Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 11, 2026

Ryan Johnson (actor)

Ryan Johnson is an Australian actor.

Last revised
Jul 11, 2026
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Ryan Johnson
Ryan Johnson - Photo by Simon Cardwell
Born1979 (age 46–47)
Melbourne, Australia
OccupationActor
Years active1999–present
SpouseLeah Da Gloria
Children1

Ryan Johnson (born 1979) is an Australian actor.

Early life

Johnson attended Somerset College on the Gold Coast, and graduated from Queensland University of Technology in 1999.1

Career

Johnson made his acting debut in 2000 featuring in several performances on stage, television and film, including the film City Loop.2 That year, he also had guest roles in All Saints,1 Beastmaster3 and American TV movie Nowhere to Land.4 He also toured in a Sydney Theatre Company production of The Beauty Queen of Leenane.5

In 2001, Johnson appeared in his first major television role in the short-lived drama series Head Start, playing Kyle Richter,6 followed by a recurring role as Bobby Bailey in all six episodes of the first season of comedy series Dossa and Joe in 2002.7 That same year he appeared opposite Tom Berenger and Ryan Kwanten in American sports drama TV movie The Junction Boys,8 before playing the role of Hammer in 2003 Nick Giannopoulos comedy The Wannabes (known as Criminal Ways in the U.S.), with Isla Fisher.9

In 2004, Johnson appeared in comedy film Thunderstruck, alongside Sam Worthington.10 as well as on stage in production of Brendan Cowell's play Men in Edinburgh.11 He then scored a starring role in the 2005 fourth season of drama series The Secret Life of Us, playing Zelko Milanovic.12 The same year, he directed a stage production of Ninja at Sydney's Old Fitzroy Theatre, Sydney.13

In 2007, he guested in an episode of CSI: New York,1 and appeared in comedy drama film All My Friends Are Leaving Brisbane.14 The following year, he played the role of Dylan in thriller Monkey Puzzle (also known as Enter the Wild),15 before landing a recurring part as Rocco Arico in the first season of crime drama Underbelly in 2008.16 That same year, he was cast in the ongoing role of Ian 'Stavva' Jones in drama series Out of the Blue.17

Johnson played Paulie Rosetta, brother of Angelo Rosetta (Luke Jacobz), in long-running television soap opera Home and Away in 2010.18 He also featured in comedy film Jucy,19 In October 2011, it was announced that he had joined the main cast of US drama Fairly Legal for its second season, as trial attorney Ben Grogan.20 The series was cancelled at the end of the season, due to low ratings.21 From 2011 to 2015, he starred in satirical YouTube series One Step Closer to Home, playing one half of 'suburbia’s dullest married couple', Paul, opposite Alyssa McClelland as his on screen wife, Nat. The pair also created the series.22

In 2014, Johnson took on several roles, including playing Gary Morris in biographical miniseries INXS: Never Tear Us Apart.23 He appeared opposite Jessica Marais in drama series Love Child in the ongoing role of Phillip,24 before playing Will Stevens in the third season of House Husbands.25 He then reunited with Marais in the TV movie Carlotta.26

In 2015, Johnson had a recurring role as Ash Adamo in crime miniseries Hiding, 27 before playing Tim 'Plastic' Pemberton in 2016 two-part miniseries Brock, about Australian car racing legend Peter Brock (Matthew Le Nevez).28 That same year, he began playing Matt Knight, brother of titular character Hugh Knight (Rodger Corser) in drama series Doctor Doctor, continuing in the role for five seasons, from 2016 to 2021.29 For his performance, he earned a nomination for the Logie Award for Most Outstanding Supporting Actor in 2017.30

Johnson played the role of Ethan in 2018 Australian-Chinese action adventure thriller Guardians of the Tomb, opposite Kelsey Grammer and Kellan Lutz.31 In 2020, he was part of the supporting cast in comedy-drama series Operation Buffalo, playing Agent Martin.32 The following year, he joined the cast of Stan comedy drama series Bump, alongside Claudia Karvan, during its second season,33 appearing through to the show's final season in 2024.34

In April 2022, Johnson rejoined the cast of Home and Away as wealthy gambler and villain Peter "PK" King.18 He also appeared in 2022 comedy drama film How to Please a Woman, in the role of Anthony.35 The following year, he had a starring role in two-part true crime drama miniseries The Claremont Murders, playing the role of Perth serial killer Bradley Robert Edwards.3637

In January 2026, Johnson starred as Hamish, opposite Brooke Satchwell as Lillian, in comedy drama miniseries Dear Life.38

Johnson's television guest credits include Young Lions, White Collar Blue,39 The Chaser's War on Everything, My Place, Satisfaction, Sea Patrol,40 Rake, Laid,41 SLiDE, Dance Academy, Mr & Mrs Murder, Ready for This, Rake,42 Operation Buffalo and Upright.43

Awards

Year Work Award Category Result Ref.
2017 Doctor Doctor Logie Awards Most Outstanding Supporting Actor Nominated 30

Personal life

Johnson lives with his wife Leah Da Gloria, a fashion designer, and has one child, a daughter, with tv writer, Tamara Asmar.4445

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2000 All Saints Nick Patterson Season 3, episode 12: "Food for Thought"
Beastmaster Reon Season 2, episode 8: "Heart Like a Lion" 3
Nowhere to Land Chad TV movie 4
2001 Head Start Kyle Richter Season 1, all 40 episodes 6
2002 Dossa and Joe Bobby Bailey Season 1, all 6 episodes 7
Young Lions Alex Brooks Season 2, episode 5: "Boy School Bullies" 46
The Junction Boys Mike Hess TV movie 8
2003 White Collar Blue Jared 'Mungo' Muntz Season 2, episodes 2 & 17 39
2005 The Secret Life of Us Zelko Milanovic Season 4, 10 episodes 12
2007 All Saints Conrad Hagan Season 10, episode 7: "Back on Track"
CSI: NY Bob Smith Season 3, episode 20: "What Schemes May Come" 1
2008 Underbelly Rocco Arico Season 1, episodes 4-6 16
Out of the Blue Ian 'Stavva' Jones 79 episodes 17
2009 The Chaser's War on Everything Marco Season 3, episode 3: "The Chaser's Waster of Taxpayer's Money"
All Saints Jake Season 12, episode 35: "The Two of Us"
My Place PC Moroney Season 1, episode 8: "1938 Colum"
2010 Satisfaction Steve Season 3, episodes 6 & 7
Sea Patrol Darryl Season 4, episode 10: "Rawhide" 40
Home and Away Paulie Rosetta 18
Rake Marty Season 1, episode 2: "R vs Marx" 47
2011 Laid Dave Season 1, episodes 1 & 6 41
SLiDE Rob Season 1, episode 4
2011–2015 One Step Closer to Home Paul 'Pauly' Shaw Web series; Seasons 1–2, all 19 episodes (also creator) 22
2012 Dance Academy Dr Dave Season 3, episodes 12 & 13
Fairly Legal Ben Grogan Season 2, 13 episodes 20
Two Flies Ryan TV movie
2013 Mr & Mrs Murder Michael Gorman Season 1, episode 11: "Keeping Up Appearances"
2014 INXS: Never Tear Us Apart Gary Morris Miniseries, 2 episodes 23
Love Child Phillip Paige Season 1, 5 episodes 24
House Husbands Will Stevens Season 3, 8 episodes 25
Carlotta Peter TV movie 26
2015 Hiding Ash Adamo Season 1, 4 episodes 27
Ready for This Dave Season 1, episode 4: "Shadow Boxing"
2016 Rake Raymond Season 4, episodes 2 & 3 42
Brock Tim 'Plastic' Pemberton Miniseries, 2 episodes 28
2016–2021 Doctor Doctor Matt Knight Seasons 1–5, all 48 episodes 29
2017 Kiki and Kitty Brandon Web series; Season 1, 3 episodes 48
2020 Operation Buffalo Agent Martin Season 1, 3 episodes 32
2021–2024 Bump Tim 11 episodes 3334
2022 Upright Tocca (voice) 1 episode 43
Home and Away PK 8 episodes 18
2023 The Claremont Murders Bradley Robert Edwards Miniseries, 2 episodes 36
2026 Dear Life (aka Love Divided by Eleven) Hamish Vandenberg TV series 38

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2000 City Loop (aka Bored Olives) Misha Feature film 2
2001 Jet Set Young Tourist Short film
2002 Stuffed Bunny Marcus Short film 49
2003 The Wannabes Hammer Feature film 9
Ned Henchman Shanahan Feature film
2004 Thunderstruck Lloyd Feature film 10
Book Em Warren Short film 50
Kevin Needs to Make New Friends: Because Everyone Hates Him for Some Reason Stewart Short film
2005 Europe European man Short film 51
Son of the Mask Chad Feature film
2007 Ghost Rider Waiter Feature film
All My Friends Are Leaving Brisbane Tyson Feature film 14
Fallers Kenneth Short film
2008 Monkey Puzzle (aka Enter the Wild) Dylan Feature film 15
2010 Jucy Alex Feature film 19
Nic & Shauna Nicholai Short film
2011 Family Values Tom Short film
2012 Gull Teddy Short film
2016 Perry Ben Short film
2018 Concern for Welfare Sambo Short film 52
Guardians of the Tomb Ethan Feature film 31
2022 How to Please a Woman Anthony Feature film 35

