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

Ryan Gosling Biography

Ryan Gosling is a Canadian actor and musician who started his career on Disney shows and managed to transform himself into a powerhouse dramatic performer sought after throughout Hollywood in just a few short years.

Gosling rarely settles for throwaway projects, always carefully choosing his roles and directors. That's why his impressive filmography doesn't have that many credits (just over 40 in nearly 30 years of acting), but almost every single one is pure gold. Take, for instance, the romantic dramas "The Notebook" and "Blue Valentine," thrillers like "Stay" and "Drive," political dramas "The Ides of March" and "The Big Short," the comedy "The Nice Guys," and of course, the musical "La La Land."

This charming Canadian has racked up over a hundred nominations for prestigious film awards, including Oscar nominations for Best Actor (for his roles in "Half Nelson," "La La Land," and "Barbie"), plus a well-deserved Golden Globe win.

Childhood and Family

The boy destined to become a global cinema star was born on November 12, 1980, in London. But not in the British capital – rather in a small Canadian city located in southwestern Ontario province. His father, Thomas Ray Gosling, worked as a traveling salesman for the local paper mill and was constantly away on business, just like his wife, Donna Gosling, who worked as a secretary. Ryan also has an older sister, Mandi.

Life at home wasn't easy – his parents fought constantly, and when Ryan turned 13, they divorced. The boy and his sister stayed with their mother. The actor later joked that living with two women taught him to "think like a girl."

Ryan Gosling with his mother and sister – his closest people

This situation definitely shaped young Ryan's character. Desperate for attention, he'd throw the first punch in fights, and his wild, hot-tempered nature made it impossible to make friends with classmates or neighborhood kids. But most of his antics backfired – he'd come home covered in cuts and bruises.

One day, the boy watched "First Blood" starring Sylvester Stallone, then brought kitchen knives to school and started throwing them at his classmates. Ryan became not only dangerous to his peers but also performed terribly academically and struggled with dyslexia. Psychologists diagnosed the boy with attention deficit disorder, after which his mother switched him to homeschooling.

From that point on, his life came under strict control. Unfortunately, the already difficult situation was made worse by the fact that all members of Ryan Gosling's family were devout Mormons, so the only approved viewing consisted of biblical films and nature documentaries.

Fortunately, at some point Donna Gosling realized that her son's behavior wasn't just about seeking attention, but stemmed from unrealized creative potential that, combined with the boundless energy within the boy, was looking for an outlet like lava seeking a path to the earth's surface through a volcano's crater. So at 13, Ryan was enrolled in the famous "Mickey Mouse Club," whose alumni also include Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Justin Timberlake. He became especially close friends with the latter.

The show's concept was that during club sessions, the "Mouseketeers," as the young stars were called, caught the attention of producers scouting for fresh talent. And while Ryan didn't conquer the music world after graduating from the club in 1995, he finally gained confidence, found loyal friends, and learned to take responsibility for his actions.

1991: Young Ryan Gosling at a talent competition

Early Roles

Ryan Gosling kicked off his TV career with "The Mickey Mouse Club," plus bit parts in series like "Are You Afraid of the Dark?" and "Goosebumps." Things got more serious with "Breaker High," which ran from 1997 to 1998, and in '98 the rising Disney star landed the lead in the TV series "Young Hercules."

Ryan Gosling in the series Young Hercules

In 2001, Ryan scored a key role in the feature drama "The Believer." He played a Jewish skinhead who, disillusioned with Judaism, abandoned his dream of becoming a rabbi and joined a neo-Nazi organization. Those who knew the kid from "Young Hercules" were, to put it mildly, stunned – this was a completely different Gosling, unafraid to take on a controversial character. For years after the premiere, audiences couldn't shake the image of Ryan as this conflicted character torn by internal struggle.

Young Ryan Gosling in the movie The Believer

From that point on, Ryan's filmography became dominated by complex dramatic pieces, worlds away from those carefree Disney shows. In 2002, Gosling took on key roles in the dramas "The Slaughter Rule," "Murder by Numbers," and "The United States of Leland." A young detective shaken by a brutal murder, a fatherless teenage athlete who breaks bad, a quiet guy who crosses the line – his characters seemed to pull back the curtain on crucial teenage issues just as sharp and relevant as any "adult world" conflicts.

