BIO:
Ryan's future is bright. Named one of Rolling Stone’s five comics to watch and with standout appearances on NBC's Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central's Live at Gotham, and the Showtime special Caroline Rhea and Friends, he's on his way to establishing himself as one of the nation's favorite stand-ups.
Ryan started life in a small, beautiful potato farming community in Idaho. While spending his youth doing things like sleeping in a tree house, riding his bike to the drug store for milkshakes, and living out other Norman Rockwell paintings, he often dreamt of becoming a late night talk show host (or a secret agent, or Ferris Bueller, or Spider Man, or a combination, if at all possible).
He received his degree in journalism and public relations at Brigham Young University. Before graduating he took an internship in a small New Hampshire town and spent the weekends exploring Boston. On one trip, Ryan caught a stand-up show headlining the late Mitch Hedberg that had a profound effect and was the final push he needed to give stand up a go.
Three years later, almost to the day, Ryan performed in that same Boston club as a semi-finalist in Comedy Central's Laugh Riots, one of a handful of fledgling comedians selected in a nationwide search.
In his first year, he spent his nights performing in the local Salt Lake City, UT clubs and his days working in PR. He eventually decided to pursue comedy full-time and has been making a name for himself as a stand-up ever since.
Early on, Ryan spent a year in Seattle, WA honing his act nightly, sleeping in his car all too often, and cutting his teeth in the notoriously difficult Northwest one-nighter bar show runs. His first break came when he won the industry night at the Seattle International Comedy Competition. He considers both Salt Lake City and Seattle comedy homes.
He's become a favorite among industry insiders by racking up national competition wins and festival appearances. He most recently won the MVP award for “The Comedy Leagues” competition at the Just For Laughs Montreal Comedy Festival, garnering him a spot on the Just For Laughs Canadian cross-country tour.
Previously, he won Sierra Mist's “America's Next Great Comic Search”, was a two-time finalist at the Boston Comedy Festival competition, and appeared at HBO's Las Vegas Comedy Festival as an up-and-coming talent. He's also a regular guest on the nationally syndicated Bob and Tom radio show.
With immediate comic charisma and a crisp, clean writing style, Ryan is sought after for his ability to perform for a wide variety of audiences while making each show a unique, memorable experience.
His extensive touring schedule often finds him far from his Idaho roots and he currently makes his home in New York City. The comedic contrast always finds a way into his act.
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