Theatre

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2000 The Beauty Queen of Leenane Ray Dooley Bridge Theatre Coniston, Playhouse Canberra with STC 5
2004 Men, by Brendan Cowell Pleasance Dome, Edinburgh 11
2005 Ninja As Director Old Fitzroy Theatre, Sydney 13
2007 Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train Angel Cruz Belvoir, Sydney 53
2008 Rabbit Tom Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC 54
2009 The Lonesome West Father Welsh Belvoir, Sydney 55
2016 80 Minutes No Interval Louis Old Fitzroy Theatre, Sydney 56
References

References

  1. Yallamas, Lisa (5 March 2008). "Brissie bloke Ryan Johnson works his tail off". The Courier-Mail. Archived from the original on 29 October 2010. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  2. "City Loop – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  3. "BeastMaster: episode guide | Series 2". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  4. "Nowhere to Land – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  5. "The Beauty Queen of Leenane by Martin McDonagh | Sydney Theatre Company at The Playhouse". Archived from the original on 2 October 2012.
  6. "Head Start". TV Guide. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  7. "Dossa and Joe – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  8. "The Junction Boys – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  9. "Criminal Ways – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  10. "Thunderstruck – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  11. "Ryan Johnson". app.showcast.com.au. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  12. "The Secret Life of Us". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  13. Brendan Doyle (19 January 2005). "Two small boys, one big dream". Green Left Weekly.
  14. "All My Friends Are Leaving Brisbane – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  15. "Monkey Puzzle ('Enter the Wild')". nobodysreadingthisbutme.com. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  16. "Underbelly: episode guide | Series 1". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  17. "Out of the Blue: characters". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  18. Harvey, Kerry (19 May 2022). "Home And Away star gambles on shedding his nice guy image". Stuff. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  19. "Jucy – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  20. Andreeva, Nellie (1 November 2012). "USA's 'Fairly Legal' Cancelled, 'Burn Notice' Nears 13-Episode Seventh-Season Renewal". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  21. "Australia's 'most boring' soap is set to return for a second season. But why?". The Daily Telegraph. 6 April 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  22. Ryno (7 February 2014). "INXS: Never Tear Us Apart Review". rynostv.com. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  23. "Love Child: cast". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  24. "House Husbands: episode guide | Series 3". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  25. "Carlotta – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  26. "Hiding: cast". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  27. "Brock – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  28. Gavin, Rachael (30 April 2021). "Why Doctor Doctor Season 5 helped Ryan Johnson get through lockdown". Nine.com.au. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  29. Knox, David (26 March 2017). "Logie Awards 2017: nominees". TV Tonight. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  30. "7 Guardians of the Tomb – Full Cast & Crew". TV Tonight. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  31. "Operation Buffalo: cast". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  32. "Bump: cast". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  33. Knox, David (18 November 2024). "Returning: Bump". TV Tonight. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  34. "How to Please a Woman – Full Cast & Crew". TV Tonight. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  35. Gollasch, Grace. "Everything you need to know about Channel 7's The Claremont Murders". chattr.com.au. Retrieved 13 May 2026.
  36. Zuvela, Teneal (28 November 2023). "'The Claremont Murders' is Based on Perth's Most Notorious Serial Killer Case". Marie Claire. Retrieved 13 May 2026.
  37. Hammond, Saoirse. "EXCLUSIVE: Brooke Satchwell and Ryan Johnson open up about their intense roles in Dear Life". who.com.au. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  38. "White Collar Blue: episode guide | Series 2". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  39. "Sea Patrol 4: episode guide | Series 4". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  40. "Laid – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  41. "Rake: episode guide | Series 4". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  42. "Upright: episode guide | Series 2". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  43. Lacey, Stephen (4 August 2017). "Ryan Johnson on writer wife Tamara Asmar: 'She's never written me a sex scene'". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  44. "Doctor Doctor star Ryan Johnson's sweet tribute to daughter". New Idea. 10 September 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  45. "Young Lions: episode guide". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  46. "Rake: episode guide | Series 1". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  47. "Kiki and Kitty: episode guide". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  48. "Stuffed Bunny (2002)". ryanjohnsonactor.info. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  49. "Book Em (2004)". ryanjohnsonactor.info. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  50. "Europe (2005)". ryanjohnsonactor.info. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  51. "Concern for Welfare – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  52. Bryce Hallett (20 September 2007). "Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  53. Barry, Helen (15 December 2008). "Rabbit | Sydney Theatre Company". australianstage.com.au. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  54. Jason Blake (24 August 2009). "The Lonesome West". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  55. Bryant, Sarah (9 March 2016). "Five Minutes with Ryan Johnson from 80 Minutes No Interval". thebrag.com. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
External links