A shot from the drama The United States of Leland

"The Notebook" and First Oscar Nomination

In 2004, Ryan decided to "step away" from his usual genres and starred in the romantic drama "The Notebook." This touching story about love that's stronger than any obstacle – whether it's the test of time or forced separation – became an undeniable success for director Nick Cassavetes, bringing Ryan and his co-star Rachel McAdams worldwide fame.

The Notebook - casting Ryan Gosling & Rachel McAdams

Funny thing is, during filming the actors could barely stand each other. Even being fellow Canadians didn't help. There was zero chemistry between the co-stars: Ryan constantly argued with Rachel about acting methods, and once angrily asked the director to replace her with another actress. But after wrapping, the actors suddenly announced they were a couple. "Many people compare our relationship to our characters' love story, but no – ours is way more romantic!" Ryan told journalists.

Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling played a couple and then started dating

In 2006, the low-budget ($700,000) film "Half Nelson" hit screens, earning Gosling his first Oscar nomination. He played the lead – a drug-addicted history teacher lost in himself and his relationships with his students. Unfortunately, the statue went to Forest Whitaker, who transformed into Ugandan tyrant Idi Amin in "The Last King of Scotland."

The Most Selective Actor

From 2010 to 2013, Ryan kept showing up in his usual thrillers, dramas, and romantic melodramas, always slipping into different personas. In 2011, the actor began collaborating with independent Danish director Nicolas Winding Refn, who cast him as a bold and reckless driver in the noir crime drama Drive.

Throughout the entire film, Gosling barely uttered a few words, showcasing his signature ability to captivate through wordless acting. The actor performed most of his own stunts without stunt doubles – some scenes in the movie genuinely take your breath away, and it's definitely not because of primitive action sequences.

At the same time, Ryan was working on the romantic comedy Crazy, Stupid, Love, where his co-star was the charming Emma Stone, with whom he'd later "play love" several more times. Some time later, in George Clooney's political drama The Ides of March, Gosling played a Republican candidate running for president, challenging his Democratic rival (Clooney). Both of Gosling's roles in these films earned him Golden Globe nominations.

After the crime drama "The Place Beyond the Pines," where the actor's colleagues were Bradley Cooper, Dane DeHaan and Eva Mendes, Gosling reunited with Refn for the experimental dark film "Only God Forgives."

The Ides of March. Ryan Gosling as Stephen Meyers

In 2014, Gosling stepped behind the camera for the first time, directing the fantasy film "Lost River" starring Saoirse Ronan and Christina Hendricks. Mainstream audiences gave it a lukewarm reception, and critics branded Gosling's effort as overly intimate and "derivative to the point of teeth-grinding." Still, he earned two nominations at the Cannes Film Festival: for "Directorial Debut" and "Un Certain Regard."

Lost River – Official Trailer

In 2015, alongside Brad Pitt, Christian Bale and Steve Carell, Gosling starred in the real-events drama "The Big Short." Here, Ryan convincingly played a financial analyst who managed to make millions during the 2008 crisis. The film racked up multiple nominations, with its screenwriters ultimately taking home the golden statuette for "Best Adapted Screenplay."

When choosing projects, Ryan Gosling never rushes, preferring thoughtful work on compelling characters over chasing profits. That's why he only appears in one or two films per year, but each one delights true cinema lovers. In 2015, the actor appeared with Rooney Mara, Michael Fassbender and Natalie Portman in Terrence Malick's philosophical drama "Song to Song," and in 2016 in the crime comedy "The Nice Guys" with Russell Crowe and Damien Chazelle's romantic musical "La La Land" with Emma Stone.

It was this last film that became the box office sensation, the awards season champion, and most importantly, captured the hearts of romantics and dreamers worldwide. It had been ages since a musical managed to stand alongside powerful dramas and big-budget films designed for commercial success.

