A natural comic performer, Ryan first caught the acting bug observing his grandmother’s involvement in show biz. At the age of five, startled yet delighted to spot her in a commercial for "Senior Dimensions," a Nevada-based healthcare provider, he pointed at the television console and announced, "I want to do that!"
Tagging along one day to be an extra in another of her commercials, Ryan was pulled out of the crowd by the director (who had no knowledge of the family connection), and wound up featured in the ad along with his grandparents, uncle, and R. & B. legend Lou Rawls, whom he managed to crack up during the lunch break.
Other commercials followed, including spots for McDonald's and Washington Mutual Savings Bank. Acting classes at the famed Young Actors Space in Los Angeles led to getting an agent and a manager, and Ryan quickly became a hot commodity in the business.
In 2002, Ryan made his film debut, The United States of Leland (released in 2004), portraying the title character as a six-year-old in flashbacks. Filming a funeral scene proved intimidating, as he not only had to weep on camera, but also did so opposite Academy Award-winning actor Kevin Spacey. "He was unfriendly at first, because that was the character he was playing," Ryan recalls. "But the minute we finished the scene, he was wonderful."
Later that year, Ryan worked with another Oscar recipient, Tom Hanks, on a test film to develop the "performance capture" technology initially used for the holiday feature The Polar Express (2004), but has more recently been utilized for the blockbuster Avatar (2010). "It was cool," he reports of the process. "You had to put on this special suit with 'sensors' on it that record your every movement and then this gets turned into computer animation."
Freaky Friday (2003), the hit Disney comedy starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan as a mother and daughter who magically switch places for a day, catapulted Ryan into the limelight. As Harry Coleman, the quintessential bratty-yet-lovable younger brother, Ryan was singled out by many critics as the film's "secret weapon." "[Malgarini]…masters the difficult task of being obnoxious and funny at the same time," wrote Milan Paurich of the "Cleveland Free Times;" Phil Villarreal of the "Arizona Daily Times" opined, "Malgarini steals so many scenes he should be charged with grand theft movie."
In February 2004, Ryan began work on the TV pilot for The Robinsons: Lost in Space, a re-imagining of the 1960s sci-fi adventure about a family of the future who find themselves adrift in the cosmos. Budgeted at $2 million and directed by action filmmaker John Woo (Mission: Impossible II), the pilot featured Ryan as child genius Will Robinson. The Robinsons: LIS was set to debut on the WB network's Fall 2004 schedule, when the project was shelved at the last minute over the usual "creative differences"—a grown-up term Ryan has come to learn the hard way.
Ryan traveled to Austin, Texas in July, 2005, for his role as "Benjy" in the film adaptation of How to Eat Fried Worms, the beloved gross-out children's novel by Thomas Rockwell. Despite the intense late Summer heat, Ryan describes the 7-week shoot as his "best ever," as he enjoyed working with other young actors his age, including Hallie Kate Eisenberg (The Insider, Bicentennial Man) and Adam Hicks (Titus), many of whom became good friends.
On September 24, 2008, Ryan’s latest project, “Gary Unmarried” began airing Wednesdays at 8:30PM on CBS, and continues to date. Written and produced by sitcom veteran Ed Yeager (“Still Standing,” “Dharma & Greg”), the show centers on an easygoing, recently divorced dad, played by Jay Mohr (Jerry Maguire) who tries to navigate new waters with his ex-wife, to whom he was married for 15 years, his kids, a string of new girlfriends, and a recent career change from house painter to radio sports commentator. Ryan portrays his son “Tom,” a nervous wreck of a teen who is discovering girls in his own unique way. The cast also includes Paula Marshall, Kathryn Newton, and Keegan Michael Key.
At the 34th Annual People's Choice Awards, “Gary Unmarried” won in the category of "Favorite New TV Comedy.” The award, couple with the show’s steady increase in ratings, holds promise for many seasons to come.
When not working, Ryan enjoys sports (favorite football team: Seattle Seahawks), playing the guitar, skateboarding, swimming, camping, movies, making home video productions, and performing magic tricks.
He participates in many fund-raising events, such as Variety’s Power of Youth initiative and the Candlelighters of Southern Nevada’s Silent Auction (for both of which he auctioned himself off as a celebrity host), the Make-a-Wish Foundation’s Wish Granting Ball, and the Ronald McDonald House Walk-a-Thon.
When not taping “Gary Unmarried” in Los Angeles, Ryan lives in Las Vegas with his grandparents John and Gloria Malgarini. He frequently enjoys spending time with his extended family that live across the country—from Seattle to New York City.
