Debby Ryan

Deborah Ann Ryan (born May 13, 1993) is an American actress and singer-songwriter. She started acting professionally onstage at the age of seven, and was later discovered during Disney Channel's nationwide search for new talent. As a Disney child star, she had major roles in the series The Suite Life on Deck (2008–2011), the film 16 Wishes, the series Jessie (2011–2015), and the film Radio Rebel (2012). She expanded into other appearances, such as the drama film What If... (2010), and has continued acting as an adult, including roles in the series Insatiable (2018–2019), the comedy film The Opening Act (2020), the thriller film Night Teeth (2021), and Spin Me Round (2022).

Ryan gained prominence in music by contributing vocals to the soundtracks of her Disney projects. She formed the indie rock band The Never Ending in 2013, with whom she released the EP One (2014).

Early life Deborah Ann Ryan was born in Huntsville, Alabama, on May 13, 1993, She has an older brother named Chase (b. 1991) who is a musician. Her mother is a teacher who was active in school plays. Her father's job as a civilian consultant to the U.S. military required the family to move to numerous places around Europe, and they lived in Germany until she was 10. They then returned to the U.S. and settled in Texas. She lived on Fort Hood. In a 2009 People Magazine interview, she described herself as a "nerd" in school. She was bullied in middle school for being a mascot and a member of the school's chess club.

Career

Ryan began appearing in television commercials in her early teen years. In 2006 she made her television debut on the show Barney & Friends. Her first film role was in 2007 as a guest character in Barney: Let's Go to the Firehouse. She appeared in several commercials for iDog and various board games; she was in an iDog Dance commercial in 2008. She also had a major role in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer feature film The Longshots as Edith. She played one of the main characters, Bailey Pickett, on the Disney Channel Original Series, The Suite Life on Deck, a sequel to the hit Disney Channel series The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. The series's pilot aired on September 26, 2008 in the United States, and was the most-watched series premiere in Canada on the Family channel. It was 2008's #1 scripted television series for teens, beating the veteran series Hannah Montana and Wizards of Waverly Place in the ratings. It was also 2009's top-rated scripted series, outpacing other teenage shows.

In 2009, Ryan landed a starring role in the independent feature film What If..., alongside Kevin Sorbo and Kristy Swanson. Shot in Grand Rapids and Manistee, Michigan in July 2009, it was released in theaters on August 20, 2010. It was produced by Pure Flix Entertainment and centers on a Christian family. In October 2009, Ryan hosted the first Tween Girl Summit Music Festival. "Tween girls are drawn to talented performers who emanate the joy of life, and we are so happy to have teen favorite Debby Ryan as the first host of The Tween Summit Music Festival," said Denise Restauri, founder of The Tween Summit, AllyKatzz.com and AK Tweens. The tour would have been Ryan's debut as a live musician. In 2010, she starred in the young adult film 16 Wishes, which introduced her to more mature audiences. She watched numerous Brat Pack movies to prepare for the role.

On March 25, 2011, Ryan starred in The Suite Life Movie, based on the show she had starred in. On March 29, she released the promotional single "Made of Matches", The Suite Life on Deck finished its run on May 6, 2011. On July 6, she released her debut solo single, the alternative hip hop song We Ended Right, featuring Chad Hively & Chase Ryan. The song was released from her own label, the Ryan River Studio, founded with her brother, Chase Ryan. Also in 2011, it was announced that Ryan landed her own Disney Channel series called Jessie, which debuted in September 2011. The show follows a girl who moves from Texas to New York City to become a star but becomes a nanny instead for a family with four children. Ryan directed the season three episode "Coffee Talk", making her the youngest female director for a Disney Channel production. Additionally, in a shift towards a more mature role, she guest starred in an episode of the show Private Practice as a recovering drug addict.

On February 17, 2012, Ryan starred in another Disney Channel movie entitled Radio Rebel as Tara, a very shy teenage girl who dreads speaking to anyone in her school, but in the privacy of her bedroom, she incorporates the most famous radio persona of the internet under the nickname 'Radio Rebel'. She released a cover version of "We Got the Beat", by The Go-Go's, as the promotional single for the film on February 21. On August 31, 2012, she voiced the character Spike in the Tinker Bell film Secret of the Wings. Also in 2012, she formed the indie band The Never Ending with guitarist Kyle Moore and drummer Johnny Franco. She plays several instruments, including the guitar, piano, and keyboard.