In January 2017, Ryan Gosling won the Golden Globe for his role as Sebastian in "La La Land," while his co-star Emma Stone swept that year's awards circuit, including the coveted Oscar. In the story, he's a jazz musician and she's an aspiring actress. Both are chasing their creative dreams and ambitions, but that very pursuit threatens their love.

"La La Land" was called the Oscar frontrunner before nominations were even announced. The musical ultimately received 14 nominations in 13 categories, matching "Titanic's" record with DiCaprio. Gosling himself was expectedly nominated for "Best Actor," but lost the statuette to Casey Affleck for his role as Lee Chandler in "Manchester by the Sea."

Fall 2017 brought the long-awaited premiere starring Ryan Gosling – the continuation of Ridley Scott's cult '80s sci-fi film Blade Runner. In Denis Villeneuve's Blade Runner 2049, Ryan's character, a replicant police officer (artificially created human), encounters Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) to uncover the truth about his origins and the secret of Rick's romance with the android Rachel from the first film.

Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford Lose It at Hilarious Interview! | This Morning

The work to recreate the cyberpunk future atmosphere was carefully developed over several years, and all plot twists – even the setup – were kept secret from prying eyes. During filming, Gosling actually took a punch to the face from Harrison Ford – apparently the veteran actor got so into character that he overdid his swing and landed a real hit.

Ana de Armas and Ryan Gosling in Blade Runner 2049

In 2018, Ryan Gosling took on the lead role in Damien Chazelle's biographical film First Man. The movie tells the story of humanity's first moon landing aboard Apollo 11, with Gosling taking that famous "small step for man and giant leap for mankind" as Neil Armstrong.

In 2019, Ryan Gosling barely appeared on big screens in wide release. During this time, he voiced Blue Penguin in Julio Torres' HBO stand-up special.

The actor decided to take a break for several years to focus on raising his daughters. He explained:

Just to be with my family. I didn't want to miss anything. My priorities had changed.

In 2022, Gosling returned to the big screen with the Russo Brothers' thriller "The Gray Man," starring alongside Chris Evans and Ana de Armas. The film served as something of a test for the actor — could he slip back into the blockbuster world after his long absence? Netflix threw a massive budget at the project, hoping to launch a new franchise, but critics gave it a lukewarm reception, calling it "mediocre" and "full of clichés."

But his real triumph came with playing Ken in Greta Gerwig's "Barbie." Initially, Gosling turned down the role due to scheduling conflicts and some concerns about bringing to life what had long been a pop culture punchline. But fate had other plans — one day the actor found a Ken toy in his yard and took it as a sign from the universe.

Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling on the set of Barbie

Surprisingly, preparing for the role became a real challenge for Gosling. "It was the hardest role I've ever had to play," the actor admitted. He dove deep into studying a character who had virtually no backstory, drawing on fragments from his own childhood.

Ryan Gosling Performs "I'm Just Ken" | Barbie

The film became a phenomenon. The movie became the highest-grossing release in Gosling's filmography and earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. The song "I'm Just Ken," which Gosling performed in the film, went viral, and his dance number at the 2024 Oscars became part of the ceremony's history.

Ryan Gosling, Mark Ronson, Slash & The Kens - I'm Just Ken (Live From The Oscars 2024)

What made his reaction to the nominations especially touching was how the actor responded when Margot Robbie, who played Barbie, and the film's director Greta Gerwig didn't receive Oscar nominations in major categories. Gosling issued a statement: "There is no Ken without Barbie, and there is no 'Barbie' movie without Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie."

His next project was "The Fall Guy" from director David Leitch — a film based on the 1980s TV series. Gosling played seasoned stuntman Colt Seavers, who's working on his ex-girlfriend's (Emily Blunt) directorial debut.

Ryan Gosling with a bruised face makes an obscene gesture while a gun is pointed at his face — Ryan Gosling in The Fall Guy

For Gosling, this became possibly his most physically demanding work. The actor performed many stunts himself, including a 150-foot (45-meter) fall — and this despite being afraid of heights! The film turned out to be a sincere tribute to the work of Hollywood stuntpeople.

While box office numbers disappointed ($181 million against a $125-150 million budget), critics praised the chemistry between Gosling and Blunt, as well as the project's self-aware nature.

