Ryan Cooley

Last updated
Ryan Cooley
Ryan Cooley 2007.jpg
Cooley in 2007
Born
Ryan Hadison Cooley

(1988-05-18) May 18, 1988 (age 35)
Alma mater University 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 also studied theatre at the University of Toronto. [2]

Contents

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. In 2006, Cooley was nominated for a Young Artist Award (LA) the category of Best Performance in a TV Comedy Series. Cooley has also appeared in the 2007 film The Tracey Fragments with Elliot Page. [lower-alpha 1] In 2012, Cooley guest starred in a YouTube miniseries called Millie and Midge, in episodes 2 and 4 as Parker.

Cooley appeared on Degrassi: The Next Generation as a regular character in the first season of the show and continued his role until 2007, the show’s sixth season.

Filmography

Film
YearTitleRoleNotes
1998AfterJohnathan MadisonShort film
Happy Christmas, Miss King Daniel KingTelevision film
2000 The Color of Friendship BillyTelevision film
2003 Cybermutt NinoTelevision film
2005God's GoodnessMikeShort film
2007 The Tracey Fragments David Goldberg
Television
YearTitleRoleNotes
1999Real Kids, Real AdventuresBud TooleEpisode: "Amy to the Rescue: The Amy Toole Story"
1999–2001 I Was a Sixth Grade Alien PleskitMain role
2000 Are You Afraid of the Dark? Waif Kid3 episodes
2001 Queer as Folk Hank CameronSupporting role
2001 Lexx Digby3 episodes
2001–2007 Degrassi: The Next Generation J.T. Yorke Main cast
2005 Life with Derek FrankEpisode: "The Poxfather"
2010 The Dating Guy Booyah's sonVoice, episode: "Weekend at Booyah's"
2012 Lost Girl Website OwnerEpisode: "Midnight Lamp"
2013–2015 Oh No! It's an Alien Invasion LouisVoice, main cast
2014 BeyWarriors: BeyRaiderz Task LandauVoice, main cast

Notes

  1. Credited as Ellen Page

Related Research Articles

<i>Degrassi Junior High</i> 1987 Canadian teen drama television series

Degrassi Junior High is a Canadian television series created by Kit Hood and Linda Schuyler. The second series in the Degrassi franchise and the first to be set in a universe that has spanned multiple decades, it aired on the CBC from 18 January 1987 to 27 February 1989, and on PBS in the United States starting from September 1987. A non-union show, it was primarily produced by Playing With Time with involvement from WGBH. Although not generally acknowledged by the mainstream, it has been frequently referred to as a pioneer of the teen drama genre that prefigured later and better-known series such as Beverly Hills, 90210 and Dawson's Creek.

<i>Degrassi: The Next Generation</i> 2001 Canadian teen drama television series

Degrassi: The Next Generation is a Canadian teen drama television series created by Yan Moore and Linda Schuyler. It is the fourth series in the Degrassi franchise and a revival of Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High. It premiered on CTV on October 14, 2001, and concluded on August 2, 2015, on MTV Canada. The series centers around a new ensemble cast of students at the fictional Degrassi Community School who face challenges such as sex, teen pregnancy, bullying, date rape, drug abuse, body image, homosexuality, domestic violence, gang violence, self-injury, suicide, abortion, mental disorders and many other issues. Various characters from the previous two series also returned as adults in recurring or guest roles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonathan Torrens</span> Canadian actor and television personality

Jonathan Ormond Torrens is a Canadian actor and television personality best known for his co-hosting of Street Cents, his talk show Jonovision, and his role as "J-Roc" in the popular Canadian mockumentary Trailer Park Boys. In October 2009, Torrens began hosting TV with TV's Jonathan Torrens, a comedic newsmagazine program broadcast on the TVtropolis network. In January 2014, he teamed up with fellow Canadian Jeremy Taggart to create the Taggart and Torrens Podcast. They discuss everything from sports to politics and offer a unique perspective on current issues.

