Biography
Ryan Richards is a New Zealand based actor, writer, comedian and voice artist.
Since 2007, Ryan has been seen regularly on New Zealand Television screens and on stage at various theatres throughout the country. Ryan trained at Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School – New Zealand’s oldest and most prestigious actor-training institution. During his three years of training he was able to take on professional screen roles outside of the classroom. This included roles in New Zealand television series, Ride with the Devil and My Story. After graduating with a Bachelor of Performing Arts in November, 2007 – Ryan’s career brought him to Auckland for a role in the big-budget US/Korean feature film, The Warrior’s Way - playing opposite Oscar-winning actor, Geoffrey Rush. Since then, Ryan has enjoyed a busy career playing roles in various TV series including Shortland Street, Underbelly NZ, Jono and Ben and Funny Girls. No stranger to the local stage, Ryan has been cast in a myriad of roles for Auckland theatres – his credits include The Basement Theatre’s Christmas Productions (2010 -2015), Gwen in Purgatory by Tommy Murphy (2013) and An Unseasonable Fall of Snow by Gary Henderson (2014). Internationally, Ryan was invited to travel to Steamboat Springs, Colorado (US) in 2008 where he performed as part of the Piknk Theatre Festival. Comedy theatre has always been Ryan’s foremost passion. Working collaboratively with others, Ryan has created and produced nine original comedy theatre productions over the past 10 years that have been staged in both Auckland and Wellington theatres. In March of 2014, Ryan premiered his first solo-written and solo-performed production, A Boy Wonder. This production garnered glowing reviews from both media and audiences. This production toured New Zealand in 2015. In May of 2017, Ryan's two-hander comedy show, Fuq Boiz was a finalist for The Fred Award - a prestigious award recognising the best New Zealand show in the NZ International Comedy Festival. This show was co-written and co-performed with comedian, Hamish Parkinson. Hamish and Ryan went on to stage two more hit stage shows, Fuq Boiz: Resurrection (2018) and Fuq Boiz Forever (2019). The pair now have a Fuq Boiz web series in the works - which is currently in post-production and due for release in early 2024. |
"Ryan Richards has an ace in the hole in, well, himself."
Lumiere Reader
"You'll find yourself just chuckling at the loveable clown that is Ryan Richards"
Gather and Hunt
"Ryan Richards is a funny bloke."
Theatreview