Ryan Merriman started acting at the tender age of 10, after he took drama lessons and did a few commercials in his home state of Oklahoma, USA. He has always been kind and generous to his fans, taking part in live chats on Internet from about 1998 to 2000, and always giving autographed pictures to those who ask for them. He also attended several charity events, and is a generous donator to several organizations.
Born in april 1983, he grew up surrounded by his parents and his elder sister, Monica. At 10, he got the part of Blake Kellogg in the tv series "The Mommies", co-starring Justin Berfield who was still a kid (Reese in "Malcolm in the middle") and Ashley Peldon, who he met again on the set of "The Pretender".
In 1995, Ryan acted in an episode of the tv series "The Client", and then got the part of young Jarod in the hit tv series "The Pretender" in 1996. This part earned him three nominations for the Young Artists Awards (1997, 1998, 1999) for which he won twice (1998 et 1999). The part of young Jarod also earned him a first worldwide recognition. Ryan played in each 4 seasons of the tv series, until 2000.
His reccuring role in "The Pretender" didn`t keep him from acting in several tv movies, like Disney Channel`s "Smart House" in 1999, and "Everything That Rises", never aired in France, that earned him a Young Artist Award in 1999. Ryan was 15 then.
On the set of "Everything That Rises", Ryan discovered some organizations that helped disabled kids through the love for animals and especially horses. He was touched by their work and decided to help them by giving them money.
Ryan also acted in "The Deep End of the Ocean" co-starring Michelle Pfeiffer, Treat Williams ("Everwood") and Whoopi Goldberg for his first big-feature movie in 1999. He won a Young Artist Award of Hollywood in 2000 for his part of the lost-and-then-found son in this movie.
The same year, Ryan acted in the independant movie "Cherry Pink", later re-titled as "Just Looking", an hilarious comedy about teenagers and sex. The movie was released on DVD in the USA and Canada, and rated R (restricted) for sexual content and language. It seems to be Ryan`s most hilarious performance so far. He was actually nominated for a Young Artist Awards of Hollywood in 2001 for this film.
In 2000, Ryan acted in "Rocket`s Red Glare", and in Disney Channel`s "The Luck of the Irish" in 2001. He won many new teen fans thanks to this tv-movie.
Most of all, Ryan landed with "Dangerous Child" his first "bad boy" role, for which he won another Young Artist Award in 2002, as well as numerous fans` esteem. He starred in it as a troubled teenager who is violent towards his mom, played by Delta Burke.
Ryan`s newsletter was then put on-line, on his official website, with much more pictures and news than when it was mailed by USPS. Ryan also talked about his meetings with a few lucky fans, and shared personal pictures and info with his fans.
That`s how he shared with his fans his high school graduation and other events. Ryan then tried undergraduate web-based studies on eathquakes and volcanoes but had to stop due to his busy schedule..
In Senior High, he had studied Internet, its applications, and also contruction. Ryan always stayed in the top third at school.
In 2002, he acted in the horror blockbuster "Halloween : Resurrection",
