Debby Ryan: Actress and Singer
Debby Ryan began acting professionally at age 7. Disney Channel found her through a national search and cast her in both The Suite Life on Deck and 16 Wishes series.
She made her feature film debut alongside Ice Cube and Keke Palmer in The Longshots and currently resides in Texas with her husband, Twenty-One Pilots drummer Josh Dun.
Debby Ryan’s Biography
Debby Ryan, best known for playing Bailey Pickett on Disney Channel’s original series The Suite Life on Deck and emerging as a teen idol, began her acting career by appearing in the 2007 Barney & Friends straight-to-DVD film Barney: Let’s Go to the Firehouse; later discovered through an extensive nationwide search by Disney Channel; she went on to star in their 2010 original movie 16 Wishes which became one of their highest rated movies ever watched on its premiere day; also making appearances in the independent theatrical film What If… in 2010; as well as independent theatrical film What If… which also featured her performance; Ryan made her directorial debut appearance with an appearance in What If… in 2010.
Ryan gained prominence with her roles on The Suite Life on Deck and Jessie before landing the titular character of the Disney Channel television show Princess Protection Agency from 2021-2022. Additionally, she can be found appearing in numerous film and television projects, such as NBC police drama The Mysteries of Laura as Lucy Diamond; Netflix series Insatiable’s Patty Bladell series; YouTube Red comedy Sing It! as a celebrity using Sing It! as her platform.
Ryan is an advocate for environmental initiatives and has been featured in the Disney Channel TV special Disney’s Friends for Change to promote eco-friendly activities through competitions between Disney Channel and XD stars. Additionally, she serves as an ambassador for the Free the Children charity.
Debby Ryan was born in Huntsville, Alabama but has lived all across the country due to her father’s military career. She speaks both English and German fluently and was interviewed for People Magazine in 2009. Ryan revealed in that 2009 People interview that Brenda Song from Suite Life is her acting idol while Meryl Streep is her role model due to her powerful performances. Currently residing in Los Angeles with an older brother named Chase she enjoys traveling, animal rights causes, and various humanitarian efforts – among many other activities!
Debby Ryan’s Movies
Debby Ryan was first recognized as an actress through professional theatre performances and guest spots on popular shows; then came her breakout role as Bailey Pickett on the Disney Channel original series The Suite Life on Deck – an offshoot of earlier series The Suite Life of Zack and Cody which became one of their highest rated shows upon its premiere in September 2008. Additionally, Debby starred in 16 Wishes which gave her exposure to an older audience.
Subsequently, she moved away from children’s shows and toward movies and TV series that focused on thriller or drama content. In 2010, she appeared in a small role in Rip Tip as a flight attendant who assisted John Cena and Leo Abelo Perry escape bounty hunters and mercenaries on their private plane; that year also marked a brief cameo appearance of hers in Fast 8.
As she transitioned to Hollywood, she played Jessie Prescott in a Disney Channel comedy based on her previous show that ran from 2011-2015. This comedy featured her as an innocent small-town girl who moves to New York with dreams of becoming an actress but ends up working instead as a nanny for a family with four kids – an experience that also involved co-creating and directing an episode.
On a darker note, she played vampire Blaire in Netflix’s 2020 film Night Teeth. This suspenseful tale centers on an innocent human chauffeur named Benny hired to transport two girls who later discover they are vampires.
More recently, she has appeared in Melissa McCarthy’s comedy Life of the Party as Patty, as well as Netflix show Insatiable as Patty who loses weight to get revenge on those who bullied her and their friends. Though both shows have received mixed reviews from critics, both cast and creators insist that they empower women instead of body shaming them.
Debby Ryan’s Television
Debby Ryan has graced television screens and films since her first appearance in 2006. She made her television debut in the Barney and Friends direct-to-DVD film Barney: Let’s Go to the Firehouse in 2006; since then, she has appeared in Jessie (2011-15), Radio Rebel (2012), and various commercials like iDog Dance and Life of the Party.
Ryan first came into prominence after her casting in Disney Channel’s original series The Suite Life on Deck in 2008. The show quickly rose in popularity among children aged 6-11 and tweens aged 9-14, earning Ryan instant fame and status as a teen idol. Since then she has gone on to appear in other Disney and non-Disney television series such as Private Practice (2007), Good Luck Charlie (2009), The Glades (2011), and Jessie (2011) – as well as numerous others like Private Practice, Good Luck Charlie, Jessie (2011) among many others!
She has also performed as both a musician and singer outside the realm of television work, contributing her vocal talents to Disney projects’ soundtracks, founding the band The Never Ending in 2013, and touring North America as the opening act for Fifth Harmony’s Reflection Tour 2015.
Her career expanded when she joined Alison Brie in 2022’s Horse Girl film. Two years later, in 2020’s Night Teeth film on Netflix, she took on an even darker role – she played Benny, an inconsequential stand-in chauffeur hired to drive two girls around town but quickly becomes involved with their nightlife adventures and discovers they are vampires.
Debby Ryan excels at playing irresponsible characters, so it comes as no surprise that she plays Patty Bladell on Netflix’s Insatiable series. Aside from television, she also enjoys an enormous following online; Twitter counts over 3 million followers while Instagram hosts more than 16 million. In addition, Ryan has appeared on talk and variety shows as well as performing live on stage performances.
Debby Ryan’s Music
Debby Ryan was born into a military family in Huntsville, Alabama. At seven years old she began performing professionally. Disney Channel discovered her through a nationwide search. She has appeared in multiple television and movie series, such as Barney & Friends: Let’s Go to the Firehouse (2007) and MGM feature film The Longshots (2008). She played Bailey Pickett on Disney Channel original series The Suite Life on Deck (2008-201) and in the film 16 Wishes (2010). Ryan rose to prominence while playing Jessie from 2011-2015 and later appeared in Radio Rebel (2012) and Insatiable (2018-2019). She gained notice for her musical skills by contributing vocals for Disney projects like Radio Rebel (2012) and Insatiable (2018-2019), forming The Never Ending band with fellow actors Mitchel Musso and Jasmine Richards in 2013.
Over her career, she has participated in many singing competitions and television shows; including serving as a contestant on American Idol’s third season and judge of recurring competition show Star Power. Furthermore, she has performed alongside Keke Palmer and Ice Cube.
Debby Ryan has not only pursued acting and singing careers; she has also composed music for several movies and television shows, writing Hey Jessie from her hit Disney Channel series Jessie as well as theme songs for The Suite Life on Deck and Radio Rebel, Deck the Halls from 16 Wishes (2010) Disney Channel holiday film 16 Wishes (2010) as well as writing the lyrics to Radio Rebel’s theme song Hey Rebel (also featured on Jessie).
In 2016, she joined YouTube Red’s comedy series Sing It! and portrays Holli Holiday, an egocentric singer who uses the fictional talent show Sing It! to promote herself. The show premiered on May 25, 2016. Ryan hails from former football player and coach Mike Ryan and actress/model Missy Ryan (her parents). She has two siblings – Chase (elder) and Madison (younger).
