{{Short description|Canadian actor (born 1992)}} {{Infobox person | name = Drew Ray Tanner | image = File:Drew Ray Tanner actor.jpg | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = | birth_place = Victoria, British Columbia | other_names = | occupation = Actor | years_active = 2011–present | known_for = ''Riverdale'' }}
'''Drew Ray Tanner''' (born 1992) is a Canadian actor best known for his role as Fangs Fogarty on ''Riverdale''.
==Early life== Tanner was born in Victoria, British Columbia.<ref name="UYTDEWILLIGEN"/> When he was two years old, his father left, and his mother decided to move to Aldergrove, in Fraser Valley, British Columbia, where Tanner was raised.<ref name="UYTDEWILLIGEN"/><ref name="Ip">{{cite news |last1=Ip |first1=Stephanie |title=Riverdale: B.C.'s Jordan Connor and Drew Ray Tanner vote yearbook titles |url=https://vancouversun.com/entertainment/local-arts/riverdale-b-c-s-jordan-connor-and-drew-ray-tanner-vote-yearbook-titles |access-date=4 May 2021 |publisher=Vancouver Sun |date=May 11, 2018}}</ref> His mother is a teacher and he has an older brother.<ref name="Loewen"/> Tanner's grandfather would often do magic tricks and involve Tanner when he was child, which inspired him to join the entertainment industry.<ref name="Loewen">{{cite news |last1=Loewen |first1=Emily |title=Riverdale's Drew Ray Tanner On Acting, Following Your Heart And Enjoying The Ride |url=https://terroirmag.com/articles/2018/10/9/riverdales-drew-ray-tanner-on-acting-following-your-heart-and-enjoying-the-ride |access-date=4 May 2021 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008051148/https://terroirmag.com/articles/2018/10/9/riverdales-drew-ray-tanner-on-acting-following-your-heart-and-enjoying-the-ride |archive-date=October 8, 2020 | publisher=Terroir Mag |date=October 9, 2018}}</ref> In eighth and ninth grade, Tanner participated in a local improv group.<ref name="UYTDEWILLIGEN"/> He attended Aldergrove Community Secondary School and later transferred to W. J. Mouat Secondary School.<ref name="UYTDEWILLIGEN"/><ref name="Ip1">{{cite news |last1=Ip |first1=Stephanie |title=B.C.'s Riverdale stars Jordan Connor and Drew Ray Tanner spill on the Southside Serpents |url=https://vancouversun.com/entertainment/television/riverdales-jordan-connor-and-drew-ray-tanner-talk-southside-serpents |access-date=4 May 2021 |publisher=Vancouver Sun |date=May 23, 2018}}</ref> He also played football.<ref name="UYTDEWILLIGEN"/><ref name="Loewen"/> Tanner received the role of John Proctor in a production of ''The Crucible'' at his school.<ref name="UYTDEWILLIGEN"/> During his teenage years, Tanner also formed a rap group with a friend.<ref name="Valentine">{{cite news |last1=Valentine |first1=Claire |title=DREW RAY TANNER AND VANESSA MORGAN OF 'RIVERDALE' STARTED A BAND |url=https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/drew-ray-tanner-vanessa-morgan-sleep-when-im-dead |access-date=4 May 2021 |publisher=Nylon |date=May 15, 2020}}</ref> Following his high school graduation, Tanner turned down football scholarships and began working at a local tire retread plant so that he could support himself and travel to Vancouver for auditions.<ref name="UYTDEWILLIGEN"/><ref name="Karmel">{{cite news |last1=Karmel |first1=Laurenne |title=Jordan Connor and Drew Ray Tanner talk Riverdale and #Swangs (VIDEO) |url=https://dailyhive.com/toronto/jordan-connor-drew-ray-tanner-riverdale-swangs-podcast |access-date=4 May 2021 |publisher=Daily Hive |date=May 16, 2018}}</ref>
