{{short description|Canadian actor}} {{BLP sources|date=November 2019}} {{Infobox person | name = Ryan Cooley | image = Ryan Cooley 2007.jpg | caption = Cooley in 2007 | alma_mater = University of Toronto | birth_name = Ryan Hadison Cooley | birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1988|5|18}} | birth_place = Orangeville, Ontario, Canada | occupation = Actor, consultant | years_active = 1998–2015 (acting) }} '''Ryan Hadison Cooley''' (born May 18, 1988) is a Canadian<ref name=allmovie>{{cite web|title=Ryan Cooley - Overview|work=Allmovie|url=http://www.allmovie.com/artist/ryan-cooley-447799|access-date=2009-06-22}}</ref> 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 is currently the Vice President of Konrad Group, a digitial agency that creates apps and products.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Fuentes |first=Tamara |date=2018-06-15 |title=This Is What the "Degrassi: The Next Generation" Cast Looks Like Now |url=https://www.seventeen.com/celebrity/movies-tv/g21527422/degrassi-the-next-generation-cast-then-now/ |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=Seventeen |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Early life== Cooley was born in Orangeville, Ontario to Charles Cooley, a drummer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.charliecooley.com/|title=Charlie Cooley is one of Canada's most in-demand drummers.|website=Charlie Cooley|accessdate=May 10, 2025}}</ref>
==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.<ref name=":2" />
In 2001, Cooley began appearing on ''Degrassi: The Next Generation'' as a regular character in the first season of the show and continued until his character's death in 2007, the show’s sixth season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sunderland |first=Mitchell |date=2017-04-26 |title=Viagra, Murder, and Other Problems Teens Only Faced on Degrassi |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/viagra-murder-and-other-problems-teens-only-faced-on-degrassi/ |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=Vice |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2007-01-18 |title=Exclusive Interview: Degrassi's Ryan Cooley Talks About the Death of J.T. |url=https://www.thetvaddict.com/2007/01/18/thetvaddictcom-exclusive-interview-degrassis-ryan-cooley-talks-about-the-death-of-jt/ |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=The TV Addict |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2002, Cooley was nominated for a Young Artist Award (LA) for Best Performance in a TV Comedy Series for the show.
Cooley has also appeared in the 2007 film ''The Tracey Fragments'' with Elliot Page.{{efn|name=Elliot|Credited as Ellen Page}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ness |first=Caro |date=12 Nov 2008 |title=The Tracey Fragments (2007) Movie Review from Eye for Film |url=https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-tracey-fragments-film-review-by-caro-ness |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=www.eyeforfilm.co.uk}}</ref><!--per wp:GENDERID and consistent with Juno and Freeheld articles-->
In 2012, Cooley guest starred in a YouTube miniseries ''Millie and Midge'', in episodes 2 and 4 as Parker.
Cooley was to appear in former co-star Drake's 2018 music video for the single "I'm Upset," however he declined due to believing it was a scam. The video was set around a ''Degrassi'' reunion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Agard |first=Chancellor |date=14 June 2018 |title=Drake addresses why J.T. wasn't in his 'Degrassi' reunion video for 'I'm Upset' |url=https://ew.com/tv/2018/06/14/drake-why-jt-not-in-degrassi-reunion-im-upset/ |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=EW.com |language=en}}</ref>
== Personal life == Following his departure from ''Degrassi'', Cooley took a break from acting and attended the University of Toronto where he studied theatre.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zhu |first=Danielle |date=17 Feb 2023 |title='Degrassi' cast: Where are they now? |url=https://ew.com/gallery/degrassi-where-are-they-now/ |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=EW.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" />
== Filmography ==
=== Film === {| class="wikitable" !Year !Title !Role !Notes |- |rowspan=2|1998 |''After'' |Johnathan Madison |Short |- |''Happy Christmas, Miss King'' |Daniel King |rowspan=2|Television film |- |2000 |''The Color of Friendship'' |Billy |- |2003 |''Cybermutt'' |Nino |- |2005 |''God's Goodness'' |Mike |Short |- |2007 |''The Tracey Fragments'' |David Goldberg | |}
=== Television === {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- |1999 |''Real Kids, Real Adventures'' |Bud Toole |Episode: "Amy to the Rescue: The Amy Toole Story" |- |1999–2001 |''I Was a Sixth Grade Alien'' |Pleskit |Main role |- |2000 |''Are You Afraid of the Dark?'' |Waif Kid |3 episodes |- |rowspan=2|2001 |''Queer as Folk'' |Hank Cameron |Recurring role |- |''Lexx'' |Digby |3 episodes |- |2001–2007 |''Degrassi: The Next Generation'' |J.T. Yorke |Main role |- |2005 |''Life with Derek'' |Frank |Episode: "The Poxfather" |- |2010 |''The Dating Guy'' |Booyah's son |Voice, episode: "Weekend at Booyah's" |- |2012 |''Lost Girl'' |Website Owner |Episode: "Midnight Lamp" |- |2013–2015 |''Oh No! It's an Alien Invasion'' |Louis |rowspan=2|Voice, main role |- |2014 |''BeyWarriors: BeyRaiderz'' |Task Landau |}
== Awards and nominations == {| class="wikitable" !Year !Award !Category !Nominated work !Result !Ref. |- | rowspan=2|2002 | rowspan=5|Young Artist Awards |Best Ensemble in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) | rowspan=5|''Degrassi: The Next Generation'' |{{won}} |<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=Young Artist Awards (2002)|url=http://www.imCb.com/event/ev0000716/2002/1/|accessdate=April 8, 2024|website=IMDb}}</ref> |- |Best Performance in a TV Comedy Series - Leading Young Actor |rowspan=4 {{nom}} |<ref name=":0" /> |- |2003 |Best Ensemble in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) |<ref>{{cite web|title=Young Artist Awards (2003)|url=http://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000716/2003/1/|accessdate=April 8, 2024|website=IMDb}}</ref> |- |2005 |Outstanding Young Performers in a TV Series |<ref>{{cite web|title=Young Artist Awards (2005)|url=http://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000716/2005/1/|accessdate=April 8, 2024|website=IMDb}}</ref> |- |2006 |Best Young Ensemble in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) |<ref>{{cite web |title=Young Artist Awards (2006)|url=http://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000716/2006/1/|accessdate=April 8, 2024|website=IMDb}}</ref> |}
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|id=0177620}} *[http://thetvaddict.com/2007/01/18/thetvaddictcom-exclusive-interview-degrassis-ryan-cooley-talks-about-the-death-of-jt/Ryan Cooley talks to theTVaddict.com]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cooley, Ryan}} Category:1988 births Category:Living people Category:Canadian people of Irish descent Category:20th-century Canadian male actors Category:21st-century Canadian male actors Category:Canadian male child actors Category:Canadian male film actors Category:Canadian male television actors Category:Canadian male voice actors Category:Male actors from Ontario Category:People from Orangeville, Ontario Category:University of Toronto alumni