<i>Degrassi</i> Canadian teen drama franchise

Degrassi is a Canadian teen drama television franchise created by Kit Hood and Linda Schuyler. Spanning five main series from 1979 to 2017, it follows the lives of youths in Toronto. With the exception of the first series, the franchise takes place in the same fictional timeline, with the titular school as the central setting. Outside of television, the franchise comprises companion novels, graphic novels, documentaries, soundtracks, and non-fiction works.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lauren Collins</span> Canadian actress (born 1986)

Lauren Felice Collins is a Canadian actress, best known for portraying Paige Michalchuk on Degrassi: The Next Generation. She has also had supporting roles in the films Take the Lead (2006) and Charlie Bartlett (2007). In 2013, she appeared in multiple episodes of the sketch comedy Kroll Show, as well as a recurring guest role in the fourth season of the FX series The Strain (2017).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stacey Farber</span> Canadian actress (born 1987)

Stacey Farber is a Canadian actress. She played Ellie Nash in seasons 2 through 8 of the television series Degrassi: The Next Generation. From 2010 to 2011, she starred in the CBC series 18 to Life. From 2014 to 2017, she played Sydney Katz on the Canadian medical drama Saving Hope, and since 2023 she has had a lead role on The Spencer Sisters. Stacey has also recurred on the Netflix drama series Virgin River and the CW superhero series Superman & Lois.

Christina Schmidt, sometimes credited as Chrissy Schmidt, is a Canadian actress and model.

Daniel Allen Clark is a U.S.-born Canadian actor. Clark is best known for his role as Sean Cameron on the CTV series Degrassi: The Next Generation and as Steve Rendazo in the 2007 film Juno.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stefan Brogren</span> Canadian actor and director (born 1972)

Stefan Brogren is a Canadian actor, director, and producer who is best known for his mainstay role as Archie "Snake" Simpson in the Degrassi television franchise. First appearing as a student in the second series Degrassi Junior High (1987-89) and continuing into Degrassi High (1989-91), Brogren played the role of Snake throughout every subsequent entry in the franchise, reprising his role in the revival Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001-15) as a teacher and later principal, and again in Degrassi: Next Class (2016-17).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Lobel</span> Canadian actor

Michael Ryan Lobel is a Canadian editor, director, actor and musician. He is best known for playing the role of Jay Hogart in the teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation as well as his work as picture editor of the HBO Max series Detention Adventure.

Al Mukadam is a Canadian actor. He is known for his performance as Ray Brennan in the Family Channel television series Radio Free Roscoe (2003–2005).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joey Jeremiah</span> Fictional character from the "Degrassi" franchise

Joseph "Joey" Jeremiah is a fictional character from the Degrassi teen drama franchise. He is portrayed by Pat Mastroianni. He debuted in the first episode of Degrassi Junior High and appeared throughout Degrassi Junior High, Degrassi High, and the first five seasons of Degrassi: The Next Generation. As one of the main focus characters of the original two series, his role primarily concerns his friendship with Archie "Snake" Simpson and Derek "Wheels" Wheeler, his on-and-off romantic relationship with Caitlin Ryan, and in The Next Generation, his relationship with his stepson Craig Manning.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christine Nelson</span> Fictional character from Degrassi

Christine "Spike" Nelson is a fictional character from the Degrassi teen drama franchise. Portrayed by Amanda Stepto, Spike appeared throughout Degrassi Junior High (1987–89), Degrassi High (1989–91), and the first nine seasons of Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001–10). Starting as an unnamed extra before being given a name and storyline, Spike's character largely revolves around her teenage pregnancy and motherhood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">J.T. Yorke</span> Fictional character on Degrassi: The Next Generation

