Matthew Ryan Popular Books

Matthew Ryan Biography & Facts

Matthew Ryan Phillippe (; born September 10, 1974) is an American actor. After appearing as Billy Douglas on the soap opera One Life to Live (1992–1993) and making his feature film debut in Crimson Tide (1995), he came to prominence in the late 1990s with starring roles in I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997), 54 (1998), Playing by Heart (1998), and Cruel Intentions (1999). Throughout the 2000s and beyond, Phillippe took on a range of parts in films such as The Way of the Gun (2000), Antitrust (2001), Gosford Park (2001), Igby Goes Down (2002), The I Inside (2003), Crash (2004), Flags of Our Fathers (2006), Breach (2007), Stop-Loss (2008), MacGruber (2010), The Bang Bang Club (2010), and The Lincoln Lawyer (2011). Outside of film, Phillippe appeared in the lead role of Bob Lee Swagger on USA Network's Shooter (2016–2018) and reprised his portrayal of Dixon Piper in the Peacock adaptation of MacGruber (2021). Early life Phillippe was born in New Castle, Delaware. His mother, Susan, ran a day care center in the family's house; his father, Richard Phillippe, was a chemist. Phillippe has three sisters, and is of part French descent. He graduated from Barbizon in Wilmington, Delaware.Phillippe earned a black belt in Tae Kwon Do in his youth. Career Early career (1990–1996) Phillippe's acting career began after being signed to Cathy Parker Management in Voorhees, New Jersey. Shortly after, he made an appearance in the ABC daytime drama One Life to Live. His character, Billy Douglas, whom he played from 1992 to 1993, was the first gay teenager on a daytime soap opera. After leaving the show, Phillippe moved to Los Angeles, where he appeared in a number of small parts in various television series including Matlock, Due South, the TV miniseries The Secrets of Lake Success, and movies, including the 1995 film Crimson Tide and the 1996 film White Squall. Rise to prominence (1997–2001) He was cast in the 1997 horror film, I Know What You Did Last Summer. The film was a success and led to Phillippe gaining wider renown and being cast in a few more high-profile films, including 54 and Playing by Heart in 1998. In 1999, he starred in Cruel Intentions, a modern retelling of the Choderlos de Laclos novel Les Liaisons dangereuses, which also starred Phillippe's future wife, Reese Witherspoon. It was a success among its intended teenage audience, cementing Phillippe's ability to play characters that require sex appeal. Phillippe can also be seen in the Marcy Playground music video "Comin' Up From Behind", which appears on the film's soundtrack. In the years following, he appeared in the crime drama The Way of the Gun, starred as a famed software engineer in the thriller Antitrust, and co-starred in Robert Altman's Gosford Park, which was nominated for the Oscar for Best Picture. Critical success and later work (2002–2011) Phillippe had supporting parts in the films Igby Goes Down (2002) and Crash (2005), which won the Best Picture Oscar. His 2003 film The I Inside premiered on cable. In 2006, Phillippe played real-life Navy corpsman John Bradley in the war film Flags of Our Fathers, directed by Clint Eastwood and following the journey of the United States Marines who lifted the flag at the Battle of Iwo Jima. Phillippe has said that the film was the "best experience" of his career because of its "personal meaning" to him and that he would have "given [his] life" to fight in World War II, noting that both of his grandfathers fought in the war. His performance was positively received by film critic Richard Roeper, who thought it was Phillippe's best to date. Phillippe's next role was in the thriller Breach, in which he played FBI investigator Eric O'Neill opposite Chris Cooper. He has since commented that he believes Cooper to be "the best actor America has to offer". He then starred in Chaos, in which he plays a police officer; Five Fingers, a drama set in Morocco; Kimberly Peirce's Iraq war film Stop-Loss; and the futuristic Franklyn. Next up for Phillippe was a rare comedic role as Lt. Dixon Piper in MacGruber, a film based on the Saturday Night Live (SNL) skit of the same name. It was released in the U.S. and Canada on May 21, 2010. As part of the film's promotion, Phillippe made his SNL hosting debut on April 17, 2010. Two days later, on April 19, 2010, Phillippe co-hosted WWE Raw, also in support of MacGruber. That same year, Phillippe starred in the Canadian and South African production The Bang-Bang Club, which tells the real-life story of the Bang-Bang Club, four South African photographers whose images documented the bloody end of apartheid. Phillippe stars as Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Greg Marinovich. Filming for the movie took place in South Africa beginning in March 2009. Phillippe described the filming process as "really run-and-gun. There were no comforts, and I actually appreciate that." He noted that the experience affected him, explaining that "we were shooting during the day in Soweto, and it was an endless procession of funerals — death is so common. Kids there have no quality of life. It has made me want to get more involved in Africa-based charities." An early cut of the film was shown at Cannes Film Festival in May 2009, with the final version shown at Cannes in May 2010. The film officially premiered in September 2010 at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival. The U.S. rights to the movie were picked up by Tribeca Film, which premiered the movie at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival and opened it in limited release on April 22, 2011.In mid-2010, Phillippe began filming the adaptation of popular crime novel The Lincoln Lawyer, taking on the role of Louis Roulet, a wealthy Los Angeles playboy accused of a crime for which his culpability is unclear. The movie opened on March 18, 2011, and was generally well received by critics, scoring 82% on Rotten Tomatoes as of late March 2011. Phillippe filmed his next project, the heist action film Setup, in December 2010 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The movie focuses on a group of young men from Detroit whose attempt at a diamond heist goes awry and brings them into conflict with a mob boss. The movie had a straight-to-DVD release on September 20, 2011. Phillippe next filmed the dramatic dark comedy Revenge for Jolly! in mid-2011. The movie, which tells the story of a man set on finding his dog's murderer, premiered at the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival. Phillippe subsequently began work on another movie, Straight A's, in August 2011. Filmed in Shreveport, Louisiana, it stars Phillippe as a man who has been in and out of rehab for years and is now haunted by his mother's ghost. Return to television and focus on directing and producing (2012–present) Starting in November 2011, Phillippe spent several months filming a 10-episode arc on the fifth and final season of the critically acclaimed TV show Damages. Playing Channing McClaren, a Julian Assange–like character, it was his first regular TV role since his brea.... Discover the Matthew Ryan popular books. Find the top 100 most popular Matthew Ryan books.

