Ryan Gosling biography, wife, kids, net worth, height, age 2025

Biography of Ryan Gosling

Ryan Gosling is a Canadian actor and musician. His career started in Disney series, and he later became a powerhouse dramatic actor in high demand throughout Hollywood.

Gosling rarely takes second-rate projects, choosing the roles and directors very carefully. That's why his filmography isn't extensive (just over 40 films in nearly 30 years), but every role is pure gold. For example, these are melodramas "The Notebook" and "Blue Valentine", thrillers "Stay" and "Drive", political dramas "The Ides of March" and "The Big Short", comedy "The Nice Guys" and of course musical "La-La Land". This charming Canadian has earned dozens of prestigious nominations, including Oscar nods for Best Actor (for "Half Nelson" and "La La Land"), plus a Golden Globe win. His net worth is about $70 million.

Childhood

The future global movie star was born on November 12, 1980 in London. Not in the capital of England, but in a small Canadian town, situated in the southwest of Ontario. His father, Thomas Ray Gosling, was a traveling salesman for a paper mill. Both Thomas and Ryan's mother Donna, who worked as a secretary, were hardworking. Ryan also has an older sister Mandy.

Family life wasn't easy: his parents fought constantly. When Ryan was 13, they divorced and the boy and his sister stayed with their mother. The actor would later joke that living with two women taught him "to think like a girl."

Ryan Gosling with his closest and beloved relatives, a mother and sister

Of course, this situation strongly affected young Ryan. Desperate for attention, he wouldn't hesitate to throw the first punch. His volatile, explosive personality made it nearly impossible to make friends. Both classmates and neighborhood kids avoided him. More often than not, Ryan's antics backfired: he'd come home covered in scratches and bruises.

Once the boy watched the film "First Blood" with Sylvester Stallone, after that he brought kitchen knives to school and started throwing them at classmates. Ryan had become a danger to his classmates. On top of that, he was a poor student and struggled with dyslexia. After psychologists diagnosed him with ADHD, Ryan was pulled out of school for homeschooling.

From that point on, his life was strictly controlled. The situation was complicated by the fact that Ryan's family were devout Mormons, so he was only allowed to watch biblical programs and nature documentaries.

Fortunately, Donna eventually realized her son's behavior wasn't just attention-seeking, but untapped creative potential – all that boundless energy needed an outlet, like lava finding its way to the surface. So at 13, Ryan joined the famous "Mickey Mouse Club" – the same show that launched Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Justin Timberlake. By the way, Ryan became especially friendly with Justin.

Ryan Gosling and Justin Timberlake in youth

The show's main purpose was for the "Mouseketeers" (as the young performers were called) to catch the eye of producers scouting for fresh talent. After leaving the Club in 1995, Ryan's music career didn't take off, but he'd finally gained confidence, made lasting friendships, and learned to take responsibility for his actions.

Year 2001: a young Ryan Gosling at the competition

Early acting career

Ryan Gosling's TV career kicked off with "The Mickey Mouse Club," plus guest spots on "Are You Afraid of the Dark?" and "Goosebumps." His role in "Breaker High," which aired from 1997 to 1998, was more substantial. In 1998, Ryan landed the lead role in the "Young Hercules" TV series.

Ryan Gosling in the series «Young Hercules»

Ryan scored a leading role in the 2001 drama "The Believer." He played a Jewish skinhead who'd grown disillusioned with his faith, rejected becoming a rabbi, and joined a neo-Nazi organization. Fans who knew him from "Young Hercules" were shocked – this was a completely different Gosling, unafraid to tackle a controversial role. Years after the premiere, audiences still associated Ryan with this complex character, torn apart by internal conflict.

Young Ryan Gosling in the drama «The Believer»

From that point on, Ryan's filmography filled with complex dramatic roles, a complete departure from his easy-going Disney days. In 2002, Gosling starred in such dramatic movies as "Murder by Numbers", "The Slaughter Rule", "The United States of Leland". A young detective traumatized by a brutal murder, a teen athlete who'd lost his father, a shy guy who broke the law – all these characters explored crucial teenage issues just as significant as "adult world" conflicts.

«The Notebook» and the first Oscar nomination

In 2004, Ryan decided to switch gears and starred in the romantic drama "The Notebook." This touching film explores love that's stronger than any circumstances, whether it's the test of time or a forced breakup. The film was a huge success for director Nick Cassavetes and catapulted Ryan and his co-star Rachel McAdams to worldwide fame.

