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Ryan Merriman - Jon Abbate

Young actor Ryan Merriman has already developed an extensive list of credits in both film and television, which have enabled him to work with some of Hollywood’s most respected actors and filmmakers.

Merriman co-stared in the indie movie “Home of the Giants,” along side Haley Joel Osment. "Home of the Giants" is a coming-of-age story told through the eyes of "Gar" (Haley Joel Osment), a high school journalist who covers the basketball team as it heads toward a state championship. Ryan plays Osment best friend, “Matt,” who is the team's star. “Matt” is asked by a drug dealer to throw the big game, in which Osment’s character inevitably gets caught in the middle.

Merriman last appeared in the Spike TV movie “Backwoods,” which he stars in with Haylie Duff. Merriman’s most recent project was “Final Destination 3” for New Line with directors Glen Morgan and James Wong, the famous duo behind the hugely successful “Final Destination” and television cult favorite, “The X-Files.” The film opened number one at the box office.

Merriman was cast in the CBS mini-series “Comanche Moon,” alongside Steve Zahn, Val Kilmer and Elizabeth Banks. The story follows Texas Rangers ‘Augustus McCrae’ and ‘Woodrow F. Call’ as they pursue three outlaws. Merriman plays ‘Jake Spoon,’ their comrade-in-arms who joins them along the way. The series is a prequel to the “Lonesome Dove” series and will premiere in November of this year. The series is directed by Simon Wincer and produced by Paramount Network Television, in collaboration with Firm Films and Golden Globe Award nominees Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana ("Brokeback Mountain").

Previously, Merriman appeared on the big screen as ‘Jake’ in “The Ring 2” as well as starring in the short film, “Rings,” a bonus film that was created to help link “The Ring” and “The Ring 2” together as well as supplying a cliff-hanger ending that could serve as the segue into the third installment.

Merriman also starred in the independent film, "Spin," co-starring Stanley Tucci, Dana Delaney, Paula Garces and Ruben Blades. "Spin" marked the directorial debut by Jamie Redford, the son of Robert Redford who adapted the film a novel by Don Axinn. In this 1950’s period piece, Merriman portrayed an orphaned boy struggling with the difficulties of entering manhood. Paul Ryan, who worked with Robert Redford on "A River Runs Through It," as well as other films, served as the Director of Photography. Author Don Axinn and Elaine Rogers produced the film, which was independently financed.

On the small screen, Merriman starred in the Hallmark Channel’s epic tele-film, “The Colt,” in which he played the lead character, ‘Jim Rabb’ a young soldier in the Union First Cavalry during the Civil War.

Ryan was seen in his first major leading television role in the ABC television/ Touchstone Pictures series, “Veritas,” produced by Neil Meron and Craig Zadan. Merriman played 17 year-old rebel ‘Nikko Zond,’ who, along with his archeologist father, became immersed in the mysteries of the ancient world.

Ryan also recently appeared in the record-breaking 20 hour, 10-episode miniseries event “Taken,” produced by Steven Spielberg. Ryan starred in two episodes of the Sci-Fi Channel series, as a journalist attempting to uncover the truth about three generations of a family and their encounters with aliens. “Taken” achieved the status of being the highest rated special ever to air on the Sci-Fi Channel network.

In 2002, Ryan co-starred as ‘Myles Barton’ in the feature film, “Halloween 8: Resurrection.” Also released in the summer of 2002, Ryan starred in the Disney Channel’s production of “A Ring of Endless Light,” which co-starred Mischa Barton and James Whitmore.

Throughout, Merriman has had leading roles in several television films including “Dangerous Child,” with Delta Burke, “Rocket’s Red Glare,” and “Luck of the Irish.” Earlier, in 1999, he appeared in the Disney Channel Movie of the Week called “Smart House.”

Merriman came to the attention of moviegoers in the Columbia Pictures/Mandalay Entertainment’s 1999 release “The Deep End of the Ocean” with Michelle Pfeiffer, Treat Williams and Whoopi Goldberg. Directed by Ulu Grosbard, the film, was an emotionally complex story that explored the adjustments of a missing boy and his family when they are reunited ten years later.

In the 1999 independent feature film “Just Looking,” directed by Jason Alexander, Merriman stared as a 1950’s teenage boy who spends the summers with his aunt and uncle and learns about love and life. The film also starred Gretchen Mol, Patti LuPone, Illana Levine and Peter Onarati.

Also in 1999, Merriman appeared in the CBS Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation “Night Ride Home” opposite Rebecca DeMornay, Keith Carradine and Ellen Burstyn. Also, Ryan co-starred opposite Richard Dreyfuss in HBO Pictures’ “Lansky.” Perhaps his most recognizable role on television as a young actor was that of “Young Jarod” on the NBC hit series “The Pretender,” for four seasons.

In 1998, Merriman had a starring role in the TNT original film, “Everything That Rises,” opposite Dennis Quaid, Mare Winningham and Harve Presnell. The film, which also marked Quaid’s directorial debut, told the story of a boy’s coming of age coupled with his families heroic attempts to keep their family and lifestyle intact.

Merriman began his career doing commercials, printwork and local theater in Oklahoma. His first starring role was on the NBC television sitcom, “The Mommies.”

Merriman’s talent has been recognized by two very prestigious organizations that award the talent of young performers. He was presented his fourth Young Artist Award for “The Deep End of the Ocean” and Young Artists Award of Hollywood for “Outstanding Lead Actor in a Cable Movie” for his role in “Everything that Rises” as well as awards in 1998 and 1997 for “Outstanding Performance in a Drama Series by a Supporting Actor” for “The Pretender.” In addition, he was nominated by The Hollywood Reporter Young Star Awards for “Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Drama TV Series” for 1997.

In his free time Merriman enjoys horseback riding, in-line skating, golf, jet skiing and camping. When not on location, Merriman resides in Oklahoma with his wife.