Best Seller Matthew Ryan Books of 2024

  • The Proper Study Of Mankind synopsis, comments

    The Proper Study Of Mankind

    Isaiah Berlin

    ‘He becomes everyman’s guide to everything exciting in the history of ideas’ New York Review of BooksIsaiah Berlin was one of the leading thinkers of the twentieth century, and one...

  • House Sit synopsis, comments

    House Sit

    Matthew Ryan

    Arty was going on a trip, and Patrick was going to house sit for him. Patrick. Who had a habit of accidentally breaking or getting stuck in Every. Thing. He. Touches.  Arty ha...

  • Forget Me Not synopsis, comments

    Forget Me Not

    Matthew Ryan

    Patrick had something very important to ask Arty. There was just one problem, he couldn’t remember what it was…

  • Just Because synopsis, comments

    Just Because

    Matthew Ryan

    Kevin is a very clever little monster, he always knows the answers to all of Arty’s questions. Which is a very good thing since Arty has so very many questions to ask!   NOT Y...

  • The Move synopsis, comments

    The Move

    Matthew Ryan

    The same old Rubbish Town, the same old waffles. Arty is getting a little bit bored of the daily grind. He fancies a change. Yes, Arty has made up his mind, he is leaving Rubbish T...

  • Big Fish synopsis, comments

    Big Fish

    Matthew Ryan

    Arty won a special prize at the fair: a new pet fish! He named him Francois. But Francois was a chunky fish. He kept outgrowing his fish bowls. This was a very chonky problem. Unlo...

  • Brave synopsis, comments

    Brave

    Matthew Ryan

    One brave adventurer! Battling dragons! Riding his steed! Protecting the castle! Kind of…   NOT YOUR REGULAR STORYBOOKS RubbishBooks offers short, simple, engaging stories for...

  • Patrick Found a Something synopsis, comments

    Patrick Found a Something

    Matthew Ryan

    Patrick has found something special. But what is it? It isn’t very good at doing the dishes. And it doesn’t taste very good either…   NOT YOUR REGULAR STORYBOOKS RubbishBooks ...

  • The Eloquent Penguin synopsis, comments

    The Eloquent Penguin

    Matthew Ryan

    RubbishBooks returns with a whole new series to entertain little monsters everywhere! In episode two we meet one of Professor Penguin's dearest friends: The Eloquent Penguin. He ha...

  • The Case of the Missing Banana synopsis, comments

    The Case of the Missing Banana

    Matthew Ryan

    Someone has stolen Patrick's banana! But with the help of his friends Kevin and Arty, he's set out to track down his missing fruit (and the cowardly thief who took it).   ...

  • The Death Messenger synopsis, comments

    The Death Messenger

    Mari Hannah

    Track a stalker. Catch a killer. The Death Messenger is a tense police procedural following The Silent Room in the thrilling Matthew Ryan series by Mari Hannah. When a mysterious ...