«The Notebook», a scene

Ironically, during filming, the actors could barely stand each other. Even the fact that they were fellow Canadians didn't help. There was zero chemistry between them. Ryan constantly clashed with Rachel over acting methods and once lost his temper, even asking the director to replace her with another actress. Surprisingly, soon after filming wrapped, the actors suddenly became a real-life couple. Ryan told journalists: "Many people compare our relationship to The Notebook love story, but no – our story is much more romantic!"

Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling were a couple on screen and then in real life

In 2006, the low-budget ($700,000) film "Half Nelson" was released. It brought Gosling the first nomination for an Oscar. He played the lead – a drug-addicted history teacher who gets entangled in complicated relationships with his students. Unfortunately for Ryan and his fans, Forest Whitaker took home the golden statuette that year for his role as Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in "The Last King of Scotland."

Young Ryan Gosling dancing

The most selective actor in Hollywood

From 2010 to 2013, Ryan continued appearing in his typical thrillers, dramas, and romantic melodramas, while always exploring different types of roles. In 2011, the actor began to work with an independent Danish director, Nicholas Winding Refn, who cast him as a fearless and dangerous racer in the crime drama "Drive". Throughout the entire film, Gosling barely uttered a few lines, showcasing his masterful ability to convey emotion without dialogue. He performed most of the tricks without the help of stuntmen. Some scenes are truly breathtaking, and not just because of the typical action sequences.

At the same time, Ryan starred in the romantic comedy "Crazy, Stupid, Love". His partner was charming Emma Stone, with whom he would later share romantic chemistry on screen multiple times. Next, Gosling played a Republican involved in the presidential campaign, challenging his Democratic rival in George Clooney's political drama "The Ides of March". As a result, for both roles in these two movies, Gosling was nominated for the "Golden Globe".

In the crime drama "The Place Beyond the Pines," Gosling worked alongside actors like Bradley Cooper, Dane DeHaan, and Eva Mendes. After that movie, Gosling reunited with Refn for the experimental noir film "Only God Forgives," which received mixed reactions from both audiences and critics.

«The Ides of March». Ryan Gosling as Stephen Meyers

In 2014, Gosling made his directorial debut with the fantasy film "Lost River," starring Saoirse Ronan and Christina Hendricks. Audiences weren't impressed. Critics found Gosling's direction overly indulgent and repetitive. Still, the film earned two Cannes nominations for "Director's Debut" and "Special Choice."

A trailer of «Lost River» by Rayn Gosling

In 2015, he starred with Brad Pitt, Christian Bale and Steve Carell in a drama based on real events "The Big Short". His portrayal of a financial analyst who made millions during the 2008 economic crisis was spot-on. The film received a lot of nominations, the screenwriters won an Oscar for "Best Adapted Screenplay".

When choosing projects, Ryan Gosling never rushes. He prefers thoughtful work on interesting roles over chasing profit. So there are only one or two Gosling premieres per year, but they're usually treasures for true film lovers. So, in 2015, the actor starred with Rooney Mara, Michael Fassbender, and Natalie Portman in Terrence Malick's philosophical drama "Song to Song". In 2016, the actor was involved in filming the criminal comedy "The Nice Guys" starring Russell Crowe and the romantic musical "La La Land" by Damien Chazelle starring Emma Stone.

"La La Land" became a major box-office hit, swept various awards, and most importantly, won the hearts of romantics worldwide. It had been ages since a musical stood alongside serious dramas and big-budget blockbusters designed for commercial success.

In January 2017, Ryan Gosling received the "Golden Globe" for playing Sebastian in "La-La Land". His co-star Emma Stone swept the awards that year, including the coveted Oscar. According to the script, he is a jazz musician, she is an aspiring actress. Both are chasing their dreams and ambitions, but that puts their love at risk.

"La La Land" was considered the Oscar frontrunner even before nominees were announced. The musical ultimately earned 14 nominations across 13 categories, tying "Titanic's" record. Gosling was nominated for "Best Actor" but lost to Casey Affleck, who won for his role as Lee Chandler in "Manchester by the Sea."

In fall 2017, the long-awaited Ryan Gosling film finally hit theaters. It was the sequel to Ridley Scott's cult '80s sci-fi masterpiece "Blade Runner." In Denis Villeneuve's "Blade Runner 2049", Ryan's character is a replicant-policeman (bioengineered human) who meets Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) to find out the truth about his origins and the mystery of Rick's relationship with android Rachel from the first part of the movie.

