Jack Ryder (actor)
Encyclopedia
Jack Seigfried Ryder is an English
actor
, best known for playing Jamie Mitchell
in the BBC One
soap opera
EastEnders
from 1998 to 2002.
, performed as Justin Timberlake
on celebrity Stars in Their Eyes
(which he won), appeared in the pantomime
Sleeping Beauty
at the Marlowe Theatre
in Canterbury
and was cast in a recurring role on Five's Family Affairs
which he pulled out of when he learned that the series was soon to be axed. In 2005, he played a role in the ITV
crime drama MIT: Murder Investigation Team and appeared in a play broadcast on BBC Radio 4
. In 2006, Ryder appeared in the play The Safari Party which toured the UK extensively and ran at the Richmond Theatre
.
After a considerable period of time out of the limelight, Ryder starred in the British
film Popcorn which was released in the spring of 2007. Ryder was due to become a regular character in the new ITV1
daytime series The Royal Today
, a contemporary spin-off of The Royal
, but he subsequently withdrew from playing the role.
In Spring 2008 he was in Christopher Luscombe's production of Alan Bennett
's play Single Spies
starring opposite Nigel Havers. Between 18 September and 27 September 2008, Ryan played Romeo
in Michael Bogdanov
's production of Romeo and Juliet
at Swansea's Grand Theatre, with Sara Lloyd Gregory as Juliet. The production subsequently embarked on an extensive UK tour. In October 2008, Ryder joined The Archers
as Ryan.
From 28 July 2009, he played the photographer Laurence in the West End production of Calendar Girls
at the Noel Coward Theatre, where he was also the assistant director. He presently continues as associate director of Calendar Girls, responsible for all theatre productions world-wide.
In December 2010 Ryder wrote and directed his first short film, an adaptation of Mary Grace Dembeck's short story Act of Memory starring Claire Skinner
, Owen Teale
and Anna Massey
which was shot on location in London and received glowing reviews.
In February/March 2011 he was in Thea Sharrock
's critically accaimed production of David Hare
's Plenty at Sheffield Theatres. April 2011 saw Ryder direct his own new production of "Calender Girls" with Lesley Joseph, Sue Holderness, Deena Payne, Helen Fraser and Kacey Ainsworth which has been widely praised and will now tour through 2011.
In November 2011 Ryder started filming Henry V playing the part of Court for Neal Street Productions, Sam Mendes and the BBC.
In December 2011, Ryder's Film company Hendrix Productions acquired the film rights to Torey Hayden's New York Times best selling book GHOST GIRL. Ryder is also asked to direct a new stage production of CALENDAR GIRLS, this time with the original Calendar Girl herself, Linda Bellingham, this production will open in February 2012
(real name Jeremy Allan Ryder), the founder of 1980s New Wave
band Wang Chung
. He married former Hear’Say
singer turned actress Kym Marsh
in St Albans
, Hertfordshire
, on 10 August 2002 and, after settling in St Albans
, the couple had early difficulties and split for a short while before reconciling. In light of her regular roles in north-west-produced dramas, the couple moved to Manchester
and closer to Kym's family in 2005.
It was announced on 20 March 2008 that Kym and Jack had decided to separate. Jack now lives in London.
Ryder is a supporter of Newcastle United F.C.
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, best known for playing Jamie Mitchell
Jamie Mitchell
Jamie Mitchell is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Jack Ryder, who made his first appearance on 9 November 1998. Ryder decided to leave in 2002, and his final episode aired Christmas Day 2002, when Jamie was killed off....
in the BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
EastEnders
EastEnders
EastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
from 1998 to 2002.
Biography
In 2004, Ryder appeared as a contestant on celebrity Weakest LinkWeakest Link
The Weakest Link is a British television quiz show, currently broadcast on BBC Two. It was devised by Mr Wilton and Euan Green and Cathy Dunning, and developed for television by the BBC Entertainment Department. It has since been replicated around the world. The UK version is hosted by Anne...
