Ryan Douglas Hurst
Ryan Douglas Hurst was born June 19, 1976.
He is an American actor, best known for his roles as Gerry Bertier in Disney’s Remember the Titans.
He can also be seen as Tom Clark in Taken, Opie Winston in the FX network drama series Sons of Anarchy.
as Sergeant Ernie Savage in We Were Soldiers,
and as Chick in Bates Motel.
Early life
Ryan Hurst was born in Santa Monica, California, the son of Candace Kaniecki, an acting coach, and Rick Hurst, an actor known for his role as Deputy Cletus Hogg on The Dukes of Hazzard. He attended Santa Monica High School.
Ryan has three half brothers, Tad Hermann, Chapin Hermann and Collin Hurst.
Career
Growing up in a Hollywood family, Hurst made a very early start in show business, with a recurring role in the NBC teen situation comedy series Saved by the Bell: The New Class.
In the 1998 epic war drama film Saving Private Ryan, Hurst portrayed Mandelsohn, a paratrooper who, because of temporary hearing loss, cannot understand Captain Miller’s (Tom Hanks) questions about sighting Private Ryan, which forces Miller to ask the questions in writing.
Additionally, he appeared in the 2002 war film We Were Soldiers as Sgt. Ernie Savage, played the football player Lump Hudson in the black comedy thriller film The Ladykillers (2004)
and starred in the TNT police drama series Wanted (2005). From 2005 to 2007, Hurst gained recognition for portraying the recurring role of Allison DuBois’ half-brother, Michael Benoit, in NBC’s supernatural procedural drama series Medium.
Hurst’s big break came when he was cast as Opie Winston in the FX crime drama series Sons of Anarchy. Originally a recurring cast member in the first season, he was promoted to main cast member for the following season and went on to become a fan favorite. His character, newly released from a five-year prison stint and “living right”, but not making ends meet, goes back to SAMCRO to provide for his family, despite his wife’s objections and his knowing the risks. Hurst’s portrayal of Opie earned him the 2011 Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film.
Also in 2011, Hurst voiced Jedidiah in the animated box office hit Rango. Also stars in the series, Outsiders.
It was announced in August 2018 that he was cast as Beta on The Walking Dead.
Personal life
In 1994, Hurst met Molly Cookson and the couple married in May 2005.
Together, they founded the production company Fast Shoes. In April 2013, Hurst purchased a 3,400 square-foot home in Woodland Hills, California for $1.71 million.
Filmography
Film
Year Title Role Notes
- 1997 The Postman Eddie March
- 1998 Patch Adams Neil
- Saving Private Ryan Paratrooper Mandelsohn
- 2000 Rules of Engagement Captain Hustings
- Remember the Titans Gerry Bertier
- 2001 Perfect Lover Guy
- 2002 Venus and Mars Roberto
- We Were Soldiers Sgt. Ernie Savage
- Lone Star State of Mind Tinker
- 2004 The Ladykillers Lump Hudson
- 2006 Noble Things Kyle Collins
- 2008 Chasing the Green Ross Franklin
- 2011 Rango Jedidiah (voice)
- 2013 CBGB Mad Mountain
Television
Year Title Role Notes
- 1993 Saved by the Bell: The New Class Crunch Grabowski
- 1994 Beverly Hills, 90210 Student Actor Episode: “Divas”
- 1995–1996 Campus Cops Wayne Simko
- 1995 JAG Dirk Grover Episode: “Shadow”
- 1996 Boston Common Nikolai
- Wings Barry Episode: “Too Beautiful for You”
- 1999 L.A. Doctors Kevn Raives
- 2002 Touched by an Angel Doug Episode: “Two Sides to Every Angel”
- John Doe Elvis Braithwaite Episode: “Mind Games”
- Taken Adult Tom Clarke
- 2004 Dr. Vegas Steve Episode: “All In”
- 2005 House Sam McGinley Episode: “The Mistake”
- Wanted Agent Jimmy McGloin
- 2005–2007 Medium Michael Benoit
- 2006 Everwood Ed Carnahan Episode: “Across the Lines”
- CSI: Miami Detective Michael Lloyd Episode: “Curse of the Coffin”
- 2007 Raines Marko Rossi Episode: “Pilot”
- Heartland Mark Evans Episode: “Pilot”
- 2008–2012 Sons of Anarchy Opie Winston
- 2011 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Doug Loveless Episode: “Bombshell”
- 2013 King & Maxwell Edgar Roy
- 2015–17 Bates Motel Chick Hogan
- 2015 Axe Cop N/A Episode: “Night Mission: The Extincter”
- 2016–2017 Outsiders Lil Foster Farrell
- 2019 The Walking Dead Beta
Awards and nominations
Year Association Category Nominated work Result
2011 16th Satellite Awards Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Sons of Anarchy Won
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