The interview with Gosling and Ford

The cyberpunk atmosphere was carefully crafted over several years, with all plot twists kept strictly under wraps. Gosling actually got punched in the face by Harrison Ford on set – the veteran actor was so committed to the scene that he accidentally landed a real hit on Ryan.

Ana de Armas and Ryan Gosling in the «Blade Runner 2049»

In 2018, Ryan took on Damien Chazelle's biopic "First Man," chronicling the Apollo 11 mission and humanity's first moon landing. Gosling would embody the man who took "one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind" – Neil Armstrong himself.

In April 2020, media reports suggested Ryan might be Disney's next Hercules in a live-action remake of the beloved animated classic. According to the rumors, he is one of the main candidates.

Musical career

Ryan never stopped playing music since the "Mickey Mouse Club". Back in 2008, while Ryan was still dating Rachel McAdams, her sister Kaylin was seeing composer-actor Zach Shields. The two guys discovered they shared a passion for horror stories and all things spooky. Moreover, both were keen on the idea of creating a musical band. That's how "Dead Man's Bones" was born. By year's end, they'd uploaded their debut track "In the Room Where You Sleep" online.

Dead Man's Bones – Lose Your Soul

A year later, the band dropped their debut album "Dead Man's Bones," featuring 12 tracks. A children's choir and Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea contributed to the recordings, which clearly drew inspiration from melancholic acts like Modest Mouse and Current 93.

In 2009, the duo created a striking music video for "Name in Stone," followed a year later by clips for "Pa Pa Power" and "Dead Hearts." Ryan appeared under a pseudonym Baby Goose and proved that he is not only an excellent vocalist but a talented guitarist and piano player. Unfortunately, Ryan's demanding film schedule eventually put the band on indefinite hiatus, though fans still hold out hope for a reunion.

Private life

The charming Ryan Gosling has never lacked for female attention. As a Hollywood star, he's only dated famous actresses he's worked with or met through the industry.

In 2002, while filming "Murder by Numbers," the actor had a brief romance with Sandra Bullock.

In 2004, while filming "The Notebook," he met what seemed like the love of his life – the beautiful Rachel McAdams. Their characters' passionate on-screen romance spilled over into real life. Their relationship lasted for three years. Throughout 2007, the couple went through several breakups and reconciliations. Eventually they split for good, but remained friends.

After that, the actor had brief flings with Bond girl Famke Janssen and Jamie Murray. Since autumn 2011, Ryan is in a relationship with the famous Latin-American actress Eva Mendes.

Their relationship was solidified by the arrival of little Esmie (Esmeralda). Their daughter was born on September 12, 2014, bringing joy to the celebrity couple. To commemorate this, Ryan got a tattoo of his daughter's name on his right-hand fingers.

Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes in The Place Beyond the Pines

Gosling and Mendes became parents for the second time in April 2016. Eva gave birth to a daughter, Amanda Lee Gosling.

The couple famously avoided marriage for years, considering it unnecessary, but tied the knot shortly after Amanda was born.

Ryan Gosling Now

In 2020, it was announced that Ryan Gosling would star in the action movie "The Gray Man" from the directors of "The Avengers." His partner on the set will be Chris Evans, and the premiere is scheduled for 2022. The film was currently in production. The film "Wolfman" was also in development.

In July 2023, the movie "Barbie" premiered, with Ryan playing Ken opposite Margot Robbie's Barbie. Ryan's behind-the-scenes photos went viral as memes. Fans were delighted by the actor's shirtless denim vest look and bleached blonde hair.

Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling on Barbie set

Ryan Gosling: latest news and articles

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Patrick Luis Watson

That is not bad that Ryan Gosling well versed in music. When all the roles will finish, he can work with music.

2021-04-21 11:11:59
Virginia Collins

Very charismatic and charming Ryan Gosling is a favorite of many women for a good reason.

2021-04-20 15:47:35
Devin David Diaz

I watched La La Land and by accident I found out that Ryan Gosling can sing well.

2021-04-01 18:43:22
Gloria Harmon

Powerful actor Ryan Gosling always choosing interesting and deep roles.

2021-03-05 18:36:47
Thomas Richard Diaz

In my opinion The Notebook is the best movie of Ryan Gosling, incredible cool!

2021-03-01 09:44:41

Photos: Ryan Gosling