, performed as Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake
Justin Randall Timberlake is an American pop musician and actor. He achieved early fame when he appeared as a contestant on Star Search, and went on to star in the Disney Channel television series The New Mickey Mouse Club, where he met future bandmate JC Chasez...
on celebrity Stars in Their Eyes
Stars In Their Eyes
Stars in Their Eyes is a British television talent show that ran on Saturdays nights from 21 July 1990 until 23 December 2006 in which contestants impersonate showbiz stars...
(which he won), appeared in the pantomime
Pantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
Sleeping Beauty
Sleeping Beauty
Sleeping Beauty by Charles Perrault or Little Briar Rose by the Brothers Grimm is a classic fairytale involving a beautiful princess, enchantment, and a handsome prince...
at the Marlowe Theatre
Marlowe Theatre
The Marlowe Theatre is a major 1200-seat theatre in Canterbury, England.It closed in March 2009 for redevelopment and a brand-new Marlowe Theatre re-opened to audiences on 4 October 2011.-Name:...
in Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
and was cast in a recurring role on Five's Family Affairs
Family Affairs
Family Affairs was a British soap opera broadcast on Five, from 1997 to 2005. It was the second programme to be broadcast on the channel on 30 March 1997, the channel's launch night...
which he pulled out of when he learned that the series was soon to be axed. In 2005, he played a role in the ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
crime drama MIT: Murder Investigation Team and appeared in a play broadcast on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
. In 2006, Ryder appeared in the play The Safari Party which toured the UK extensively and ran at the Richmond Theatre
Richmond Theatre
The present Richmond Theatre, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, is a British Victorian theatre located on Little Green, adjacent to Richmond Green. It opened on 18 September 1899 with a performance of As You Like It, and is one of the finest surviving examples of the work of theatre...
.
After a considerable period of time out of the limelight, Ryder starred in the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
film Popcorn which was released in the spring of 2007. Ryder was due to become a regular character in the new ITV1
ITV1
ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
daytime series The Royal Today
The Royal Today
The Royal Today was a British medical soap opera, a spin-off of the similarly themed drama, The Royal. The concept is that whilst The Royal is set in the late 1960s, The Royal Today featured the same hospital in the present day, with a new set of characters working in the same location...
, a contemporary spin-off of The Royal
The Royal
The Royal is a British medical drama series produced by ITV. The show comprises one hour episodes which were normally first aired on ITV in the Sunday early evening slot....
, but he subsequently withdrew from playing the role.
In Spring 2008 he was in Christopher Luscombe's production of Alan Bennett
Alan Bennett
Alan Bennett is a British playwright, screenwriter, actor and author. Born in Leeds, he attended Oxford University where he studied history and performed with The Oxford Revue. He stayed to teach and research mediaeval history at the university for several years...
's play Single Spies
Single Spies
Single Spies is a 1988 stage play written by English playwright Alan Bennett. It consists of two acts, An Englishman Abroad and A Question of Attribution.-Stage play:...
starring opposite Nigel Havers. Between 18 September and 27 September 2008, Ryan played Romeo
Romeo Montague
Romeo is one of the fictional protagonists in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Romeo is the son of old Montague and his wife, who secretly loves and marries Juliet, a member of the rival House of Capulet...
in Michael Bogdanov
Michael Bogdanov
Michael Bogdanov , is a British theatre director known for his work with new plays, modern reinterpretations of Shakespeare, musicals and work for Young People.-Early years:...
's production of Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written early in the career of playwright William Shakespeare about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular archetypal stories of young, teenage lovers.Romeo and Juliet belongs to a...
at Swansea's Grand Theatre, with Sara Lloyd Gregory as Juliet. The production subsequently embarked on an extensive UK tour. In October 2008, Ryder joined The Archers
The Archers
The Archers is a long-running British soap opera broadcast on the BBC's main spoken-word channel, Radio 4. It was originally billed as "an everyday story of country folk", but is now described on its Radio 4 web site as "contemporary drama in a rural setting"...
as Ryan.
From 28 July 2009, he played the photographer Laurence in the West End production of Calendar Girls
Calendar Girls
Calendar Girls is a 2003 comedy film directed by Nigel Cole. Produced by Buena Vista International and Touchstone Pictures, it features a screenplay by Tim Firth and Juliette Towhidi based on a true story of a group of Yorkshire women who produced a nude calendar to raise money for Leukaemia...
at the Noel Coward Theatre, where he was also the assistant director. He presently continues as associate director of Calendar Girls, responsible for all theatre productions world-wide.
