Ryan Piers Williams (born May 13, 1981) is an American actor, director, and writer.

Early life

Williams was raised in

El Paso, Texas El Paso (; ; or ) is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States. The 2020 United States census, 2020 population of the city from the United States Census Bureau, U.S. Census Bureau was 678,815, making it the List of ...

, where he attended

J. M. Hanks High School J. M. Hanks High School, commonly referred to as Hanks High School, is one of seven public secondary schools in Ysleta Independent School District, which encompasses much of east El Paso, Texas. Hanks' primary feeder school is J.M. Hanks Middle ...

. From age 13 he wanted to be a director and took theater and video production classes in both middle school and high school. He went to study film at the

University of Texas at Austin The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin, UT, or Texas) is a public university, public research university in Austin, Texas, United States. Founded in 1883, it is the flagship institution of the University of Texas System. With 53,082 stud ...

for years before transferring as a junior to the

University of Southern California The University of Southern California (USC, SC, or Southern Cal) is a Private university, private research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1880 by Robert M. Widney, it is the oldest private research university in ...

and eventually being accepted into its School of Cinematic Arts where he met actress

America Ferrera America Georgina Ferrera (; born April 18, 1984) is an American actress, director and television producer. She has received List of awards and nominations received by America Ferrera, numerous accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golde ...

and cast her in a student film. The two became romantically involved through their academic film work and officially became a couple on June 27, 2005.

Career

Williams wrote and directed the films ''

The Dry Land ''The Dry Land'' (also known as ''American Tragic'') is a 2010 American drama film written and directed by Ryan Piers Williams. The film stars Ryan O’Nan, America Ferrara, Wilmer Valderrama, Jason Ritter, and Melissa Leo. It premiered at ...

'' (2010) and '' X/Y'' (2014). He was a producer of writer-director Walter Strafford's ''

Kilimanjaro Mount Kilimanjaro () is a dormant volcano in Tanzania. It is the highest mountain in Africa and the highest free-standing mountain above sea level in the world, at above sea level and above its plateau base. It is also the highest volcano i ...

'' (2013). Williams additionally has performed as an actor, in the 2007 short ''Muertas'', which he directed, wrote and produced; and the features ''Blues'' (2008), ''Tomorrow Comes Today'' (2013), his own ''X/Y'' (2014), and ''1985'' (2018). He briefly appears in ''

Barbie Barbie is a fashion doll created by American businesswoman Ruth Handler, manufactured by American toy and entertainment company Mattel and introduced on March 9, 1959. The toy was based on the German Bild Lilli doll, Bild Lilli doll which Hand ...

'' (2023) as the husband of Gloria, played by his real life wife

Personal life

Williams married

on June 27, 2011.Matt Donnelly
"America Ferrera marries Ryan Piers Williams, longtime beau"
''

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American Newspaper#Daily, daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo, California, El Segundo since 2018, it is the List of new ...

'', June 28, 2011. He directed her in the 2010 film ''

'', which received

Imagen Awards The Imagen Awards are administered by the Imagen Foundation, an organization dedicated to "encouraging and recognizing the positive portrayals of Latinos in the entertainment industry." To be considered for an Imagen Award, a media piece or person ...

nominations for best feature film and for Ferrera's performance as best actress. The couple had their son, Sebastian, in May 2018, and daughter, Lucia, on May 4, 2020.

Filmography

*''

'' (2010) *''

'' (2013) *'' X/Y'' (2014) * ''

'' (2023)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Ryan Piers 1981 births 21st-century American male writers 21st-century American screenwriters American male film actors American male screenwriters Film directors from Texas Living people University of Texas at Austin alumni USC School of Dramatic Arts alumni