Music

Ever since his "Mickey Mouse Club" days, Ryan hasn't stopped being passionate about music. In 2008, while he was still dating Rachel McAdams, her sister Kayleen was seeing Zach Shields, a composer and actor. One day the guys got to talking and discovered they both loved horror movies and all things spooky. Plus, they were both fired up about starting a band. That's how "Dead Man's Bones" came to life. Later that same year, the duo dropped their first track online – "In The Room Where You Sleep."

Dead Man's Bones (Ryan Gosling's band) – Lose Your Soul

A year later, the band unveiled their debut album "Dead Man's Bones," featuring 12 tracks. The recording sessions – which clearly drew inspiration from dark acts like Modest Mouse and Current 93 – included a children's choir and Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea.

In 2009, the guys shot an atmospheric music video for "Name In Stone," and the following year released clips for "Pa Pa Power" and "Dead Hearts." Ryan performed under the alias Baby Goose (a playful nod to his surname Gosling), proving himself not just a stellar vocalist but also a talented guitarist and keyboardist. Unfortunately, due to Ryan's packed filming schedule, the band has put their activities on hold for now – but fans keep hoping for their comeback.

Ryan Gosling's Personal Life

Elegant and charming Ryan Gosling has never suffered from a lack of female attention. Once he became a Hollywood star, he only dated famous actresses whom work or fate brought into his path.

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

In 2004, on the set of "The Notebook," he met what seemed like the real love of his life – the sweet and refined Rachel McAdams. The passionate love their characters shared on screen continued in real life. Their relationship lasted three years, with breakups and reconciliations in 2007, but they eventually parted ways for good while maintaining warm, friendly relations.

After that, the actor had brief romances with Bond girl Famke Janssen and Jaime Murray. Since fall 2011, Ryan has been in a relationship with well-known Cuban-American actress Eva Mendes.

Their union was truly sealed by little Esme (short for Esmeralda). The girl was born on September 12, 2014, bringing joy to her celebrity parents. To celebrate this event, Ryan even got a tattoo on his right hand fingers with his daughter's name.

Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes in the movie The Place Beyond the Pines

In April 2016, Gosling and Mendes became parents for the second time. Eva gave birth to another daughter, whom they named Amanda Lee Gosling. For a long time, the couple deliberately chose not to tie the knot, considering it a meaningless ceremony.

In 2019, the lovebirds got a dog and named him George.

When Mendes was asked in 2022 whether she and Gosling were married, she replied: "I like to keep everything private." However, subtle hints suggest the couple did make it official. In a 2022 interview in Australia, Mendes first referred to Gosling as her husband, and a "de Gosling" tattoo appeared on her wrist.

The couple is fiercely protective of their daughters from the press. Mendes explained her stance:

I have always had clear boundaries when it comes to my man and my children... Since my children are still very young and don't understand what it really means to post their images, I don't have their consent.

A rare exception was the family's visit to the Olympics in Paris in 2024. Mendes was grateful to NBC for not showing their children on camera, and most websites that published photos from the event blurred their faces.

In January 2024, while accepting the Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film, Gosling said:

Most importantly, I met the girl of my dreams, Eva Mendes, and we had two dream daughters.

Ryan Gosling Now

In 2025, news broke that Ryan Gosling would star in "Project Hail Mary." This adaptation of Andy Weir's bestseller casts Gosling as Ryland Grace, an astronaut who wakes up on a spaceship with amnesia. He can't remember his past or his mission's purpose. Gradually, he realizes he's the sole survivor of a crew that must save Earth. The premiere was scheduled for March 20, 2026.

Then in 2027, Gosling fans and "Star Wars" enthusiasts were anticipating the blockbuster "Star Wars: Starfighter." Production on the project began in August 2025.

Ryan Gosling and Flynn Gray on the set of "Star Wars: Starfighter"

Gosling plays the uncle of a 15-year-old boy (Flynn Gray) and protects his nephew from villains. The main antagonist role went to Matt Smith.

Ryan Gosling: latest news and articles

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

Ryan Gosling

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