In July 2012, Ryan started work on a clothing line for 2013. She said she was in the beginning stages of building herself a fashion brand and revealed that she has been looking into designers and interviewing brands she might like to work with. In 2013, Ryan starred in the film Kristin's Christmas Past as Haddie. She recorded an appearance in the film Muppets Most Wanted, released on March 21, 2014, but the scene was deleted. The scene was later reinstated in the Blu-ray release's extended version. On June 1, The Never Ending released their debut single, "Mulholland Drive", with a premiere on the Billboard website. Their debut EP One was released on June 24, featuring album art with a circus-theme. She also appeared in the show TV series Mighty Med as Jade and was guest mentor in the fifth season of Fashion Police. On April 17, 2015, an episode of Girl Meets World premiered featuring Ryan as Aubrey Macavoy. On June 23, 2015, The Never Ending debuted their new single, titled "Secondhand". Later that year, the band toured as an opening act for the North American leg of Fifth Harmony's Reflection Tour.

In 2016, Ryan was cast in the NBC police series The Mysteries of Laura in season two as Lucy Diamond, Laura's drugged and trouble-making younger paternal half-sister and the half-aunt of Nicholas and Harrison. The show debuted on May 25, 2016, at YouTube Red, a paid service of streaming original series and movies, similar to Netflix. Ryan played Holli Holiday, a famous and egocentric singer, who uses the fictional talent show Sing It! to self-promote. The character was inspired by Paula Abdul. On August 22, Ryan was confirmed to join the VH1 drama series Daytime Divas, based on the book Satan's Sisters by former The View host Star Jones. The series debuted on June 5, 2017. She will play Maddie Finn, an ex-host of The Lunch Hour and rival of Kibby, who wants to return to the show.

In June 2017, Ryan announced via her Instagram account that Netflix had ordered Insatiable to series, after previously being passed on by The CW. The first season premiered on August 10, 2018. On February 14, 2020, the series was canceled after two seasons.

In 2020, Ryan co-starred with Alison Brie in the psychological drama film Horse Girl. She called the film a turning point in her career, reasoning that "I think that there is no going back after this; … That being said, I admire being in different processes, in different genres, with different storytellers, and it's incredible on-the-job training — it's like going back and majoring in something that you never even took as an elective in high school." In the same year, Ryan was cast in Netflix's thriller Night Teeth, directed by Adam Randall. She also appeared in The Opening Act directed by Steve Byrne.

Ryan would join Alison Brie in another movie called Spin Me Round in 2022, and then appear in four episodes of the Peacock Original series The Resort the same year. In 2023, Ryan appeared in Shortcomings, an Asian-American relationship drama directed by Randall Park.

Influences In a March 2009 interview, she revealed that she also looked up to Meryl Streep, calling Streep "so profoundly thought-provoking and life-changing". In a May 2009 People interview, Ryan stated that her Suite Life co-star, Brenda Song, was her acting idol. She cited The Lumineers, Mumford & Sons, April Smith and the Great Picture Show and Tom Petty as influences for her band's debut EP.

Personal life Ryan is a Christian. She is fluent in German. and they resumed their relationship at an unknown date. They were married in Austin, Texas, on December 31, 2019.

In March 2015, Ryan revealed that she had once been in an abusive relationship, though she described it as a professional relationship rather than a romantic one. She explained that "it was such emotional manipulation to the point where it became physical", and the experience inspired her to team up with Mary Kay and LoveisRespect for their "Don't Look Away" anti-domestic violence campaign.

In April 2016, Ryan was arrested for driving under the influence. She was initially charged with felony DUI, which was later reduced to two misdemeanors, and was released after posting $100,000 bail. On June 30, she pleaded no contest to reckless driving and was sentenced to three years of probation, community service, and attending a DUI program.

, Ryan and her husband live in Columbus, Ohio. On September 7, 2025, the couple announced via Instagram that they were expecting their first child. They announced the birth of their daughter on December 13, 2025.

