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Wesleyan Film
The Lives of Robert Ryan
The Lives of Robert Ryan provides an inside look at the gifted, complex, intensely private man whom Martin Scorsese called "one of the greatest actors in the history of American film." The son of a Chicago construction executive with strong ties to the Democratic machine, Ryan became a star after World War II on the strength of his menacing performance as an anti-Semitic murderer in the film noir Crossfire. Over the next quarter century he created a gallery of brooding, neurotic, and violent characters in such movies as Bad Day at Black Rock, Billy Budd, The Dirty Dozen, and The Wild Bunch. His riveting performances expose the darkest impulses of the American psyche during the Cold War.
At the same time, Ryan's marriage to a liberal Quaker and his own sense of conscience launched him into a tireless career of peace and civil rights activism that stood in direct contrast to his screen persona. Drawing on unpublished writings and revealing interviews, film critic J.R. Jones deftly explores the many contradictory facets of Robert Ryan's public and private lives, and how these lives intertwined in one of the most compelling actors of a generation.
At the same time, Ryan's marriage to a liberal Quaker and his own sense of conscience launched him into a tireless career of peace and civil rights activism that stood in direct contrast to his screen persona. Drawing on unpublished writings and revealing interviews, film critic J.R. Jones deftly explores the many contradictory facets of Robert Ryan's public and private lives, and how these lives intertwined in one of the most compelling actors of a generation.
- GenresBiographyFilmNonfiction
376 pages, Hardcover
First published May 11, 2015
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106 people want to read
About the author
J.R. Jones
51 books5 followersA specialist in the history of Stuart England, J. R. Jones was lecturer in history at King's College, Newcastle from 1952 to 1963 and at the University of East Anglia from 1963 to 1966. He was appointed Professor of History at East Anglia in 1966, where he taught until his retirement in 1990.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 15, 2015
Robert Ryan gave the single greatest film performance I have ever seen, as Larry Slade in Eugene O'Neill's THE ICEMAN COMETH. It was also his last released film. Although I admire him immensely for this portrayal, I had never given any particular thought to him otherwise, except noting that he seemed a remarkably capable actor and he had done fine work in a number of pictures I admired, particularly CROSSFIRE and THE PROFESSIONALS. I knew we had in common being liberals and former Marines, but I really didn't pay close attention to his career. Now, however, this fine, really fine biography by J.R. Jones has led me to want to revisit all of Ryan's work on film as well as to leave me sorry I never got to meet or work with Ryan. His commitment to improving himself as an actor and to making the world a better, safer, more decent place are sterling qualities, and I came away from this wonderfully written and researched biography with a great appreciation of the man at its center. At once an entertainment and a political biography, THE LIVES OF ROBERT RYAN is a worthy endeavor and a very worthy read.
January 11, 2018
I guess I was always going to love this book, why, well I admired and really enjoyed Robert Ryan's work, starring in some of my favourite films and some real classics.
Films like Crossfire, The Set-Up, The Naked Spur, Bad Day at Black Rock, The Longest Day, Battle Of The Bulge, The Professions, The Wild Bunch, The Dirty Dozen and The Iceman Cometh.
He co starred alongside, Gary Cooper, Randolph Scott, John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, Lee Marvin, Burt Lancaster, ErnestBorgnine, James Stewart, Anthony Quinn, William Holden, Charles Bronson, Pat O'Brien, Fred Astaire, James Cagney, Ginger Rogers, Arthur Kennedy, Merle Oberon, Rhonda Fleming, Barbara Stanwyck, Gloria Grahame, Joan Fontaine, Claudette Colbert, Van Heflin, Jack Palance, Ida Lupino and made great friends of Harry Belefaonte, Henry Fonda, Buddy Hackett, and nearly married Maureen O'Sullivan in 1973, a year after his wife died of cancer, but sadly he also died from lung cancer.
I don't really think you will find that he "starred" in many films but he stole many films with some steely, ruthless, great powerful performances.
He seemed to fit into his career some great films and it is surprising that he died at the young age of 63 years old. But a life of two packets of cigarettes a day, and quite a lot of drinking.
Yes he liked drinking, but not while working and he was more of a home drinker, than a party/binge drinker.
A very private man, who was in real life the opposite of his characters, he hated violence although he was in the marines. He also boxed in his younger years.
His whole career was having a private and happy life with his wife Jessica and their three children, not going to show business parties, having his picture in the film magazines.
He was respected and liked by most actors, especially if he got on with them, some find him distant due to his private and distant character
Many fans and actors alike, I am sure will admire his work for years to come.
This book covers nearly all his films, stage work, television work, the great stars he worked with, a few listed above. Like all actors his fear of not working or finding good film work, his often busy and hectic private life. His support of many political causes and charities.
Very interesting and informative book, love films, your love this book.
Four stars
Films like Crossfire, The Set-Up, The Naked Spur, Bad Day at Black Rock, The Longest Day, Battle Of The Bulge, The Professions, The Wild Bunch, The Dirty Dozen and The Iceman Cometh.
