Clarence Ryan

Clarence Ryan
Born
Perth, Western Australia
Other nameClarence John Ryan
EducationWarwick Senior High School
OccupationActor
Years active2006–present
Notable workSeptember (2007)
Lockie Leonard (2007)
Wrong Kind of Black (2018)
Territory (2024)
FamilyTrevor Jamieson (uncle)

Clarence Ryan is an Aboriginal Australian actor.

Early life and education

Ryan is from Perth and started acting when he was 10 or 11.[1] He attended Perth's Warwick Senior High School,[2] but when he began performing on Australian screens at the age of 14,[3] he put his school studies on hold for six months, so he could focus on his acting career.[1]

Career

Ryan was a co-lead in 2007 drama film September opposite Xavier Samuel,[4] which saw him nominated for the 2008 AACTA Award for Best Young Actor for his performance.[5] 2007 also saw him take on the lead role of Geoffrey 'Egg' Eggleston in children's series Lockie Leonard,[6][7] based on Tim Winton's novels of the same name.[1] He later had a recurring role in 2010 children's supernatural series Dead Gorgeous, playing the part of Tom Kelly.[8]

In 2012, Ryan starred in the historical documentary Yagan, about the Noongar warrior Yagan.[9][10] In 2014, he performed on stage in King Hit,[11][12][13] about the life of Geoffrey Narkle, an Aboriginal man and member of the Stolen Generations, and his boxing career, reflecting on culture, identity, and finding strength.[14] He also played the role of Private Billy Tinker in 2014 miniseries ANZAC Girls, opposite Anna McGahan and Caroline Craig.[15]

Ryan next appeared in the 2017 second season of Cleverman,[16] before playing the lead role in Emmy Award-winning[17] comedy-drama Wrong Kind of Black, which was released in 2018 as a web series and telemovie. It was created, written, and narrated by Aboriginal author and storyteller, Boori Monty Pryor, upon whose life it is based.[17]

In 2019, Ryan starred as Jack in KGB, an Australian comedy series following two rookie detectives through Perth.[18][19] Also that year, he featured as Sully in the miniseries Stateless, with Yvonne Strahovski, Cate Blanchett and Jai Courtney, which told the story of four strangers in an immigration detention centre.[20][21] During this period, he also created two comedy web series – Our Law and Old Mate – the latter, about a 47,000-year-old Indigenous Australian superhero, which he also starred in.[22] The following year, he was named as one of the Casting Guild of Australia's Rising Stars for 2021.[23]

In 2022, Ryan appeared in the first season of Mystery Road: Origin.[24] His performance earned him a nomination for the 2023 Logie Award for Most Outstanding Supporting Actor.[25][26] That same year, he featured in a segment of the Australian-New Zealand anthology film We Are Still Here,[27] made to coincide with the 250th anniversary of James Cook’s second voyage to Australia, and reflecting on its legacy of colonialism and racism. Ryan played the role of Ken, a painter who was harassed by a police officer while trying to purchase alcohol.[28]

Ryan next appeared alongside Radha Mitchell, Mia Wasikowska and Eric Bana in 2023 family drama film Blueback, which was based on Tim Winton's 1997 novella.[29]

Ryan played the mechanic Black Thumb in 2024 dystopian action film Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, the most recent installment of the Mad Max franchise starring Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth.[30] That same year, he appeared in Indigenous horror film The Moogai[31] and played opposite Greta Scacchi as Daniel in 2024 drama film He Ain't Heavy.[32] He also played Nolan Brannock, an ambitious Indigenous cattle station owner, in Netflix drama miniseries Territory, opposite Anna Torv, Michael Dorman and Robert Taylor.[33] On 23 November 2024, the ABC announced that the second season of Mystery Road: Origin was in production and that Ryan would reprise his role as Sputty.[34]

