Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Corry.
Hi Ryan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
When I was 3-days-old I was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis, or CF, a chronic genetic disease that causes frequent lung infections, affects the digestive system and comes with a shortened life expectancy for patients. CF requires daily, time-consuming respiratory and airway clearance therapies that I began to do at home at a young age and still do as part of my daily routine now.
I was lucky to have never felt alone in my CF journey as my two cousins (and best friends), Geoff and Matt, both have CF as well. From an early age, I realized that my life was not going to be “normal” and that I was going to have to be self-disciplined with this disease in order to stay as healthy as possible. Growing up, I would watch movies to pass the time while doing my daily treatments. Thus began my love for film. I would get lost in a good movie and all of a sudden, my treatment would be done. Movies have always been an escape for me and when I was in middle school, looking at life through the lens of CF and that imaginary clock I may be up against, I decided that all I wanted to do when I grew up was to be an actor. I became a movie buff and the idea of going to the movie theatre and escaping for a few hours became therapeutic for me.
My plan after high school was always to pack up and head straight from Rhode Island to Los Angeles but when the opportunity arose for me to go to college with Matt to further my education in theatre, I couldn’t pass that up. I studied Theatre Arts at Salve Regina University and two years after graduation, my wife of one week and I packed up our Ford Focus and headed west. Having my family’s support was crucial in me being able to take that leap of faith. My wife and I have been in Los Angeles ever since, just over nine years, and it has been both challenging and rewarding to navigate the film industry. It may not be an easy world to break into, but I feel grateful to even be here trying.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like Shakespeare once wrote, “the course of true love never did run smooth”, and that has certainly proven true for me and my love affair with acting. Since moving to Los Angeles, CF has certainly taken its toll. I have been in and out of USC’s Keck Hospital for 2-week “tune-ups” a half-dozen times. While I feel blessed to be in the hands of a wonderful team at USC, my hospital stays, in conjunction with the loss of Geoff in 2017, have derailed me from my desired course. On days when I feel like giving up and heading back east, I think of Geoff and how he was so excited for me to chase my dream and I feel renewed. I will make my dream a reality, not only for myself but for him.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an actor. I enjoy taking on both comedic and dramatic roles and find pleasure in meticulously carving out characters. I am proud of the work I have done to further my education and understanding of acting with courses taken through Annie Grindlay Studio. I believe what sets every actor apart is their life experiences and that is certainly the case for me. All that I have experienced in life has contributed to my acting “tool kit” and I plan on continuing to hone my craft and sharpen my tools as I continue my journey as an actor.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanmcorry/
Image Credits
Headshot. – Michael Roud Film Stills – Jacob Poole, Aaron Vaquera, Kevin King
