# Ryan Cooley

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{{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](/source/University_of_Toronto)
| birth_name         = Ryan Hadison Cooley
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1988|5|18}}
| birth_place        = [Orangeville, Ontario](/source/Orangeville%2C_Ontario), Canada
| occupation         = [Actor](/source/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](/source/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](/source/J.T._Yorke) on ''[Degrassi: The Next Generation](/source/Degrassi%3A_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](/source/Orangeville%2C_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](/source/extraterrestrial_life_in_popular_culture) lead in the television series ''[I Was a Sixth Grade Alien](/source/I_Was_a_Sixth_Grade_Alien)''. Cooley's other television credits include the series, ''[Are You Afraid of the Dark?](/source/Are_You_Afraid_of_the_Dark%3F_(television))'', ''[Queer as Folk](/source/Queer_as_Folk_(2000_TV_series))'', ''[Lexx: The Series](/source/Lexx)'' and ''[Life with Derek](/source/Life_with_Derek)''. He has also appeared in the features ''Sachsenhausen 1944'', ''Toy Men'', [Disney Channel](/source/Disney_Channel) film ''[The Color of Friendship](/source/The_Color_of_Friendship_(2000_film))'', the Animal Planet film ''[Cybermutt](/source/Cybermutt)'' and [CBC](/source/CBC_Television) television film ''Happy Christmas Miss King'' alongside his ''Degrassi'' co-star [Lauren Collins](/source/Lauren_Collins).<ref name=":2" /> 

In 2001, Cooley began appearing on ''[Degrassi: The Next Generation](/source/Degrassi%3A_The_Next_Generation)'' as a regular character in the [first season](/source/Degrassi%3A_The_Next_Generation_season_1) of the show and continued until [his character](/source/J.T._Yorke)'s death in 2007, the show’s [sixth season](/source/Degrassi%3A_The_Next_Generation_season_6).<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](/source/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](/source/The_Tracey_Fragments_(film))'' with [Elliot Page](/source/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](/source/YouTube) miniseries ''Millie and Midge'', in episodes 2 and 4 as Parker.

Cooley was to appear in former co-star [Drake](/source/Drake_(musician))'s 2018 music video for the single "[I'm Upset](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Happy_Christmas%2C_Miss_King)''
|Daniel King
|rowspan=2|Television film
|-
|2000
|''[The Color of Friendship](/source/The_Color_of_Friendship)''
|Billy
|-
|2003
|''[Cybermutt](/source/Cybermutt)''
|Nino
|-
|2005
|''God's Goodness''
|Mike
|Short 
|-
|2007
|''[The Tracey Fragments](/source/The_Tracey_Fragments_(film))''
|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](/source/I_Was_a_Sixth_Grade_Alien)''
|Pleskit
|Main role
|-
|2000
|''[Are You Afraid of the Dark?](/source/Are_You_Afraid_of_the_Dark%3F)''
|Waif Kid
|3 episodes
|-
|rowspan=2|2001
|''[Queer as Folk](/source/Queer_as_Folk_(2000_TV_series))''
|Hank Cameron
|Recurring role
|-
|''[Lexx](/source/Lexx)''
|Digby
|3 episodes
|-
|2001–2007
|''[Degrassi: The Next Generation](/source/Degrassi%3A_The_Next_Generation)''
|[J.T. Yorke](/source/J.T._Yorke)
|Main role
|-
|2005
|''[Life with Derek](/source/Life_with_Derek)''
|Frank
|Episode: "The Poxfather"
|-
|2010
|''[The Dating Guy](/source/The_Dating_Guy)''
|Booyah's son
|Voice, episode: "Weekend at Booyah's"
|-
|2012
|''[Lost Girl](/source/Lost_Girl)''
|Website Owner
|Episode: "Midnight Lamp"
|-
|2013–2015
|''[Oh No! It's an Alien Invasion](/source/Oh_No!_It's_an_Alien_Invasion)''
|Louis
|rowspan=2|Voice, main role
|-
|2014
|''[BeyWarriors: BeyRaiderz](/source/BeyWarriors%3A_BeyRaiderz)''
|Task Landau
|}

== Awards and nominations ==
{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Award
!Category
!Nominated work
!Result
!Ref.
|-
| rowspan=2|2002
| rowspan=5|[Young Artist Awards](/source/Young_Artist_Award)
|Best Ensemble in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama)
| rowspan=5|''[Degrassi: The Next Generation](/source/Degrassi%3A_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]

{{Authority control}}

{{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

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ryan Cooley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Cooley) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Cooley?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.