Ryan Jason Cook was born in Jacksonville, North Carolina, where he became the oldest son of five children. His father, Chris, a pilot in the Air Force, relocated his family frequently during Ryan's youth, moving from the east coast to the west coast and everywhere in between. This nomadic lifestyle had a profound impact on Ryan's life, shaping his worldview and fostering a sense of adaptability.
As he grew older, Ryan's family eventually settled in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he attended La Cueva High School. It was during his time at La Cueva that Ryan first discovered his passion for performance, exploring the world of theatre and laying the foundation for his future career.
After high school, Ryan's plans to attend college as a Bio-Chemical Engineering major were derailed when he participated in a theatre festival at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, New Mexico. This transformative experience altered the course of his life, guiding him towards a career in theatre performance.
While attending ENMU, Ryan earned his BFA in theatre performance and a minor in directing, dance, and technical theatre. He quickly established himself as a leading man, starring in a wide range of productions, including Arsenic and Old Lace, The Seagull, The Front Page, One Flea Spare, and many more.
Following his graduation in 2005, Ryan returned to Albuquerque, where he became deeply involved in the local theatre community. He went on to perform in over 80 productions, playing a diverse array of roles, including Himself in The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged),Cliff Bradshaw in Cabaret, Macbeth in Macbeth, and Tom Wingfield in The Glass Menagerie.
In addition to his extensive work as a performer, Ryan also developed a strong background in directing, helming productions such as Romeo and Juliet, Anatomy of a Murder, Spring Awakening, Fame, The Wizard of Oz, One Flea Spare, Cesar's Blood, and How I Learned to Drive, among many others.
In 2009, Ryan's life underwent significant changes. He met and married his wife, Reoyne Cook, and the couple welcomed four new children into their family in 2018, bringing their total to eight. In 2021, they added their seventh child to the family.
The same year, Ryan made the transition into the film and television industry, quickly landing roles on popular shows like Better Call Saul, Obliterated, Big Sky, Dark Winds, Preacher, Waco, Get Shorty, Graves, Manhattan, Dig, The Night Shift, In Plain Sight, Killer Women, and The Messengers. He has also appeared in several films, including Only The Brave, The Space Between Us, Those Who Want Me Dead, Soldado, The Last Stand, and The Maze Runner: Scorch Trails.