He co starred alongside, Gary Cooper, Randolph Scott, John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, Lee Marvin, Burt Lancaster, ErnestBorgnine, James Stewart, Anthony Quinn, William Holden, Charles Bronson, Pat O'Brien, Fred Astaire, James Cagney, Ginger Rogers, Arthur Kennedy, Merle Oberon, Rhonda Fleming, Barbara Stanwyck, Gloria Grahame, Joan Fontaine, Claudette Colbert, Van Heflin, Jack Palance, Ida Lupino and made great friends of Harry Belefaonte, Henry Fonda, Buddy Hackett, and nearly married Maureen O'Sullivan in 1973, a year after his wife died of cancer, but sadly he also died from lung cancer.
I don't really think you will find that he "starred" in many films but he stole many films with some steely, ruthless, great powerful performances.
He seemed to fit into his career some great films and it is surprising that he died at the young age of 63 years old. But a life of two packets of cigarettes a day, and quite a lot of drinking.
Yes he liked drinking, but not while working and he was more of a home drinker, than a party/binge drinker.
A very private man, who was in real life the opposite of his characters, he hated violence although he was in the marines. He also boxed in his younger years.
His whole career was having a private and happy life with his wife Jessica and their three children, not going to show business parties, having his picture in the film magazines.
He was respected and liked by most actors, especially if he got on with them, some find him distant due to his private and distant character
Many fans and actors alike, I am sure will admire his work for years to come.
This book covers nearly all his films, stage work, television work, the great stars he worked with, a few listed above. Like all actors his fear of not working or finding good film work, his often busy and hectic private life. His support of many political causes and charities.
Very interesting and informative book, love films, your love this book.
Four stars
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October 28, 2022informative & illuminating bio of one of classical hollywood's most interesting actors (and a strong contender for my all time favourite actor). known for his portrayal of hardened, hateful and angry men in film noirs such as crossfire, act of violence & my personal favourites, caught and on dangerous ground, robert ryan couldn't have been more different to his screen persona — a fact highlighted by this extensive bio, which goes into great depth regarding robert's activism and progressive ideals. a really engrossing read overall but i would've loved additional behind the scenes details on the making of his films.
i'm naturally nosy so i really enjoyed the more gossipy sections which talked about robert's relationship with other classical hollywood stars. interesting to note that robert had a bit of a small-time rivalry with gregory peck (who he shares a surprisingly amount of similarities with), scared spencer tracy despite robert's professional reputation as a genial guy & like the rest of us, was starstruck by cary grant.
i'm naturally nosy so i really enjoyed the more gossipy sections which talked about robert's relationship with other classical hollywood stars. interesting to note that robert had a bit of a small-time rivalry with gregory peck (who he shares a surprisingly amount of similarities with), scared spencer tracy despite robert's professional reputation as a genial guy & like the rest of us, was starstruck by cary grant.
June 11, 2015
Fluid, well-researched, insightful: three qualities every biography should posses but few do. But Jones' book delivers the goods. Here's hoping that his excellent examination of an actor who's still so underrated will trigger more people to go back and watch some of his classic roles, especially "Billy Budd" and "The Iceman Cometh."
February 13, 2017
I read a goodly amount of Classic Hollywood biographies, and this one is, hands down, the best I have read. The attention to sourcing is something seldom seen in this genre, and it was not wasted on me..... I am a HUGE fan of Robert Ryan's and this book made me love him all the more. Thanks JR for filling in the blanks of this captivating & multi-faceted man.
January 20, 2020
A fascinating look at a unique and invaluable Hollywood star. Thorough, factually sturdy, and relentlessly readable, this bio of character actor stalwart, Robert Ryan, provides an interesting picture of an atypical film actor: Cerebral, socially withdrawn, family-oriented, and socially active in a way that genuinely sacrificed for causes rather than engaging in conspicuous virtue-signaling. The book investigates his artistic achievements AND his social crusades in equally interesting detail. Very much worth a read.
August 16, 2020
The Lives of Robert Ryan by J.R. Jones offers a compelling look at the life and career of one of the finest actors to ever grace the silver screen. The author has clearly done his research as he pieces together the story of a man who was far from being an open book.
My full review here:
http://www.outofthepastblog.com/2020/...
April 19, 2021
Worth the journey!
The story of a life well lived and a legacy of stage and film work to rival the best. He stayed true to his principals and that is to be admired!
A fascinating read about a real man of his times and a great actor!
The story of a life well lived and a legacy of stage and film work to rival the best. He stayed true to his principals and that is to be admired!
A fascinating read about a real man of his times and a great actor!
August 14, 2022
A great biography about a great great actor and a great great man (whom I love so much).
December 31, 2024
I feel like the writing was a little abrupt sometimes but I love Robert Ryan
July 26, 2015
Absolutely wonderful. I read a great deal of biography--especially film biography and this is one of the finest I have ever read. Exceedingly well researched, intelligent, balanced, accessible--these all describe this fantastic book. I am a huge fan of film noir, and this is how I first came across Robert Ryan. I think my first glimpse of him was in the film "Crossfire"--one of the finest and darkest film noir pieces you will ever come across. Ryan portrays a vicious and murderous racist--filled with hate, manipulative, dominant and utterly evil. I was mesmerized by his performance. Despite his repugnant character, you cannot take your eyes off of him any time he is on the screen (this is saying something in a film which also stars Robert Mitchum). That performance alone made me prick up my ears and I began searching out his films. I found him to be so excellent in every single performance that I found myself watching not only noir, but genres I normally don't care for--westerns and war films (both staples of Ryan's career). He elevates every film he is in. Despite becoming a huge fan very quickly, I did not know much about Ryan, the man. I was so enthralled to find out that instead of being disappointed at the person behind the talent (as I often am) I am even more enamored of the man.