More recently, Ryan took on the role of Roddy in 2025 drama miniseries Reckless with Tasma Walton and Jessica De Gouw[35] and played Cowboy in Top End Bub, the series follow-up to 2019 film Top End Wedding, starring Miranda Tapsell.[36] Within the same year, he featured in family comedy film Kangaroo, playing the part of Nick.[37]

Personal life

Ryan is the nephew of actor Trevor Jamieson, which they discovered while filming Lockie Leonard in 2007.[38]

Credits

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref
2006 Lapislazuli – Im Auge des Bären Bataa [39]
2007 September Paddy [4][40]
2009 Bourke Boy Russell Short film [41]
2012 Yagan Yagan Documentary film [9]
2014 Wongi Warrior Jim Short film
2014 Rat Tale Rick Short film
One Fine Day Man Short film
2015 The Tender Dark Joey Short film [42]
2016 We Were Here Stranger Short film
Leroy's Dream Leroy Short film
Ghost Yawang Short film
2017 Dirt Tin Sam Short film
Blight Criminal Short film [43]
OtherLife Byron Finbar [44]
Nobody's Child Boxer Short film
2018 The Decadent and Depraved Coen [45]
2019 Between Two Lines Burt Short film [46]
Jadai – The Broome Brawler Jadai Short film [47]
Dark Place Blackfella Anthology film (segment: "Killer Native") [48]
2020 Moon Rock for Monday Johnny [49]
2021 Good Night Man Short film [50]
2022 We Are Still Here Ken Anthology film [28][27]
Blueback Briggs [29]
2022 The Fritz Short film [51]
2024 The Moogai Ray Boy [31]
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga Black Thumb [30]
He Ain't Heavy Daniel [32]
2025 Kangaroo Nick [37]
TBA Twice Over Adrian Tolman Post-production [52]
TBA Deeply Levi In development

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref
2007–2010 Lockie Leonard Geoffrey 'Egg' Eggleston 52 episodes [6][7]
2009 Stormworld Llargh Episode: "Three Sun Day"
2010 Dead Gorgeous Tom Kelly 4 episodes [8]
2013 Serangoon Road Young Robbo Episode #1.9 [53]
2014 ANZAC Girls Private Billy Tinker Miniseries, 3 episodes [15]
2015 The Secret River Greybeard's Warrior #1 Miniseries, 2 episodes [54]
2017 Cleverman Jarli Season 2, 6 episodes [16]
Wolf Creek Patrick Miniseries, episode: "Singing"
2018 Wrong Kind of Black Monty Pryor Miniseries; 4 episodes [17]
Wanted Hamish 5 episodes [55]
2019 KGB Jack 5 episodes [18][19]
Single Ladies Mike the Bartender Episode: "Community Standards" [56]
2020 Stateless Sully Miniseries, 6 episodes [21][20]
2022; 2025 Mystery Road: Origin Sputty 6 episodes [24][57]
2024 Territory Nolan Brannock Miniseries; 6 episodes [33]
2025 The Newsreader Deano Prince Season 3, 1 episode [58]
2025 Reckless Roddy Miniseries, 4 episodes [35]
Top End Bub Cowboy Miniseries, 4 episodes [36]
TBA Old Mate 47,000-year-old Indigenous Australian superhero Web series
In development
(Also creator)		 [59][60]

Stage

Year Title Role Production co Ref
2015 King Hit Geoffrey Narkle Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company [11]

