edit)
Ryan was nominated for a Young Artist Award in the category of Best Performance In a TV Comedy Series.(edit)
On Degrassi: The Next Generation, Ryan plays a character that is a year younger than him.(edit)
Ryan is 5'7.(edit)
Ryan was in the made for TV movie Cybermutt playing the role of Nino.(edit)
Ryan's astrological sign is a Taurus.(edit)
If Ryan was a superhero, he would like to be like Magneto or a Super Metal Flying Man.(edit)
Ryan's dream car is a 3 series BMW coupe.(edit)
Ryan loves chocolate.(edit)
If Ryan was able to go back into time, he would like to go to the Medieval times.(edit)
If Ryan was on a reality show, he would like to be on Fear Factor.(edit)
If Ryan wasn't an actor, he would be a pilot.(edit)
Ryan has a celebrity crush on Elisha Cuthbert and one of the Olsen twins, but hasn't revealed which one.(edit)
If Ryan wasn't playing JT on Degrassi: The Next Generation, he would like to play Craig.(edit)
Ryan started acting at the age of nine in a theater show called Jacob Two-Two Meets The Hooded Fang.(edit)
Ryan's favorite article of clothing is his lobster boxers.(edit)
Enjoys playing video games.(edit)
Ryan's shoe size is 9. (edit)
Ryan used to lick his toes when he was younger.(edit)
Ryan drives a Range Rover.(edit)
Ryan is an Honor Roll student in school.(edit)
Ryan is good friends with his Degrassi: The Next Generation co-star, Cassie Steele, who plays the role of Manny Santos.(edit)
Ryan is the son of musician Charlie Cooley who is the drummer for the band Prairie Oyster.(edit)