Filmography Film

Television Year Title Role Notes 2006 Barney & Friends Debby Recurring role (Season 10) 2008 Jonas Brothers: Living the Dream Herself Episode: "Hello Hollywood" 2008–2011 The Suite Life on Deck Bailey Pickett Main role Princess Zaria Episode: "Can You Dig It?" 2009 Wizards of Waverly Place Bailey Pickett Episode: "Cast Away (To Another Show)" Hannah Montana Episode: "Super(stitious) Girl" 2010 16 Wishes Abigail "Abby" Jensen Television film 2011 The Suite Life Movie Bailey Pickett R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour: The Series Steffani Howard Episode: "Wrong Number" PrankStars Herself Episode: "Something to Chew On" Disney's Friends for Change Games Herself / Contestant 5 episodes, part of Blue Team Private Practice Hayley Episode: "The Breaking Point" 2011–2015 Jessie Jessie Prescott Lead roledirected 4 episodes and producer (season 4) 2012 So Random! Herself Episode: "Cole & Dylan Sprouse" Zeke and Luther Courtney Mills Episode: "There's No Business Like Bro Business" The Glades Christa Johnson Episode: "Fountain of Youth" Radio Rebel Tara Adams Television film Austin & Ally Jessie Prescott Episode: "Austin & Jessie & Ally All Star New Year" 2013 The Coppertop Flop Show Herself 2 episodes Good Luck Charlie Jessie Prescott Episode: "Good Luck Jessie: NYC Christmas" Kristin's Christmas Past Haddie Television film 2014 Mighty Med Jade / Remix Episode: "Guitar Superhero" Ultimate Spider-Man Jessie Prescott Voice; episode: "Halloween Night at the Museum" Fashion Police Guest mentor Episode: "Debby Ryan and Jamie Chung" 2015 Girl Meets World Aubrey Episode: "Girl Meets Demolition" Goldie & Bear Thumbelina Voice; episode: "Thumbelina's Wild Ride" 2016 The Mysteries of Laura Lucy Diamond Episodes: "Unknown Caller" and "End of Watch" Sing It! Holli Holiday Main role 2017 Daytime Divas Maddie Finn Episodes: "Lunch Is on Us" and "Shut It Down" The Talk Guest host Episode: "May 17" 2018–2019 Insatiable Patricia "Patty" Bladell Lead role 2022 The Resort Hanna Recurring role 2023–2024 Velma Krista Voice; recurring role 2024 American Horror Stories Jillian Fletcher Episode: "The Thing Under the Bed" 2026 Kevin Actress (voice) Episode: "Animal of the Month"

Discography

Singles + List of singles, with selected chart positions Title Year Album "We Ended Right" 2011

Other appearances Song Year Album "Hakuna Matata" 2010 Disneymania 7 "A Wish Comes True Everyday" 16 Wishes "Open Eyes" "Made of Matches" 2011 The Haunting Hour: The Series "Hey, Jessie" 2012 Make Your Mark: Ultimate Playlist "We Got the Beat" Radio Rebel "Deck the Halls" Disney Channel Holiday Playlist "Favorite Time of Year" 2013 Disney Holidays Unwrapped "Face 2 Face" Austin & Ally: Turn It Up "Best Year" 2014 Disney Channel Play It Loud

Music videos Song Year Director As lead artist "A Wish Comes True Every Day" 2010 Peter DeLuise "Deck the Halls" "We Got the Beat" 2012 Peter Howitt As guest appearance "Ever Enough" 2013 Mark Staubach "Level of Concern"(by Twenty One Pilots) 2020 Reel Bear Media

Production and songwriting credits Production and songwriting Title Year Artist(s) Album Notes "Feel My Heart" 2009 Chase Ryan Feel My Heart Co-producer "Saying Goodbye" "Still Need You" "Forecast" "Dream This Town" "Open Eyes" 2010Debby Ryan 16 Wishes Songwriter "Made Of Matches" Songwriter, Producer "Innocent Love" Chase Ryan Innocent Love Co-producer "We Ended Right" 2011 Debby Ryan, Chase Ryan and Cad Hively Radio Rebel Songwriter, Co-producer "Mulholland Drive 2014 The Never Ending One Co-producer 2009 Favorite Actress Female Newcomer Body Peace Award Outstanding Advocate Nickelodeon UK Kids' Choice Awards Best Television Actress 2012 Popstar Awards TV Actress Jessie Female Style IdolHerself 2014 Kids' Choice Awards Favorite TV Actress Jessie Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Actress: Comedy 2015 Kids' Choice Awards Favorite TV Actress