==Career== In 2015, Tanner auditioned for the roles of Jughead Jones and Reggie Mantle in ''Riverdale'', but did not receive either role.<ref name="Loewen"/> In 2016, Tanner's friends invited him to visit Rocko's Diner in Mission, British Columbia, which is famous for its milkshakes and was used as the filming location for diner scenes in ''Riverdale''.<ref name="Loewen"/> When they arrived, there was a line of fans around the corner and Tanner made it his goal to have a role on ''Riverdale''.<ref name="Loewen"/> When season two of the show began casting, Tanner auditioned for the role of Sweet Pea.<ref name="Loewen"/> While auditioning, he noted they were also casting for the role of Fangs Fogarty, so Tanner went in and auditioned for Fangs's character as well.<ref name="Loewen"/> Tanner joined the cast of ''Riverdale'' as Fangs Fogarty, the love interest of Kevin Keller, during season two, which began airing in 2017.<ref name="UYTDEWILLIGEN">{{cite news |last1=UYTDEWILLIGEN |first1=RYAN |title=Aldergrove actor Drew Ray Tanner gets promoted to series regular on Riverdale |url=https://www.aldergrovestar.com/entertainment/aldergrove-actor-drew-ray-tanner-gets-promoted-to-series-regular-on-riverdale/ |access-date=4 May 2021 |publisher=Aldergrove Star |date=October 2, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Fowler"/> Originally, Tanner was only supposed to appear in a couple episodes, but he was brought back several times until season four, when his character had a role in a major story arc.<ref name="UYTDEWILLIGEN"/> After three years in a recurring role, Tanner was promoted to be a series regular for season five of the show, which aired in 2021.<ref name="Piester">{{cite news |last1=Piester |first1=Laura |title=Riverdale Promotes Drew Ray Tanner to Series Regular For Season 5 |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1192716/riverdale-promotes-drew-ray-tanner-to-series-regular-for-season-5 |access-date=4 May 2021 |publisher=E! News |date=September 30, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Fowler">{{cite news |last1=Fowler |first1=Nikki |date=January 15, 2021 |title=DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE COVER: Drew Ray Tanner on the New Season of 'Riverdale,' the Time Jump, His Music, Dream Role, Identity, Isolation, and More |url=https://glittermagazine.co/2021/01/15/digital-exclusive-cover-drew-ray-tanner-on-the-new-season-of-riverdale-the-time-jump-music-his-dream-role-identity-isolation-and-more/entity-isolation-and-more/-role-identity-isolation-and-more/ |access-date=4 May 2021 |publisher=Glitter}}</ref>
Tanner and his ''Riverdale'' co-star Vanessa Morgan bonded on set over their love of music and formed a group, These Girls These Boys.<ref name="Valentine"/> They released their first single, ''Sleep When I'm Dead'', in May 2020.<ref name="Valentine"/><ref name="Uy">{{cite news |last1=Uy |first1=Megan |title=Vanessa Morgan and Drew Ray Tanner Have Officially Won Our 'TikTok Challenge Challenge' |url=https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/celebs/a33053393/these-girls-these-boys-tiktok-challenge-challenge-cosmo/ |access-date=4 May 2021 |publisher=Cosmopolitan |date=July 3, 2020}}</ref>
In 2019, Tanner appeared in the Netflix film ''Work It'' as the romantic interest of one of the main characters.<ref name="Williams">{{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=Brett |title=How a Riverdale Star Got Shredded for His Next Movie in Just 21 Days |url=https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a28250687/drew-ray-tanner-work-it/ |access-date=4 May 2021 |publisher=Men's Health |date=July 3, 2019}}</ref><ref name="N'Duka">{{cite news |last1=N'Duka |first1=Amanda |title=Jordan Fisher, Drew Ray Tanner, Michelle Buteau Join Sabrina Carpenter In Netflix Dance Comedy 'Work It' |url=https://deadline.com/2019/07/jordan-fisher-drew-ray-tanner-michelle-buteau-sabrina-carpenter-netflix-movie-1202641240/ |access-date=4 May 2021 |publisher=Deadline |date=July 2, 2019}}</ref> The role required Tanner to engage in improvisational acting.<ref name="Fowler"/> To prepare for the role, he lost nineteen pounds in twenty-one days through an intensive diet and training program.<ref name="Williams"/>