  • Something to do with Pumpkins synopsis, comments

    Something to do with Pumpkins

    Matthew Ryan

    Kevin has just returned from a trip to a far, far away land. A land where October was a very special month indeed. Pumpkins were everywhere, and people were dressing up and getting...

  • Hello Niblit synopsis, comments

    Hello Niblit

    Matthew Ryan

    Have you ever met a Niblit? Patrick loves his pet Niblit, and he takes good care of it. If his Niblit needs to be walked, he will walk it (well, sort of), and if his Niblit wants a...

  • The Only Explanation synopsis, comments

    The Only Explanation

    Matthew Ryan

    Patrick has lost his other sock! There must be a sock thief on the loose, it’s the only explanation…   NOT YOUR REGULAR STORYBOOKS BoxFort offers short, simple, engaging stori...

  • The Impossible Door synopsis, comments

    The Impossible Door

    Matthew Ryan

    Patrick has just brought home his very heavy shopping bags and is looking forward to a delicious wafflejam sandwich. There's just one problem Patrick can't seem to open his front ...

  • Kill Me Once synopsis, comments

    Kill Me Once

    Jon Osborne

    Nathan Stiedowe is seeking perfection and he has been learning from the best. Recreating some of the most sickening murders in history, his objective appears chillingly simple, bu...

  • A Trip to the Doctor synopsis, comments

    A Trip to the Doctor

    Matthew Ryan

    Arty isn't feeling very well. There's a rumbling in his tummy, but what could that mean? Like all the residents of Rubbish Town, there's only one Toast to turn to at times like the...

  • The Silent Room synopsis, comments

    The Silent Room

    Mari Hannah

    One fugitive. A deadly plot. No rules. Thus begins an ingenious and lightningfast thriller that reviewers agree is “not to be missed.” Detective Sergeant Matthew Ryan wants to clea...

  • From Hollywood with Love synopsis, comments

    From Hollywood with Love

    Scott Meslow

    An indepth celebration of the romantic comedy’s modern golden era and its role in our culture, tracking the genre from its heyday in the ’80s and the ’90s, its unfortunate decline ...

  • Hiccup synopsis, comments

    Hiccup

    Matthew Ryan

    Patrick and Arty are headed to the beach when dun dun derrr disaster strikes! Arty has…THE HICCUPS!! Who will save our valiant hero? Step forward worldrenowned hiccup expert: Dr ...

  • The Christmas Stake-Out synopsis, comments

    The Christmas Stake-Out

    Matthew Ryan

    It was Christmas Eve and Patrick had a plan to finally catch Santa! He was prepared: Santa bait (cookies); binoculars, a camera, and smooth jazz. He was ready. That is, until the g...

  • The Big Blueberry synopsis, comments

    The Big Blueberry

    Matthew Ryan

    Arty is busy in his garden planting some new seeds. He has some delightful carrots and some lovely tomatoes, and even a super special secret seed! What could this mysterious seed g...

  • Patrick Takes Off synopsis, comments

    Patrick Takes Off

    Matthew Ryan

    Ever since Patrick was a very, very little monster, he has wanted to visit space! He would talk about it at breakfast, he would talk about it at lunchtime, he would talk about it a...

  • Happy Ever After synopsis, comments

    Happy Ever After

    Paul Dolan

    'A passionate, provocative book. It isn't just a selfhelp book. It is a manifesto for a better society' Sunday Times 'One of the most rigorous articulations of the new mood of acc...

  • Patrick vs. Cake synopsis, comments

    Patrick vs. Cake

    Matthew Ryan

    Patrick has visited his friend Arty’s house. Arty isn’t home, but a giant delicious cake is. Can Patrick resist?   NOT YOUR REGULAR STORYBOOKS RubbishBooks offers short, simpl...

  • The Expert synopsis, comments

    The Expert

    Matthew Ryan

    Arty was going camping with Patrick. Patrick thought he knew all about camping. Which may have been a slight exaggeration. BoxFort.co

  • The Stopped Clock synopsis, comments

    The Stopped Clock

    Matthew Ryan

    The Rubbish Town clock has stopped and now all the residents have overslept! It’s up to Patrick to fix the clock and save the town he’s tried turning the cogs, he’s tried chewing ...

  • Follow That Santa synopsis, comments

    Follow That Santa

    Matthew Ryan

    It’s Christmas Eve in Rubbish Town and the town is getting ready for the big day. Dr Toast is making cookies, Arty is decorating his tree, and Patrick is rearranging his wonderful ...

