Ryan Clark (actor)

Ryan Clark
Clark (in white cap) in 2008
Born
Ryan James Clark

(1983-04-09) 9 April 1983 (age 41)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation(s)Actor
Lifeguard
Years active1991–present
SpouseGina Brackenridge
Children3

Ryan James Clark (born 9 April 1983)[1] is an Australian lifeguard and former television and film actor. He became known for his portrayal of Sam Marshall in Home and Away over the course of a decade, before becoming a Waverley Council lifeguard on Bondi Beach and featuring in Bondi Rescue.

Early life

Born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia,[1] Clark was raised in the Sydney beachside suburb of Bronte.[2] He was a member of Bronte Surf Club as a child.[2]

Career

Acting

Clark is best known for his role as Sam Marshall in the soap opera Home and Away. He auditioned for the series and secured the role in 1991, shortly after joining an actors agency at the age of seven.[3][4] Clark was surprised at having being cast, as he had never undertaken acting classes. He was only allowed to film three days a week, so he could continue to attend school. However, he was provided with a tutor on set so he could keep up with his schoolwork.[3]

Clark decided to leave the serial in 2000 in order to pursue a surfing career. He returned to the role in a guest capacity in 2001.[4] In 2005, Clark reprised the role alongside several past cast members to celebrate the serial's 4000th episode.[5][6]

Clark appeared as Pete, an Australian surfer in the 2000 direct-to-video film Our Lips Are Sealed, featuring the Olsen Twins.[2] In 2003, he made a guest appearance in an episode of White Collar Blue,[7] and in 2008, he played a minor role in the Australian film The Black Balloon.[8] In May 2024 after more than a decade away from acting, Clark was named as part of the cast for feature film Kangaroo.[9]

Bondi lifeguard

In 2003, Clark began working as a Waverley Council lifeguard on Bondi Beach,[2] and since 2006, has featured in the factual television programme Bondi Rescue. As a lifeguard, he is better known by his nickname 'Whippet'.[10]

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Type
1991–2001,
2002, 2005		 Home and Away Sam Marshall TV soap opera, 615 episodes
2003 White Collar Blue Michael Spencer TV series, 1 episode
2006–2021 Bondi Rescue Himself Reality documentary series, 113 episodes
2008 Bondi Rescue Bali Self (Ryan 'Whippet' Clark) Reality documentary series, 7 episodes
2020 Freesurfer Series Two Host TV series,
2022 Surftag Championships 2022 Host TV special

Film

Year Title Role Type
2000 Our Lips Are Sealed Pete Film
2008 The Black Balloon Dean Feature film
2013 Beach Bum Lifeguard Short film
TBA Kangaroo TBA Film

Personal life

Clark married wife Gina Brackenridge on 1 September, 2012 and together they have three children.[11][12]

References

  1. ^ a b "Ryan Clark". Home and Away. Seven Network. Archived from the original on 25 May 2000. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d "Interview With Ryan Clark… The Boy From Bronte". The Beast. 27 September 2013.
  3. ^ a b "Ryan Clark". Home and Away. (Seven Network). Archived from the original on 25 May 2000. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
  4. ^ a b Watson, Chad; Barnier, Linda (23 March 2001). "Board-silly soapie star surfed & turfed". The Newcastle Herald. (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  5. ^ "Home and Away celebrates 4000 episodes with a special episode to air on Friday". The Gold Coast Bulletin. News Limited. 30 June 2005. p. 6.
  6. ^ "Sam Marshall". Back to the Bay. Retrieved 7 February 2010.
  7. ^ "White Collar Blue: episode guide". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 9 March 2019. Guest cast: [...] Ryan Clark as Michael Spencer...
  8. ^ "Ryan Clark". imdb.com. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  9. ^ Slatter, Sean (15 May 2024). "Ryan Corr, Lily Whiteley hop to it in the NT as Kate Woods' 'Kangaroo' begins production". IF Magazine. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  10. ^ "Bondi stars love local beaches". Sunshine Coast Daily. 14 November 2009.
  11. ^ Davies, Rebecca (20 September 2011). "'Bondi Rescue's Ryan Clark engaged to Gina Brackenridge". Digital Spy. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  12. ^ Lyall, Amy (13 March 2018). "The one life skill Bondi Rescue's Ryan Clark wants his kids to learn". kidspot.com. Retrieved 9 March 2019.