Awards and nominations

Year Work Award Category Result Ref
2008SeptemberAFI AwardBest Young ActorNominated[5]
2015King HitPerforming Arts WA AwardsBest NewcomerWon[23]
King HitPerforming Arts WA AwardsBest ActorNominated[23]
2016We Were HereWest Australian Screen AwardsBest Performance by an ActorNominated[61]
2018Wrong Kind of BlackNZWebFestInternational Narrative Award for Best ActorWon[23]
ClevermanEquity Ensemble AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesWon
2023Mystery Road: OriginLogie AwardsSilver Logie for Most Outstanding Supporting ActorNominated[25][26]
Mystery Road: OriginEquity Ensemble AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesWon[62]
2026Mystery Road: OriginLogie AwardsSilver Logie for Best Supporting ActorNominated
Result pending		[63]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Anthony, Gail (30 November 2010), "A cracking job for Clarence", The West Australian, retrieved 9 August 2026
  2. ↑ "September". outinperth.com. 7 December 2007. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  3. ↑ "Partner Gallery". Galactic Baby. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  4. 1 2 Lowing, Rob (2 December 2007), "A delicate tale to savour of youth at crossroads – Reviews", The Sun-Herald
  5. 1 2 French, Lisa; Poole, Mark (2009). Shining a Light: 50 Years of the Australian Film Institute. Australian Teachers of Media. p. 257. ISBN 978-1-876467-20-3.
  6. 1 2 Laurie, Victoria (16 June 2007), "Puberty blonde", The Australian
  7. 1 2 "Lockie Leonard: profiles", australiantelevision.net, retrieved 9 August 2026
  8. 1 2 "Dead Gorgeous: cast", australiantelevision.net, retrieved 9 August 2026
  9. 1 2 "Yagan brought to life", Fremantle-Cockburn Gazette, 27 November 2012
  10. ↑ Prior, Flip (27 April 2012), "Documentary marks life of Noongar warrior", The West Australian
  11. 1 2 MacNaughton, Tanya (2 September 2014), "Actor packs a punch", Guardian Express
  12. ↑ "King Hit packs a punch". The West Australian. 22 September 2014. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  13. ↑ King Hit | Interview with Clarence Ryan, 15 September 2014, retrieved 26 September 2023
  14. ↑ "King Hit". Austlit. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  15. 1 2 "ANZAC Girls: cast", australiantelevision.net, retrieved 9 August 2026
  16. 1 2 Scronin (29 June 2017), "Cleverman in a battle for survival", Sunshine Coast Daily
  17. 1 2 3 Latimore, Jack (5 August 2018), "Wrong Kind of Black: Boori Monty Pryor's quirky web series a return to 70s Australia", The Guardian
  18. 1 2 Knowles, Rachel (2 April 2020). "Hilarious and heartfelt: the searing new series from the Perth suburbs". National Indigenous Times. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  19. 1 2 "KGB", australiantelevision.net, retrieved 9 August 2026
  20. 1 2 "Stateless: cast", australiantelevision.net, retrieved 9 August 2026
  21. 1 2 "Stateless", australiantelevision.net, retrieved 9 August 2026
  22. ↑ Keast, Jackie (22 June 2020). "Taryne Laffar launches production company Pink Pepper". IF Magazine. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  23. 1 2 3 4 "Past Guests, 2025 Guests | Clarence Ryan". cinefestoz.com. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  24. 1 2 Northover, Kylie (30 June 2022), "Five stars: ABC's new Mystery Road crime series is as cinematic as TV gets", The Sydney Morning Herald
  25. 1 2 Vrajlal, Alicia. "Women of Colour & First Nations People are Finally Getting the Logies Recognition they Deserve". Refinery 29. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  26. 1 2 Kelly, Vivienne (19 June 2023), "Logie Awards 2023: Full List of Nominees Revealed", Variety
  27. 1 2 Stratton, David (18 February 2023), "Brief encounters just a taste", The Australian