==Personal life== Tanner is biracial.<ref name="Fowler"/>
==Filmography== ===Film=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Ref. |- |2014 |''Mom's Day Away'' |Richie | | |- |2014 |''Zapped'' |Shirtless Guy | | |- |2015 |''All of My Heart'' |Rusty | | |- |2015 |''Liar, Liar, Vampire'' |Band Singer | | |- |2015 |''Once Upon a Holiday'' |Concierge | | |- |2016 |''Dater's Handbook'' |Phil | | |- |2016 |''Date With Love'' |Colin Hartling | | |- |2016 |''Home'' |Mirrored Goggles | | |- |2017 |data-sort-value="Birthday Wish, The" | ''The Birthday Wish'' |Kian | | |- |2017 |''Power Rangers'' |Young Lover #2 | |<ref name="UYTDEWILLIGEN"/><ref name="Loewen"/> |- |2017 |''Like Cats and Dogs'' |Tyler | | |- |2017 |''All for Love'' |P.J. Salazar | | |- |2017 |''All of My Heart: Inn Love'' |Rusty | | |- |2018 |''Secret Millionaire'' |Parking Attendant |as "Drew Tanner" | |- |2020 |''Work It'' |Charlie | | |- |2024 |''Boot Camp'' |Axel Chandler | |<ref name="Piester"/><ref name="Williams"/> |- |2024 |''Sidelined: QB and Me'' |Nathan Bryan | | |- |2025 |''Sidelined 2: Intercepted'' |Nathan Bryan | | |}
===Television=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Ref. |- |2011 |data-sort-value="Haunting Hour: The Series, The" | ''The Haunting Hour: The Series'' |Michael |as "Drew Tanner" | |- |2012 |''Fairly Legal'' |Elevator Person #4 |1 episode | |- |2013 |''Arrow'' |Rookie |1 episode |<ref name="UYTDEWILLIGEN"/> |- |2013 |''Motive'' |Tyson |1 episode | |- |2015 |''iZombie'' |Sam | |<ref name="UYTDEWILLIGEN"/> |- |2016 |''Supernatural'' |Cliff |1 episode |<ref name="UYTDEWILLIGEN"/> |- |2017 |''Supergirl'' |Student |1 episode |<ref name="UYTDEWILLIGEN"/> |- |2017 |''Somewhere Between'' |Jesse Reed / Jessie Reed |Recurring role |<ref name="Zafar"/> |- |2017–2023 |''Riverdale'' |Fangs Fogarty | Recurring (Seasons 2–4) <br> Main (Season 5-7) |<ref name="UYTDEWILLIGEN" /> |- |2018 |''You Me Her'' |Alex |2 episodes |<ref name="Zafar">{{cite news |last1=Zafar |first1=Mishal Ali |title=Here's What You Should Know About Fangs On 'Riverdale' |url=https://www.romper.com/p/who-plays-fangs-on-riverdale-drew-ray-tanner-is-your-new-favorite-southside-serpent-15830140 |access-date=4 May 2021 |publisher=Romper |date=January 16, 2019}}</ref> |- |2019 |data-sort-value="Order, The" | ''The Order'' |Todd |1 episode | |- |2020 |''50 States of Fright'' |David Freeman | |<ref name="Noronha">{{cite news |last1=Noronha |first1=Remus |title='50 States of Fright' Review: Sam Raimi's gory horror anthology is optimized to give you a quick scare |url=https://meaww.com/50-states-of-fright-sam-raimi-review-recap-all-episodes-horror-anthology-quibi |access-date=4 May 2021 |publisher=Meaww |date=April 22, 2020}}</ref> |- |2020 |''Legends of Tomorrow'' |Dion/Dionysus | |<ref name="Piester"/> |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|4423531}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tanner, Drew Ray}} Category:Living people Category:Canadian male film actors Category:Canadian male television actors Category:Male actors from Victoria, British Columbia Category:Canadian male actors of Chinese descent Category:Canadian people of Jamaican descent Category:Black Canadian male actors Category:1992 births