Ryan Hurst

Ryan Douglas Hurst (born June 19, 1976) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Gerry Bertier in Remember the Titans and Opie Winston in the FX drama series Sons of Anarchy (2008–2012). He portrayed the Norse god Thor in the 2022 video game God of War Ragnarök, for which he received a BAFTA Award nomination. He also portrayed "Lil Foster" Farrell in the Outsiders (2016–2017) and Beta in the AMC horror drama series The Walking Dead (2019–2020).

Early life Hurst was born in Santa Monica, California, the son of Rick Hurst, an actor perhaps best known for playing Cletus on The Dukes of Hazzard, and Candace Kaniecki, an acting coach, who currently runs the Candace Kaniecki (Herman) Acting School. He attended Santa Monica High School.

Career Growing up in a Hollywood family, Hurst made a very early start in show business, with a recurring role in the NBC teen situation comedy series Saved by the Bell: The New Class. In the 1998 epic war film Saving Private Ryan, Hurst portrayed Michaelson, a paratrooper who, despite a temporary hearing loss, is able to communicate to Captain John H. Miller (Tom Hanks) the approximate location of Private Ryan. In 2000, Hurst followed this with a role in Rules of Engagement and the central supporting role of Gerry Bertier in Remember the Titans. Additionally, he appeared in the war film We Were Soldiers (2002) as Sgt. Ernie Savage, played the football player Lump Hudson in the black comedy thriller film The Ladykillers (2004), and starred in the TNT police drama series Wanted (2005). From 2005 to 2007, Hurst gained recognition for portraying the recurring role of Allison DuBois' half-brother, Michael Benoit, in NBC's supernatural procedural drama series Medium.

Hurst's big break came when he was cast as Opie Winston in the FX crime drama series Sons of Anarchy. Originally a recurring cast member in the first season, he was promoted to main cast member for the following season and went on to become a fan favorite. His character, newly released from a five-year prison stint and "living right", but not making ends meet, goes back to SAMCRO to provide for his family, despite his wife's objections and his knowing the risks. Hurst's portrayal of Opie earned him the Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film in 2011. Also in 2011, Hurst voiced Jedidiah in the animated box office hit Rango. He also stars in the WGN America series Outsiders. In August 2018, it was announced that he would star as Beta on AMC's The Walking Dead. His debut episode, "Guardians", premiered on March 3, 2019.

In 2022, Hurst voiced Thor in the video game God of War Ragnarök and also provided the motion-capture.

In December 2024, Hurst was announced as a cast member in independent drama Out Come The Wolves based on the Rancid 1995 album of the same name.

In January 2026, he was announced to be returning to the God of War franchise, this time portraying the main character Kratos in the upcoming Amazon Prime Video live-action adaptation of the two Norse mythology-based games. However, in late June, Hurst injured his bicep during filming of the series, and as a result of his estimated recovery time, it was announced in July that the role would be recast.

Personal life Hurst and Molly Cookson met in 1994 and married in May 2005. Together, they founded the production company Fast Shoes. In April 2013, Hurst purchased a 3,400 square-foot home in Woodland Hills, California, for $1.71 million.

He converted to Sikhism and his Sikh name is Gobind Seva Singh.

Filmography

Film Year Title RoleNotes 1997 The Postman Eddie March 1998 Patch Adams Neil Saving Private Ryan Paratrooper Michaelson 2000 Rules of Engagement Captain Hustings Remember the Titans Gerry Bertier 2001 Perfect Lover Guy Venus and Mars Roberto 2002 We Were Soldiers Sgt. Ernie SavageLone Star State of Mind Tinker 2004 The Ladykillers Lump Hudson 2006 Noble Things Kyle Collins 2008 Chasing the Green Ross Franklin 2011 Rango JedidiahVoice 2014 CBGB Mad Mountain 2018 A Million Little Pieces Hank 2020 Superman: Man of Tomorrow LoboVoice 2023 Desperation Road Larry 2026 The Odyssey Mentor Post-production

Television Year Title Role Notes 1993 Saved by the Bell: The New Class Crunch Grabowski 2 episodes 1994 Beverly Hills, 90210 Student Actor Episode: "Divas" 1995 JAG Dirk Grover Episode: "Shadow" 1995–1996 Campus Cops Wayne Simko 9 episodes 1996 Boston Common Nikolai 2 episodes Wings Barry Episode: "Too Beautiful for You" 1999 L.A. Doctors Kevn Raives 2 episodes 2002 Touched by an Angel Doug Episode: "Two Sides to Every Angel" John Doe Elvis Braithwaite Episode: "Mind Games" Taken Adult Tom Clarke 5 episodes 2004 Dr. Vegas Steve Episode: "All In" 2005 House Sam McGinley Episode: "The Mistake" Wanted Agent Jimmy McGloin 13 episodes 2005–2007 Medium Michael Benoit 3 episodes 2006 Everwood Ed Carnahan Episode: "Across the Lines" CSI: Miami Detective Michael Lloyd Episode: "Curse of the Coffin" 2007 Raines Marco Episode: "Pilot" Heartland Mark Evans Episode: "Pilot" 2008–2012 Sons of Anarchy Harry "Opie" Winston 54 episodes 2011 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Doug Loveless Episode: "Bombshell" 2013 King & Maxwell Edgar Roy 10 episodes 2015 Axe Cop Chupacabra Voice, episode: "Night Mission: The Extincter" 2015–2017 Bates Motel Chick Hogan 15 episodes 2016–2017 Outsiders Li'l "Foster" Farrell 26 episodes 2019 Bosch Hector Bonner 8 episodes Fear the Walking Dead Beta Episode: "Today and Tomorrow" (uncredited) 2019–2020 The Walking Dead Recurring (Season 9)Main cast (Season 10)14 episodes 2020–2022 S.W.A.T. Terry Luca 4 episodes 2021 Paradise City Oliver Ostergaard TV spinoff of American Satan 2021–2022 The Mysterious Benedict Society Milligan Main role 2025 The Abandons Miles Elderton Recurring role

Video games Year Title Role 2022 God of War Ragnarök Thor

Awards and nominations Year Association Category Nominated work Result 2011 Satellite Awards Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Sons of Anarchy 2023 British Academy Games Awards Performer in a Supporting Role God of War Ragnarök