Ryan Johnson (born 1979) is an Australian actor.
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Early life
Johnson attended Somerset College on the Gold Coast, and graduated from Queensland University of Technology in 1999.
Career
Johnson made his acting debut in 2000 featuring in several performances on stage, television and film, including the film City Loop. That year, he also had guest roles in All Saints, Beastmaster and American TV movie Nowhere to Land. He also toured in a Sydney Theatre Company production of The Beauty Queen of Leenane.
In 2001, Johnson appeared in his first major television role in the short-lived drama series Head Start, playing Kyle Richter, followed by a recurring role as Bobby Bailey in all six episodes of the first season of comedy series Dossa and Joe in 2002. That same year he appeared opposite Tom Berenger and Ryan Kwanten in American sports drama TV movie The Junction Boys, before playing the role of Hammer in 2003 Nick Giannopoulos comedy The Wannabes (known as Criminal Ways in the U.S.), with Isla Fisher.
In 2004, Johnson appeared in comedy film Thunderstruck, alongside Sam Worthington. as well as on stage in production of Brendan Cowell's play Men in Edinburgh. He then scored a starring role in the 2005 fourth season of drama series The Secret Life of Us, playing Zelko Milanovic. The same year, he directed a stage production of Ninja at Sydney's Old Fitzroy Theatre, Sydney.
In 2007, he guested in an episode of CSI: New York, and appeared in comedy drama film All My Friends Are Leaving Brisbane. The following year, he played the role of Dylan in thriller Monkey Puzzle (also known as Enter the Wild), before landing a recurring part as Rocco Arico in the first season of crime drama Underbelly in 2008. That same year, he was cast in the ongoing role of Ian 'Stavva' Jones in drama series Out of the Blue.
Johnson played Paulie Rosetta, brother of Angelo Rosetta (Luke Jacobz), in long-running television soap opera Home and Away in 2010.
He also featured in comedy film Jucy, In October 2011, it was announced that he had joined the main cast of US drama Fairly Legal for its second season, as trial attorney Ben Grogan. The series was cancelled at the end of the season, due to low ratings. From 2011 to 2015, he starred in satirical YouTube series One Step Closer to Home, playing one half of 'suburbia’s dullest married couple', Paul, opposite Alyssa McClelland as his on screen wife, Nat. The pair also created the series.
In 2014, Johnson took on several roles, including playing Gary Morris in biographical miniseries INXS: Never Tear Us Apart. He appeared opposite Jessica Marais in drama series Love Child in the ongoing role of Phillip, before playing Will Stevens in the third season of House Husbands. He then reunited with Marais in the TV movie Carlotta.
In 2015, Johnson had a recurring role as Ash Adamo in crime miniseries Hiding,
before playing Tim 'Plastic' Pemberton in 2016 two-part miniseries Brock, about Australian car racing legend Peter Brock (Matthew Le Nevez). That same year, he began playing Matt Knight, brother of titular character Hugh Knight (Rodger Corser) in drama series Doctor Doctor, continuing in the role for five seasons, from 2016 to 2021. For his performance, he earned a nomination for the Logie Award for Most Outstanding Supporting Actor in 2017.
Johnson played the role of Ethan in 2018 Australian-Chinese action adventure thriller Guardians of the Tomb, opposite Kelsey Grammer and Kellan Lutz. In 2020, he was part of the supporting cast in comedy-drama series Operation Buffalo, playing Agent Martin. The following year, he joined the cast of Stan comedy drama series Bump, alongside Claudia Karvan, during its second season, appearing through to the show's final season in 2024.
In April 2022, Johnson rejoined the cast of Home and Away as wealthy gambler and villain Peter "PK" King. He also appeared in 2022 comedy drama film How to Please a Woman, in the role of Anthony. The following year, he had a starring role in two-part true crime drama miniseries The Claremont Murders, playing the role of Perth serial killer Bradley Robert Edwards.
In January 2026, Johnson starred as Hamish, opposite Brooke Satchwell as Lillian, in comedy drama miniseries Dear Life.
Johnson's television guest credits include Young Lions, White Collar Blue, The Chaser's War on Everything, My Place, Satisfaction, Sea Patrol, Rake, Laid, SLiDE, Dance Academy, Mr & Mrs Murder, Ready for This, Rake, Operation Buffalo and Upright.
Personal life
Johnson currently lives with his wife Leah Da Gloria, a fashion designer. He also has a daughter with Tamara Asmar, a television writer.