Raised an Irish Catholic in Chicago by a large and ambitious family, he was a man ahead of his time in every sense. Instead of pursuing a business career, Ryan ended up in acting--not a popular decision in his time or in his family. The book is almost as illuminating about Ryan's wife Jessica as it is about Ryan himself. Jessica Ryan was a Quaker, and a strong and intelligent woman whose liberal beliefs helped to shape many of Ryan's own strongly held convictions. Together, they founded a school that is still operating and is considered a fine and prestigious school to this day. They had three children together and Jessica Ryan not only worked tirelessly for the school they founded, she was a mother and a writer. They had a long and deeply connected marriage (a true rarity in Hollywood to this day). It is very rare to read of an actor during this period that was not tainted in some way by the HUAC blacklisting--either naming names and therefore selling out and destroying other people's careers--or being blacklisted themselves. Ryan had neither experience. He stood by his liberal friends and spent his life and career supporting ideals and politics that went from being career killing to just risky--he knew the repercussions of this, and yet it never deterred him. He was appalled by war--he served during WWII but did not see action due to regular deferments to make pictures-(which he objected to--he did not think he should be excused due to his status)-after his experiences in the military, he was even more against war (ironically he is very identified with his military pictures). He helped found anti-nuclear groups, and supported liberal political candidates his entire life as well as eventually becoming involved in the support of civil rights and later in life, the anti-Vietnam movement. He was well read (counting Shakespeare, Melville and Joyce among favorites) and intellectual without becoming elitist and was a devoted husband and father. His work often took him away from his family and his deep emotion about the world and "black Irish moods" made him an imperfect husband and father but his devotion to his family was never questioned by friends or family. He led an long and fascinating career which included working on Broadway in plays and even musical theater and book-ended his career by working in the theater in plays by such greats as Eugene O'Neill, Shakespeare, Thornton Wilder, and Clifford Odets. Despite some of the great blows dealt to him by life (a sibling who died young, the fall of his family's fortunes, illness) he lived an amazing and rich life and this book is a fitting, respectful and honest tribute to both the man and the actor.
Raised an Irish Catholic in Chicago by a large and ambitious family, he was a man ahead of his time in every sense. Instead of pursuing a business career, Ryan ended up in acting--not a popular decision in his time or in his family. The book is almost as illuminating about Ryan's wife Jessica as it is about Ryan himself. Jessica Ryan was a Quaker, and a strong and intelligent woman whose liberal beliefs helped to shape many of Ryan's own strongly held convictions. Together, they founded a school that is still operating and is considered a fine and prestigious school to this day. They had three children together and Jessica Ryan not only worked tirelessly for the school they founded, she was a mother and a writer. They had a long and deeply connected marriage (a true rarity in Hollywood to this day). It is very rare to read of an actor during this period that was not tainted in some way by the HUAC blacklisting--either naming names and therefore selling out and destroying other people's careers--or being blacklisted themselves. Ryan had neither experience. He stood by his liberal friends and spent his life and career supporting ideals and politics that went from being career killing to just risky--he knew the repercussions of this, and yet it never deterred him. He was appalled by war--he served during WWII but did not see action due to regular deferments to make pictures-(which he objected to--he did not think he should be excused due to his status)-after his experiences in the military, he was even more against war (ironically he is very identified with his military pictures). He helped found anti-nuclear groups, and supported liberal political candidates his entire life as well as eventually becoming involved in the support of civil rights and later in life, the anti-Vietnam movement. He was well read (counting Shakespeare, Melville and Joyce among favorites) and intellectual without becoming elitist and was a devoted husband and father. His work often took him away from his family and his deep emotion about the world and "black Irish moods" made him an imperfect husband and father but his devotion to his family was never questioned by friends or family. He led an long and fascinating career which included working on Broadway in plays and even musical theater and book-ended his career by working in the theater in plays by such greats as Eugene O'Neill, Shakespeare, Thornton Wilder, and Clifford Odets. Despite some of the great blows dealt to him by life (a sibling who died young, the fall of his family's fortunes, illness) he lived an amazing and rich life and this book is a fitting, respectful and honest tribute to both the man and the actor.
June 24, 2023
Robert Ryan
I’m a big fan of Robert Ryan and I really enjoyed enjoyed reading this book. It was very well written. We lost him too soon.
I’m a big fan of Robert Ryan and I really enjoyed enjoyed reading this book. It was very well written. We lost him too soon.
January 2, 2016
I loved this book. Ryan is one of my favorite actors and Jones honored his life in details, what's and all. It was easy to read and follow his career. Major input from Ryan's three children. Highly recommended!!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews