Early life

Ryan was born in Huntsville, Alabama. She has performed in various theater performance groups and talent competitions. Her father was in the military, so she moved to numerous places in Europe. She lived in Germany until she was 10 and can speak both English and German. She started performing in professional theaters at the age of seven on an American base in Germany. She returned to the United States in 2003, at the age of 10, and was raised in Texas. In a 2009 People Magazine interview, she described herself as a "nerd" in school. She was bullied in middle school for being a mascot and a member of the school's chess club.

Career

2007-11: The Suite Life on Deck

Ryan began appearing in various television commercials in her early teenage years. She appeared in several commercials for iDog and various board games; she was in an iDog Dance commercial in 2008. Ryan's first film role was in 2007 as a guest character in Barney: Let's Go to the Firehouse, she played the role of a teenager. Ryan also had a supporting role in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer feature film The Longshots, alongside teen actress Keke Palmer and Ice Cube. Ryan played Edith in the feature film. Ryan played one of the main characters, Bailey Pickett, on the Disney Channel Original Series, The Suite Life on Deck, which is a sequel/spin-off to the hit Disney Channel series, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. The series's pilot aired on September 26, 2008 in the US and drew in 5.7 million viewers, and it became the most watched series premiere in Canada on the Family channel. The series was 2008's #1 top scripted television series for children between the ages of 6 to 11 and pre-teens between the ages of 9 to 14, beating the veteran series Hannah Montana and Wizards of Waverly Place in the ratings. The series was also 2009's top rated scripted series, outpacing Hannah Montana and several other teenage shows.

In 2009, it was announced that Ryan landed a starring role in the independent feature film, What If..., alongside Kevin Sorbo and Kristy Swanson. The film was shot in Grand Rapids and Manistee, Michigan in July 2009 and was released in theaters on August 20, 2010. The film is produced by Pure Flix Entertainment and centers on a Christian family. In October 2009, Ryan hosted the first Tween Girl Summit Music Festival. "Tween girls are drawn to talented performers who emanate the joy of life, and we are so happy to have teen favorite Debby Ryan as the first host of The Tween Summit Music Festival," said Denise Restauri, founder of The Tween Summit, AllyKatzz.com and AK Tweens. Ryan was set to headline the "Terrific Teen Tour", a concert series which co-headlined Mitchel Musso, Jasmine Richards and Savannah Outen, that would start on July 9, 2009 and end on July 14 but the tour was canceled owing to schedule conflicts. The tour would have been Ryan's debut as a live musician. In 2010, she starred in the young adult film 16 Wishes. In addition, the movie introduced Ryan to new audiences, such as the contemporary adult audience since the movie received high viewership in the adults demographic (18-34). Ryan noted that to prepare for her role in 16 Wishes, she watched numerous Brat Pack movies. Ryan starred in The Suite Life Movie, based on the show she had starred in. The show finished its run on May 6, 2011.

2011-present: Jessie and The Never Ending

For the career with her band, see The Never Ending.

In March 2011, it was announced that Ryan landed her own Disney Channel series called Jessie, which debuted in September 2011. The show follows a girl who moves from Texas to New York to become a star but becomes a nanny instead for a family with four children. Jessie is a show she also helped create, relating that she wanted her character to relate to herself. Ryan directed the season three episode "Coffee Talk," making her the youngest female to ever direct a Disney Channel production. Additionally, in a shift towards a more mature role, she guest starred in an episode of the show Private Practice as a recovering drug addict. In February 2012, she starred in another Disney Channel movie entitled Radio Rebel. On August 31, 2012 she voiced the character Spike in the Tinker Bell film Secret of the Wings. Also in 2012, she formed the indie band The Never Ending with the guitarist Kyle Moore and the drummer Johnny Franco.

In 2014, Ryan starred in the film Last Chance Holiday. On June 1, Ryan and The Never Ending released the debut single, "Mulholland Drive", with a premiere in the Billboard website. The debut EP One was released on June 24, 2014, featuring album art from a circus-themed photoshoot they'd done in March 2014. On April 17, 2015, an episode of Girl Meets World premiered featuring Ryan as Aubrey Macavoy. In June 23 the Ryan and the band released "Secondhand" as the first single off their upcoming debut album.

Philanthropy

Ryan is involved in Disney's Friends for Change. She was featured in a commercial on Disney Channel. The charity helps explain how kids can help preserve the planet and invites them to go to the Friends for Change website to register and pledge, offering them the chance to help choose how Disney will invest $1 million in environmental programs. Ryan will be taking part in Disney's Friends for Change Games, which will feature over 30 Disney Channel and Disney XD stars competing in fun and physical challenges inspired by good actions for the environment. The stars will be broken up into teams and each team will play on behalf of an environmental charity. Ryan had been taking part as Captain of the Blue Team playing to benefit Ocean Conservancy.

In May 2012, Ryan traveled to Udaipur, India, as part of Disney's Friends for Change's partnership with international charity Free The Children. The trip was hosted by Me to We, a social enterprise and partner of Free The Children. During her visit she volunteered to help build a new school in Lai Gow and met with local community members to learn about their culture. Her experience was filmed and aired between programs on Disney Channel starting on June 28, 2012.

Musical style

In interview to Christina Garibaldi of MTV, in 2013, Ryan commented that her musical style includes folk, indie pop and country as Taylor Swift and Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. She cited as her biggest musical influences Christina Aguilera, Lady Antebellum, The Lumineers, Mumford & Sons, April Smith and the Great Picture Show, Macklemore and Tom Petty. Ryan plays several instruments including the guitar, piano, and keyboard. She is also a songwriter and writes music with her older brother.

Fashion

In July 2012, Ryan started work on a clothing line for 2013. She said she was in the beginning stages of building herself a fashion brand and revealed that she has been looking into designers and interviewing brands she might like to work with.

Personal life

In a 2009 People Magazine interview, Ryan stated that her Suite Life co-star, Brenda Song, is her acting idol. In a March 2009 interview, Ryan revealed she also looks up to Meryl Streep, calling Streep "so profoundly thought-provoking and life-changing". She has said that her other role models include Anne Hathaway, Rachel McAdams, and Tobey Maguire. When asked about musical tastes, she said, "I love jazz! I love singing it. I also love country! My brother loves rock; he also has this chill Jason Mraz-like style. So basically, my answer is: jazz-country-rock-alternative? I have no idea! But I honestly would love to make country music."

Ryan is a Christian. She plays several instruments, including the guitar, piano, and keyboard.

Ryan was in a relationship with Twenty One Pilots drummer Josh Dun from May 2013 to September 2014. In a March 10, 2015 Teen Vogue interview, she revealed that although her relationship with Dun was good, she had later been in an abusive relationship. She described the relationship as professional rather than romantic, but said "it was such emotional manipulation to the point where it became physical." In the interview, she stated that she decided to partner with Mary Kay and Love is Respect for their anti-domestic-violence campaign "Don't Look Away." Ryan is quoted as saying, "The second someone puts their hand on you, a boundary has been crossed."

On April 4, 2016, Ryan was arrested for drunk driving after she slammed into another car in Los Angeles. It was reported she crashed her 2016 Audi into a Mercedes-Benz as she made a left-hand turn during a nighttime drive. She registered a blood alcohol content of 0.11, according to TMZ.

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2007	Barney: Let's Go to the Firehouse	Teenage Girl
2008	The Longshots	Edith Smith
2010	What If...	Kimberly "Kim" Walker
2012	Secret of the Wings	Spike	Voice
2014	Muppets Most Wanted	Savana

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2006	Barney and Friends	Debby	"Rabbits/Ducks and Fish" (season 10, episode 15)
2008	Jonas Brothers: Living the Dream	Herself	"Hello Hollywood" (season 1, episode 7)
2008-11	The Suite Life on Deck	Bailey Pickett	Main role
2009	Wizards of Waverly Place	Bailey Pickett	"Cast Away (To Another Show)" (season 2, episode 25)
2009	Hannah Montana	Bailey Pickett	"Super(stitious) Girl" (season 3, episode 19)
2010	16 Wishes	Abigail "Abby" Jensen	Television film
2011	The Suite Life Movie	Bailey Pickett	Television film
2011	R.L. Stine's The Haunting Hour	Stefani Howard	"Wrong Number" (season 1, episode 16)
2011	PrankStars	Herself	"Something to Chew on" (season 1, episode 1)
2011	Private Practice	Hayley	"The Breaking Point" (season 5, episode 9)
2011-15	Jessie	Jessie Prescott	Lead role
2012	Zeke and Luther	Courtney Mills	"There's No Business Like Bro Business: Part 1" (season 3, episode 25)
2012	The Glades	Christa Johnson	"Fountain of Youth" (season 3, episode 8)
2012	Radio Rebel	Tara Adams	Television film
2012	Austin & Ally	Jessie Prescott	"Austin & Jessie & Ally All Star New Year" (season 2, episode 6)
2013	We Day	Presenter
2013	Good Luck Charlie	Jessie Prescott	"Good Luck Jessie: NYC Christmas" (season 4, episode 17)
2013	Kristin's Christmas Past	Haddie	Television film
2014	Mighty Med	Jade / Remix	"Guitar Superhero" (season 1, episode 19)
2014	Ultimate Spider-Man	Jessie Prescott	Voice; "Halloween Night at the Museum" (season 3, episode 21)
2014	Fashion Police	Herself / Guest mentor	"Debby Ryan and Jamie Chung" (season 9, episode 20)
2015	Girl Meets World	Aubrey	"Girl Meets Demolition" (season 1, episode 21)
2015	Goldie & Bear	Thumbelina	Voice; "Thumbulina's Wild Ride" (season 1, episode 6)
2015-16	The Mysteries of Laura	Lucy Diamond	Recurring role (Season 2)
2016-present	Sing It!	Holli Holiday	Main role

Discography

For the discography with her band, see The Never Ending § Discography.

Singles

Single	Year	Album
"We Ended Right" (featuring Chad Hively & Chase Ryan)	2011	N/A

Promotional singles

Single	Year	Album
"Made of Matches"	2011	N/A
"We Got the Beat"	2012	Radio Rebel

Other appearances

Song	Year	Other(s) artist(s)	Album
"Hakuna Matata"	2010	N/A	Disneymania 7
"Deck the Halls"	2010		The Search for Santa Paws
"Hey, Jessie"	2012		Make Your Mark: Ultimate Playlist
"Favorite Time of Year"	2013		Holidays Unwrapped
"Face 2 Face"		Ross Lynch	Austin & Ally: Turn It Up
"Best Year"	2014	N/A	Disney Channel: Play It Loud

Music videos

Song	Year	Director	Notes
"A Wish Comes True Every Day"	2010	Peter DeLuise
"Open Eyes"
"Deck the Halls"		N/A
"Made of Matches"	2011	Neill Fearnley
"We Got the Beat"	2012	Peter Howitt
"Ever Enough"	2013	Mark Staubach	A Rocket To The Moon's music video

Production and songwriting credits

Production and songwriting
Song	Year	Artist(s)	Album	Notes
"Feel My Heart"	2009	Chase Ryan	Feel My Heart	Co-producer
"Saying Goodbye"
"Still Need You"
"Forecast"
"Dream This Town"
"Open Eyes"	2010	Debby Ryan	16 Wishes	Songwriter
"Made of Matches"			N/A	Songwriter, Producer
"Innocent Love"		Chase Ryan	Innocent Love	Co-producer
"We Ended Right"	2011	Debby Ryan, Chase Ryan and Cad Hively	Radio Rebel	Songwriter, Co-producer
"Mulholland Drive	2014	The Never Ending	One	Co-producer
"Ruthless"
"Before I Go Upstairs"
"Call Me Up"
"When the Dark Falls"
"Best Year"		Debby Ryan	Disney Channel: Play It Loud

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Work	Result	Ref.
2008	Celebrity Love Awards	Favorite Actress	The Suite Life on Deck	Nominated
2009		Favorite Actress		Nominated
	Poptastic Awards	Favorite Television Actress		Nominated
		Female Newcomer		Won
2010	Celebrity Love Awards	Favorite Actress		Nominated
	Hollywood Teen TV Awards	Teen Pick Actress: Comedy		Nominated
	Body Peace Award	Outstanding Advocate		Won
	Jetix Awards	Best Television Star		Nominated
	Poptastic Awards	TV Actress		Won
	Nickelodeon UK Kids' Choice Awards	Best Television Actress		Won
	Italy Kids Choice Awards	Favorite TV Star		Nominated
		Favorite International Star		Nominated
2011	Young Artist Award	Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special Leading or Supporting Young Actress	16 Wishes	Nominated
2012	Popstar Awards	TV Actress	Jessie	Won
		Female Style Idol	Herself	Nominated
	Teen Icon Awards	"Iconic Heart"		Nominated
2014	Kids' Choice Awards	Favorite TV Actress	Jessie	Nominated
	Teen Choice Awards	Choice TV Actress: Comedy		Nominated
2015	Kids' Choice Awards	Favorite TV Actress		Nominated

Charities

Debby Ryan supports the following charitable causes: Human Rights, Disaster Relief, Red Cross, AIDS, Homeless.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]