Ryan Cooley

Ryan Cooley
Cooley in 2007
Born
Ryan Hadison Cooley

(1988-05-18) May 18, 1988 (age 36)
Orangeville, Ontario, Canada
Alma materUniversity of Toronto
Occupation(s)Actor, consultant
Years active1998–2015

Ryan Hadison Cooley (born May 18, 1988) is a Canadian[1] consultant and former actor. He is best known for his role as James Tiberius "J.T." Yorke on Degrassi: The Next Generation which he starred in from 2001 until 2007.

He is currently the Vice President of Konrad Group, a digitial agency that creates apps and products.[2]

Career

Prior to joining the Degrassi cast, he had a two-year run as Pleskit, the alien lead in the television series I Was a Sixth Grade Alien. Cooley's other television credits include the series, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Queer as Folk, Lexx: The Series and Life with Derek. He has also appeared in the features Sachsenhausen 1944, Toy Men, Disney Channel film The Color of Friendship, the Animal Planet film Cybermutt and CBC television film Happy Christmas Miss King alongside his Degrassi co-star Lauren Collins.[2]

In 2001, Cooley began appearing on Degrassi: The Next Generation as a regular character in the first season of the show and continued until his character's death in 2007, the show’s sixth season.[3][4] In 2002, Cooley was nominated for a Young Artist Award (LA) for Best Performance in a TV Comedy Series for the show.

Cooley has also appeared in the 2007 film The Tracey Fragments with Elliot Page.[a][5]

In 2012, Cooley guest starred in a YouTube miniseries Millie and Midge, in episodes 2 and 4 as Parker.

Cooley was to appear in former co-star Drake's 2018 music video for the single "I'm Upset," however he declined due to believing it was a scam. The video was set around a Degrassi reunion.[6]

Personal life

Following his departure from Degrassi, Cooley took a break from acting and attended the University of Toronto where he studied theatre.[7][4]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1998 After Johnathan Madison Short film
Happy Christmas, Miss King Daniel King Television film
2000 The Color of Friendship Billy Television film
2003 Cybermutt Nino Television film
2005 God's Goodness Mike Short film
2007 The Tracey Fragments David Goldberg

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1999 Real Kids, Real Adventures Bud Toole Episode: "Amy to the Rescue: The Amy Toole Story"
1999–2001 I Was a Sixth Grade Alien Pleskit Main role
2000 Are You Afraid of the Dark? Waif Kid 3 episodes
2001 Queer as Folk Hank Cameron Supporting role
2001 Lexx Digby 3 episodes
2001–2007 Degrassi: The Next Generation J.T. Yorke Main cast
2005 Life with Derek Frank Episode: "The Poxfather"
2010 The Dating Guy Booyah's son Voice, episode: "Weekend at Booyah's"
2012 Lost Girl Website Owner Episode: "Midnight Lamp"
2013–2015 Oh No! It's an Alien Invasion Louis Voice, main cast
2014 BeyWarriors: BeyRaiderz Task Landau Voice, main cast

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2002 Young Artist Awards Best Ensemble in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) Degrassi: The Next Generation Won [8]
Best Performance in a TV Comedy Series - Leading Young Actor Nominated [8]
2003 Best Ensemble in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) Nominated [9]
2005 Outstanding Young Performers in a TV Series Nominated [10]
2006 Best Young Ensemble in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) Nominated [11]

Notes

  1. ^ Credited as Ellen Page

References

  1. ^ "Ryan Cooley - Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
  2. ^ a b Fuentes, Tamara (2018-06-15). "This Is What the "Degrassi: The Next Generation" Cast Looks Like Now". Seventeen. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
  3. ^ Sunderland, Mitchell (2017-04-26). "Viagra, Murder, and Other Problems Teens Only Faced on Degrassi". Vice. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
  4. ^ a b "Exclusive Interview: Degrassi's Ryan Cooley Talks About the Death of J.T." The TV Addict. 2007-01-18. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
  5. ^ Ness, Caro (12 Nov 2008). "The Tracey Fragments (2007) Movie Review from Eye for Film". www.eyeforfilm.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
  6. ^ Agard, Chancellor (14 June 2018). "Drake addresses why J.T. wasn't in his 'Degrassi' reunion video for 'I'm Upset'". EW.com. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
  7. ^ Zhu, Danielle (17 Feb 2023). "'Degrassi' cast: Where are they now?". EW.com. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
  8. ^ a b "Young Artist Awards (2002)". IMDb. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
  9. ^ "Young Artist Awards (2003)". IMDb. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
  10. ^ "Young Artist Awards (2005)". IMDb. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
  11. ^ "Young Artist Awards (2006)". IMDb. Retrieved 2024-04-08.