Ryan O'Donnell (born 20 November 1982 in

Halifax, West Yorkshire Halifax () is a minster and market town in the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale in West Yorkshire, England. It is the commercial, cultural and administrative centre of the borough, and the headquarters of Calderdale Council. In the 15th cen ...

, England) grew up in Germany. After earning a degree in animation at the Surrey Art Institute he joined the metal band 2 Degree Field as a singer and guitarist. The band broke up when all the members finished college. He then went to study acting at the

Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama , image_name = Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama.jpg , image_size = , motto = , established = 1949 , type = Public , staff = , vice_chancellor = , students = 779 (2017/18) , undergrad ...

, where he met his mentor, the conductor

John O'Hara John Henry O'Hara (January 31, 1905 – April 11, 1970) was one of America's most prolific writers of short stories, credited with helping to invent ''The New Yorker'' magazine short story style.John O'Hara: Stories, Charles McGrath, ed., The L ...

. After University, O'Donnell began an acting career, working briefly in the theater and in the circus, until he broke his leg in 2006, preventing him from working for nine months. After a full recovery, he entered the

Royal Shakespeare Company The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs over 1,000 staff and produces around 20 productions a year. The RSC plays regularly in London, St ...

, joining the production of ''

Romeo and Juliet ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about the romance between two Italian youths from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetim ...

'', and later landed the role of Jimmy in the theatrical production of ''

Quadrophenia ''Quadrophenia'' is the sixth studio album by the English rock band the Who, released as a double album on 26 October 1973 by Track Records. It is the group's third rock opera, the two previous being the "mini-opera" song " A Quick One, While ...

''. On that occasion, he returned to meet John O'Hara, who had organised the musical arrangement of ''Quadrophenia''. Then he collaborated with

Cat Stevens Yusuf Islam (born Steven Demetre Georgiou; ), commonly known by his stage names Cat Stevens, Yusuf, and Yusuf / Cat Stevens, is a British singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. His musical style consists of folk, pop, rock, and, later in ...

in a duet with the British singer in the song "Matthew and Son". In 2012, he participated in the making of

Ian Anderson Ian Scott Anderson (born 10 August 1947) is a British musician, singer and songwriter best known for his work as the lead vocalist, flautist, acoustic guitarist and leader of the British rock band Jethro Tull. He is a multi-instrumentalist w ...

's album ''

Thick as a Brick 2 ''Thick as a Brick 2'', abbreviated ''TAAB 2'' (pronounced by Anderson) and subtitled ''Whatever Happened to Gerald Bostock?'', is the fifth studio album by Jethro Tull frontman Ian Anderson, released in 2012 as a follow-up of ''Thick as a Br ...

'', sequel to the historical Jethro Tull's album ''

Thick as a Brick ''Thick as a Brick'' is the fifth studio album by the British rock band Jethro Tull, released on 3 March 1972. The album contains a continuous piece of music, split over two sides of an LP record, and is intended as a parody of the concept alb ...

'' (1972). In 2014, O'Donnell was present again in the sixth solo album by Anderson, ''

Homo Erraticus ''Homo Erraticus'' is the sixth studio album by British progressive rock musician Ian Anderson, who is also the frontman of Jethro Tull. Released on 14 April 2014, ''Homo Erraticus'' is a concept album, loosely connected to Jethro Tull's ''Th ...

''. And on that same year, he was featured on Ian Anderson's ''

Thick as a Brick - Live in Iceland Thick may refer to: * A bulky or heavyset body shape or overweight * ''Thick'' (album), 1999 fusion jazz album by Tribal Tech * Thick concept, in philosophy, a concept that is both descriptive and evaluative * Thick description, in anthropology, ...

'' album. In 2015, O'Donnell joined the West End cast of ''

Sunny Afternoon "Sunny Afternoon" is a song by the Kinks, written by chief songwriter Ray Davies. The track later featured on the '' Face to Face'' album as well as being the title track for their 1967 compilation album. Like its contemporary "Taxman" by the B ...

'', as an understudy for both the role of

Ray Davies Sir Raymond Douglas Davies ( ; born 21 June 1944) is an English musician. He was the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and main songwriter for the rock band the Kinks, which he led with his younger brother Dave on lead guitar and backing voca ...

and

Dave Davies David Russell Gordon Davies (born 3 February 1947) is an English guitarist, singer and songwriter. He was the lead guitarist and backing vocalist for the English rock band the Kinks, which also featured his elder brother Ray Davies. He was ind ...

. After the cast change he also became alternate for the role of Ray Davies, only to take on the role full-time in the Sunny Afternoon UK Tour in 2016.

Discography

* ''

'' (2012) * ''

'' (2014) * ''

'' (2014)

References

External links

Biography on Jethro Tull Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:ODonnell, Ryan 1982 births Living people 21st-century British singers 21st-century British male singers