He graduated from Wayland High School in 2000. While attending Boston University, Ryan spent a semester in London at LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art). He also received a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Boston University.
He also played Jack Hunter in "The Rose Tattoo" at the Huntington Theatre in Boston in 2002. Ryan started acting when he was in sixth grade. He is six feet tall and originally auditioned for the role of Matt Ritter on Wildfire, but was cast for Junior.
He has been in Greek, How I Met Your Mother, Squatters and Happy Endings, where he played Todd, who was possibly gay.