Ryan Kelley
An actor who transitioned from haunting indie film roles to anchoring supernatural drama as a fan-favorite deputy on Teen Wolf.
Born 1986 (age 40)·American actor·Birthday: August 31·Millennials
Biography
Ryan Kelley's acting path began not with grand ambition but through a chance encounter; he was discovered by an agent while attending a friend's audition. This led to early work in commercials and guest spots, but his breakthrough was visceral and dramatic: the role of a troubled bully in the critically acclaimed indie film 'Mean Creek.' That performance showcased an intensity he would later channel into the emotionally wrenching TV movie 'Prayers for Bobby,' portraying a young gay man rejected by his religious family. While he took on the lead in a 'Ben 10' live-action film, it was his six-season run as Deputy Jordan Parrish on MTV's 'Teen Wolf' that cemented his place in genre television. As Parrish, Kelley brought a grounded, wry humanity to a character with a mysterious, hellfire-powered secret, becoming a cornerstone of the show's later seasons.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Ryan was born in 1986, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ryan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Ryan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Turned 21
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Delivered a critically praised performance as a bully in the award-winning independent film 'Mean Creek'.
- Portrayed the lead role of Bobby Griffith in the impactful television film 'Prayers for Bobby'.
- Played Deputy Jordan Parrish across six seasons of the hit series 'Teen Wolf', becoming a series regular.
- Starred as Ben Tennyson in the live-action television film 'Ben 10: Alien Swarm'.
Did You Know?
He was originally a pre-med student in college before deciding to pursue acting full-time.
Kelley is an avid skateboarder and has been since childhood.
His role in 'Prayers for Bobby' required him to learn and perform a Scottish accent for flashback scenes.
“I don't want to play the hero; I want to play the human.”