  • Big Scary Monsters synopsis, comments

    Big Scary Monsters

    Matthew Ryan

    Patrick, Kevin, and Arty head a scary sound. What could it be? It was time to be brave! Read 30+ Patrick, Kevin, and Arty storybooks at BoxFort.co

  • The Haircut synopsis, comments

    The Haircut

    Matthew Ryan

    It might be time for a haircut Patrick…   NOT YOUR REGULAR STORYBOOKS RubbishBooks offers short, simple, engaging stories for children of all ages. Read more at BoxFort.co

  • A Very Hairy Little Monster synopsis, comments

    A Very Hairy Little Monster

    Matthew Ryan

    When it comes to little monster hair, Kevin has the best mop in all of Rubbish Town. He's been crowned 'Greatest Hair' 28 consecutive times at the Rubbish Town Fair and if things g...

  • Hits, Flops, and Other Illusions synopsis, comments

    Hits, Flops, and Other Illusions

    Ed Zwick

    This heartfelt and wry career memoir from the director of Blood Diamond, The Last Samurai, Legends of the Fall, About Last Night, and Glory, creator of the show thirtysomething, an...

  • Colonel Gooseberry and the Raiders of the New Light synopsis, comments

    Colonel Gooseberry and the Raiders of the New Light

    Matthew Ryan

    The gooseberries are about to make a BIG discovery: It gets dark after bedtime! So dark in fact that some little gooseberry toes have already been stubbed. This will not do. Colone...

  • Sports Day synopsis, comments

    Sports Day

    Matthew Ryan

    And for the first event, Patrick will be competing in the egg and spoon race against a literal egg with a spoon taped to their chest.  Hang on a minute.  NOT YOUR REGULA...

  • Patrick Builds a Birdhouse synopsis, comments

    Patrick Builds a Birdhouse

    Matthew Ryan

    Patrick is building a bird house for his friends Mr and Mrs Bird. Just one problem: Patrick doesn't know anything about building birdhouses. Can you help Patrick build the birdhous...

  • An Arty For All Seasons synopsis, comments

    An Arty For All Seasons

    Matthew Ryan

    It had been an exceedingly grey day in Rubbish Town, and Arty knew why: Winter was coming.  Arty does not like winter, he does not like winter At All. The cold air, the frost ...

  • Tag synopsis, comments

    Tag

    Matthew Ryan

    Patrick is on an epic journey. He will travel far, he will travel wide. He has to get to where he is going! But what is it that has Patrick so determined?   NOT YOUR REGULAR S...

  • Captains Courageous synopsis, comments

    Captains Courageous

    Rudyard Kipling

    Harvey Cheyne is the overindulged son of a millionaire. When he falls overboard from an ocean liner her is rescued by a Portuguese fisherman and, initially against his will, joins ...

  • Surprise synopsis, comments

    Surprise

    Matthew Ryan

    Arty has a surprise for Patrick, but Patrick will have to wait to open it.  Unfortunately, Patrick is not a very patient little monster.

  • The Box synopsis, comments

    The Box

    Matthew Ryan

    Patrick, Kevin and Arty are the best of friends, so when Kevin takes a trip to the Waffle Jungle, Arty and Patrick are very sad to see him go. It's not all bad news though, Kevin l...

  • Nothing to Worry About synopsis, comments

    Nothing to Worry About

    Matthew Ryan

    Patrick was bored. He wondered what his friends were doing. Maybe making soup, or going for a run, or catching a big fish. But then again, what if…? BoxFort | Not Your Regular Stor...

  • Stories in 5 Minutes Meet Patrick synopsis, comments

    Stories in 5 Minutes Meet Patrick

    Matthew Ryan

    Meet Patrick. Big heart, tiny brain. Download the Patrick storybook collection. Five delightful short stories for your little monsters, all featuring our intrepid hero Patrick. Th...

  • Footprints synopsis, comments

    Footprints

    Matthew Ryan

    Join Patrick in another delightfully curious adventure across Sardine Shores, Long Cat City, and Cactus Sands.  There are giant, mysterious footprints all across town, and Pat...

  • Cake-tastrophe synopsis, comments

    Cake-tastrophe

    Matthew Ryan

    Patrick was making a very special cake for Arty’s birthday. It had to be perfect. Just one cup of flour? That can’t be right. Two eggs? Nah. This cake will be the BEST in town. Un...

  • Velocity synopsis, comments

    Velocity

    Ajaz Ahmed & Stefan Olander

    How can you win when the only certainty is change? Highly accessible, lively and inspiring, Velocity draws upon the authors’ unique perspectives and experiences to present seven ti...