James Tiberius "J.T." Yorke is a fictional character from the Canadian teen drama series Degrassi: The Next Generation. He was portrayed by Ryan Cooley. He debuted in the first episode of the series and appeared throughout its first six seasons. His role throughout Degrassi: The Next Generation primarily concerns his friendship with Toby Issacs, his relationship with Liberty Van Zandt, and his later brief relationship with Mia Jones. In the show's fifth season, Liberty becomes pregnant after the two become sexually active, with Liberty ultimately deciding to put the baby up for adoption. He then begins to date Mia by the sixth season, but has second thoughts about Liberty. Before he is able to rekindle his relationship with Liberty, he is stabbed to death by Drake Lempkey, a student from rival school Lakehurst, puncturing his aorta and killing him. His death causes tensions between Degrassi and Lakehurst, which are exacerbated by the latter's students being moved to Degrassi in the seventh season.

<i>Degrassi: The Next Generation</i> (season 1) Season of television series

The first season of Degrassi: The Next Generation, a Canadian serial teen drama television series, commenced airing in Canada on 14 October 2001 and concluded on 3 March 2002, consisting of fifteen episodes. The series introduces a group of seventh and eighth grade school children, and follows their lives as they deal with some of the challenges and issues teenagers face such as online predators, body image, dysfunctional families, sex, puberty, rumours, peer pressure, stress, and drug use.

<i>Degrassi: The Next Generation</i> (season 6) Season of television series

The sixth season of the Canadian teen drama television series Degrassi: The Next Generation commenced airing in Canada on 28 November 2006, concluded on 14 May 2007 and contains nineteen episodes. This season depicts the lives of high school juniors, seniors and graduates as they deal with some of the challenges and issues young adults face such as imprisonment, online predators, burglary, substance abuse, stress, gambling addiction, financial difficulties, school rivalries, pregnancy scares and death. This is the first season in franchise history to feature college aged characters in prominent roles. Unlike the previous seasons, which took place over the course of an entire school year, season six only covers the fall semester of the school year, utilizing a semi-floating timeline. It also marks the first death of a main character in the series.

"Mother and Child Reunion" is the two-part pilot episode of the Canadian teen drama television series Degrassi: The Next Generation, which premiered on October 14, 2001 on the CTV Television Network. The episode was written by story editor Aaron Martin and series co-creator/creative consultant Yan Moore, and directed by Bruce McDonald. As with the majority of Degrassi: The Next Generation episodes, "Mother and Child Reunion" takes its title from a pop song, "Mother and Child Reunion", written and performed by Paul Simon.

<i>Degrassi: The Next Generation</i> (season 8) Season of television series

The eighth season of Degrassi: The Next Generation premiered in Canada on 5 October 2008, concluded on 30 August 2009, and consists of twenty-two episodes. Degrassi: The Next Generation is a Canadian serial teen drama television series. Although only one school year passed in the story timeline since season six, season eight is set in the fall semester of the year in which it aired. Writers have been able to use a semi-floating timeline, so that the issues depicted are modern for their viewers. This season depicts the lives of a group of high school freshmen, juniors, seniors, and graduates as they deal with some of the challenges and issues young adults face such as sex, sexism, sexual identity, financial difficulties, drug use, mental disorders, cyberbullying, child molestation, stress, hostage situations, racism, and psychological abuse. Thirteen actors are added to the ensemble cast, while fourteen cast members have either left the series or been dropped from the main cast to recurring roles. The season focuses heavily on the new generation of students at Degrassi Community School, although it included storylines about those who have graduated and gone on to university.

Ricardo Antonio Hoyos, Jr. is a Canadian actor. He joined the cast of Degrassi: The Next Generation for the eleventh season as Zig Novak and starred in the sequel series Degrassi: Next Class on Netflix. He has also starred in the children's television series Dino Dan.

References

  1. "Ryan Cooley - Overview". Allmovie . Retrieved 2009-06-22.
  2. "theTVaddict.com Exclusive Interview: Degrassi's Ryan Cooley Talks About the Death of J.T. | the TV addict". The TV Addict. Retrieved 29 April 2022.