  28. 1 2 "We Are Still Here: Clarence Ryan". rtrfm.com.au. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  29. 1 2 Harvey, Dennis (21 January 2023), "'Blueback' Review: Mia Wasikowska and Radha Mitchell Lead an Aussie Drama Built on Inter-Species Friendship", Variety
  30. 1 2 Morgan, Stephen (29 May 2024). "'Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga' does little to address the franchise's frustrating attitude towards Australia's dark past". The Conversation. Archived from the original on 29 May 2024.
  31. 1 2 "The Moogai – Full Cast & Crew", TV Guide, retrieved 9 August 2026
  32. 1 2 "He Ain't Heavy – Full Cast & Crew", TV Guide, retrieved 9 August 2026
  33. 1 2 Gbogbo, Mawunyo (24 October 2024). "Netflix's Territory zeroes in on dysfunctional family dynasty". ABC News. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  34. ↑ Knox, David (22 November 2024). "Filming underway on Mystery Road: Origin S2". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  35. 1 2 "Reckless", australiantelevision.net, retrieved 9 August 2026
  36. 1 2 "Top End Bub: cast", australiantelevision.net, retrieved 9 August 2026
  37. 1 2 "Kangaroo – Full Cast & Crew", TV Guide, retrieved 9 August 2026
  38. ↑ "WA actor and Flickerfest star Trevor Jamieson on the unique power of storytelling". X-Press Magazine. 15 February 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  39. ↑ "FICTION | Lapislazuli – Im Auge des Bären", austrianfilms.com, retrieved 9 August 2026
  40. ↑ "September – Full Cast & Crew", TV Guide, retrieved 9 August 2026
  41. ↑ "Bourke Boy | 2009", National Film and Sound Archive, retrieved 9 August 2026
  42. ↑ "The Tender Dark – Full Cast & Crew", TV Guide, retrieved 9 August 2026
  43. ↑ "Blight", Screen Australia, retrieved 9 August 2026
  44. ↑ "OtherLife – Full Cast & Crew", TV Guide, retrieved 9 August 2026
  45. ↑ "The Decadent and Depraved – Full Cast & Crew", TV Guide, retrieved 9 August 2026
  46. ↑ "Between Two Lines", Screen Australia, retrieved 9 August 2026
  47. ↑ "Jadai – The Broome Brawler", promofest.org, retrieved 9 August 2026
  48. ↑ Groves, Don (8 May 2019), "Sydney Film Festival premiere for horror anthology from Indigenous filmmakers", IF Magazine, retrieved 9 August 2026
  49. ↑ "Moon Rock for Monday – Full Cast & Crew", TV Guide, retrieved 9 August 2026
  50. ↑ "Good Night", Flickerfest, retrieved 9 August 2026
  51. ↑ "The Fritz", Flickerfest, retrieved 9 August 2026
  52. ↑ Keast, Jackie (13 November 2025), "Clarence Ryan, Jennah Bannear added to Alena Lodkina's 'Twice Over' as production begins", IF Magazine, retrieved 9 August 2026
  53. ↑ "Serangoon Road: episode guide", australiantelevision.net, retrieved 9 August 2026
  54. ↑ "The Secret River: cast", australiantelevision.net, retrieved 9 August 2026
  55. ↑ "Wanted: cast | Series 3", australiantelevision.net, retrieved 9 August 2026
  56. ↑ "Single Ladies – Full Cast & Crew", TV Guide, retrieved 9 August 2026
  57. ↑ "Mystery Road Origin: episode guide | Series 1", australiantelevision.net, retrieved 9 August 2026
  58. ↑ "The Newsreader: episode guide | 3.04", australiantelevision.net, retrieved 9 August 2026
  59. ↑ "In Development | Old Mate", pinkpepper.com.au, retrieved 9 August 2026
  60. ↑ "PiNK PEPPER Has Arrived!", thecurb.com.au, 22 June 2020, retrieved 9 August 2026
  61. ↑ "WA Screen Awards winners announced!". cinemaaustralia.com.au. 5 July 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  62. ↑ Knox, David (8 May 2023). "Equity Ensemble Awards 2023: winners". TV Tonight. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  63. ↑ "2026 Logie Award nominations: Lisa Millar, Robert Irwin, Poh Ling Yeow among Gold Logie nominees". abc.net.au. 22 June 2026. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
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