Deborah Ann Ryan, born May 13, 1993, is an American actress and singer. She started acting in professional theaters at the age of seven. In 2007, she appeared in the Barney & Friends straight-to-DVD movie Barney: Let’s go to the Firehouse and then was discovered in a nationwide search by Disney. Take a look below for 28 more awesome and interesting facts about Debby Ryan.
1. She is known for appearing in the 2008 feature film The Longshots as Edith.
2. From 2008 to 2011, she starred as Bailey Pickett in The Suite Life on Deck.
3. In 2010, she starred in the movie 16 Wishes, which was the most watched cable program on the day of its premiere on the Disney Channel. 16 Wishes introduced Ryan to new audiences as the movie received high viewership in the adults demographic.
4. Soon after her role in 16 Wishes, Ryan starred in the independent theatrical movie, What If.., which premiered on August 20, 2010.
5. From 2011 to 2015, Ryan starred as the titular nanny on the Disney Channel original series Jessie. She also directed an episode of the series that aired on May 15, 2015.
6. She starred in the 2012 Disney Channel Original Movie Radio Rebel, in which she portrayed Tara Adams, a shy high school student who adopts the radio persona of Radio Rebel.
7. In 2013, she formed the band The Never Ending.
8. Beginning in July 2015, Ryan performed with The Never Ending as an opening act on the North American leg of Fifth Harmony’s Reflection Tour.
9. Ryan was born in Huntsville, Alabama.
10. Her father was in the military, so she moved to numerous places in Europe.
11. She lived in Germany until she was 10 years old and can speak both English and German.
12. She started performing in professional theaters at the age of seven on an American base in Germany.
13. Ryan returned to the United States in 2003 and was raised in Texas.
14. In a 2009 People Magazine interview, she described herself as a “nerd” in school.
15. Ryan was bullied in middle school for being a mascot and a member of the school’s chess club.
16. She received a toy poodle named Presley, after Elvis Presley. Boo and Fivel Stewart gave him to her for her 17th birthday. The fans helped Debby pick the name. With her travel and work schedule, Debby’s father watched Presley and the two became inseparable. When Debby moved to her own place, she couldn’t bear to separate the two, so she left Presley with her dad.
17. She is very close to her older brother, Chase Ryan, who’s a singer, songwriter and producer.
18. Before she got the role of Bailey on The Suite Life on Deck, she was a huge fan of The Suite Life of Zack and Cody.
19. Debby wrote a song and Chase did the music and producing for her movie, 16 Wishes. The song is called “Open Eyes.”
20. She attended a private school where her mother wrote and directed several productions a year. She’s also a Christian and performed in church musical programs throughout her childhood.
21. Ryan has been on the cover of several teen magazines such as Tiger Beat, Teen Magazine, J-14 Magazine and Popstar Magazine.
22. Before being cast as one of the leads in The Suite Life on Deck, she was involved in theater productions and video shorts in Germany and the United States.
23. Popstar Magazine sponsored a huge sweet sixteen bash for her, at which many teen stars attended.
24. Ryan played an active role in producing the music video, “We’ve Got the Beat,” for DCOM “Radio Rebel.” The video was produced under the name of her production company “Shadowborn Productions” in conjunction with Mar Vista and Razor and Tie.
25. At 20 years old, Ryan is the youngest director to independently direct for a Disney Channel series.
26. Ryan was in a relationship with Twenty One Pilots drummer Josh Dun from May 2013 to September 2014.
27. In April 2016, Ryan was arrested for driving under the influence. Initially, she was charged with felony DUI, but it was later reduced to two misdemeanors. She was released after posting $100,000 bail.
28. She plays several instruments, including the guitar, piano and keyboard.
