Jay Ryan (born Jay Bunyan) is a New Zealand actor. He is best known for his roles as Jack Scully in Neighbours (2002–2005), Seaman Billy 'Spider' Webb in Sea Patrol (2007–2009), Kevin in Go Girls (2009–2012), Vincent Keller in Beauty & the Beast (2012–2016), Detective Ben Wesley in Mary Kills People (2017–2019) and Bobby in Creamerie (2021–2023). He also played major roles in Scrublands (2023), Territory (2024), and Dustfall. Ryan made his feature film breakthrough playing adult Ben Hanscom in It Chapter Two (2019), a sequel to the 2017 horror film It, based on the 1986 novel of the same name.
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Career
Under the name Jay Bunyan, he appeared as Glen in Scallywag Pirates (2000) and had a minor role in Xena: Warrior Princess. He is known for his portrayal of Jack Scully in the Australian soap opera Neighbours from late 2002 until January 2005.
From 2007 until 2009, Ryan played Seaman William "Billy" Webb a.k.a. "Spider" in the popular Australian drama, Sea Patrol.
In live theatre, Ryan has shared the stage with John Cleese, and toured internationally with The Packer, an acclaimed solo show written by NZ/Niuean playwright Dianna Fuemana.
From 2009 to 2012, Ryan played Kevin in the New Zealand comedy/drama series Go Girls. In 2011, he joined the cast of the Australian comedy/drama series Offspring. Also in 2011, Ryan guest-starred in the American science-fiction series Terra Nova, playing a murderer.
In 2012 Ryan was cast as the male lead in CW's Beauty & the Beast pilot.
Ryan starred as the adult Ben Hanscom in the 2019 horror film It Chapter Two, the sequel to It (2017). He shares the character with Jeremy Ray Taylor.
Ryan has played major roles in several Australian TV drama series in the 2020s, including the 2023 Stan Original series Scrublands and Netflix's 2025 drama Territory. In 2026 he starred in the ABC Television series Dustfall.
Personal life
Ryan was born Jay Bunyan. He is of English, Welsh, and Irish descent. He has a daughter with his wife, the playwright and director Dianna Fuemana.
He spent a lot of time in Los Angeles and in Canada before the COVID-19 pandemic, and he became a naturalised citizen of Canada. He and his family moved back to New Zealand during the pandemic, and were still there in June 2023.