In December 2010 Ryder wrote and directed his first short film, an adaptation of Mary Grace Dembeck's short story Act of Memory starring Claire Skinner
Claire Skinner
Claire L. Skinner is an English actress, who is well known in the United Kingdom for her television career.-Biography:Born and brought up in Hemel Hempstead, Skinner, the youngest daughter of a shopkeeper and an Irish-born secretary, was immensely shy as a child...
, Owen Teale
Owen Teale
Owen Teale is a Welsh actor.Trained at the Guildford School of Acting, Teale made his television debut in The Mimosa Boys in 1984. He later appeared in Knights of God , Great Expectations , Waterfront Beat and Boon before being cast as Will Scarlet in the 1991 TV movie Robin Hood...
and Anna Massey
Anna Massey
Anna Raymond Massey, CBE was an English actress. She won a BAFTA Award for the role of Edith Hope in the 1986 TV adaptation of Anita Brookner’s novel Hotel du Lac.-Early life:...
which was shot on location in London and received glowing reviews.
In February/March 2011 he was in Thea Sharrock
Thea Sharrock
Thea Sharrock is an award-winning English theatre director. In 2001, when at age 24 she became artistic director of London's Southwark Playhouse, she was the youngest artistic director in British theatre....
's critically accaimed production of David Hare
David Hare (playwright)
Sir David Hare is an English playwright and theatre and film director.-Early life:Hare was born in St Leonards-on-Sea, Hastings, East Sussex, the son of Agnes and Clifford Hare, a sailor. He was educated at Lancing, an independent school in West Sussex, and at Jesus College, Cambridge...
's Plenty at Sheffield Theatres. April 2011 saw Ryder direct his own new production of "Calender Girls" with Lesley Joseph, Sue Holderness, Deena Payne, Helen Fraser and Kacey Ainsworth which has been widely praised and will now tour through 2011.
In November 2011 Ryder started filming Henry V playing the part of Court for Neal Street Productions, Sam Mendes and the BBC.
In December 2011, Ryder's Film company Hendrix Productions acquired the film rights to Torey Hayden's New York Times best selling book GHOST GIRL. Ryder is also asked to direct a new stage production of CALENDAR GIRLS, this time with the original Calendar Girl herself, Linda Bellingham, this production will open in February 2012
Personal life
Ryder is the son of Jack HuesJack Hues
Jack Hues is an English musician, who is best known for forming the 1980s British new wave band, Wang Chung...
(real name Jeremy Allan Ryder), the founder of 1980s New Wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
band Wang Chung
Wang Chung (band)
Wang Chung are an English New Wave musical group.The group found their greatest success in America, with five Top 40 hits in the US, all charting between 1983 and 1987, including "Dance Hall Days" , "Everybody Have Fun Tonight" and "Let's Go!" .-Pre-history: The Intellektuals and 57 Men :Jeremy...
. He married former Hear’Say
Hear’Say
Hear'Say were a British manufactured pop group created in February 2001 from the winners of Popstars, an ITV reality TV show based on a New Zealand show of the same name. They enjoyed huge success with their debut single "Pure and Simple", helped by the publicity surrounding Popstars, the first of...
singer turned actress Kym Marsh
Kym Marsh
Kimberley Gail Marsh is an English actress and singer.- Early life :Marsh was born in Wigan, Greater Manchester and raised in Garswood, in the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens, Merseyside...
in St Albans
St Albans
St Albans is a city in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London, which forms the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans. It is a historic market town, and is now a sought-after dormitory town within the London commuter belt...
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, on 10 August 2002 and, after settling in St Albans
St Albans
St Albans is a city in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London, which forms the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans. It is a historic market town, and is now a sought-after dormitory town within the London commuter belt...
, the couple had early difficulties and split for a short while before reconciling. In light of her regular roles in north-west-produced dramas, the couple moved to Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
and closer to Kym's family in 2005.
It was announced on 20 March 2008 that Kym and Jack had decided to separate. Jack now lives in London.
Ryder is a supporter of Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
.