Meg Ryan
Acting • Born 1961-11-19
Biography
Meg Ryan (born November 19, 1961) is an American actress, producer and director. She began her acting career in 1981 when she made her acting debut in the drama film Rich and Famous. She later joined the cast of the CBS soap opera As the World Turns in 1982. She began to appear in supporting roles in films during the mid-1980s like box office hit Top Gun, achieving recognition in independent films such as Promised Land (1987) before her performance in the Rob Reiner-directed romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally... (1989) brought her widespread attention and her first Golden Globe nomination. She subsequently established herself, both nationally and internationally, as one of the most successful actresses in the 1990s and early 2000s, particularly in romantic comedy films such as When Harry Met Sally (1989), Joe Versus the Volcano (1990), Prelude to a Kiss (1992), Sleepless in Seattle (1993), French Kiss (1995), You've Got Mail (1998), and Kate & Leopold (2001). Her other films include Top Gun (1986), Innerspace (1987), The Doors (1991), Anastasia (1997), When a Man Loves a Woman (1994), Courage Under Fire (1996), Addicted to Love (1997), City of Angels (1998), Proof of Life (2000), Against the Ropes (2004), and The Women (2008). In 2015, she made her directorial debut with Ithaca, in which she also starred. In 1995, critic Richard Corliss called her "the current soul of romantic comedy." Multiple film critics and media outlets have cited Ryan as one of the best actors never to have received an Academy Award nomination. She was married to actor Dennis Quaid (1991-2001), and they have a son, Jack. In 2000, Ryan became romantically involved with actor Russell Crowe while working on their film Proof of Life. In January 2006, Ryan adopted a 14-month-old girl from China whom she named Daisy True. She was in a relationship with American singer-songwriter John Mellencamp (2010-2014). They reunited in 2017, and announced their engagement on November 8, 2018. In October 2019, it was reported that Ryan had ended their engagement.
Filmography
76 credits
Sleepless in Seattle
Movie • 1993
Annie Reed
French Kiss
Movie • 1995
Kate
Addicted to Love
Movie • 1997
Maggie
When Harry Met Sally...
Movie • 1989
Sally Albright
Top Gun
Movie • 1986
Carole
City of Angels
Movie • 1998
Maggie Rice
The Doors
Movie • 1991
Pamela Courson
Joe Versus the Volcano
Movie • 1990
DeDe / Angelica / Patricia Graynamore
Innerspace
Movie • 1987
Lydia Maxwell
Armed and Dangerous
Movie • 1986
Maggie Cavanaugh
Prelude to a Kiss
Movie • 1992
Rita Boyle
Hanging Up
Movie • 2000
Eve Mozell Marks
Courage Under Fire
Movie • 1996
Captain Karen Emma Walden
When a Man Loves a Woman
Movie • 1994
Alice Green
Amy and the Angel
Movie • 1982
Denise
In the Cut
Movie • 2003
Frannie Avery
Kate & Leopold
Movie • 2001
Kate McKay
I.Q.
Movie • 1994
Catherine Boyd
The Presidio
Movie • 1988
Donna Caldwell
Proof of Life
Movie • 2000
Alice Bowman
Hurlyburly
Movie • 1998
Bonnie
Against the Ropes
Movie • 2004
Jackie Kallen
Anastasia
Movie • 1997
Anastasia (voice)
How Harry Met Sally…
Movie • 2001
Self (archive footage)
You've Got Mail
Movie • 1998
Kathleen Kelly
My Mom's New Boyfriend
Movie • 2008
Marty Durand
D.O.A.
Movie • 1988
Sydney Fuller
Amityville 3-D
Movie • 1983
Lisa
In the Land of Women
Movie • 2007
Sarah Hardwicke
Serious Moonlight
Movie • 2009
Louise
Restoration
Movie • 1995
Katharine
The Women
Movie • 2008
Mary Haines
Promised Land
Movie • 1988
Bev Sykes
The Deal
Movie • 2008
Deidre Hearn
Flesh and Bone
Movie • 1993
Kay Davies
There's Something About Romcoms
Movie • 2016
Self
Rich and Famous
Movie • 1981
Debby Blake, 18 Years
Half the Sky: Turning Oppression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwide
Movie • 2012
Self
Parkinson at 50
Movie • 2021
Self (archive footage)
What Happens Later
Movie • 2023
Willa
Ithaca
Movie • 2015
Mrs. Macauley
Fan Girl
Movie • 2015
Mary Farrow
Everything Is Copy
Movie • 2015
Self
The Concert for New York City
Movie • 2001
Self
Searching for Debra Winger
Movie • 2002
Self
Rabbit Ears - Little Red Riding Hood/Goldilocks
Movie • 1990
Narrator (voice)
Good Sex
Movie
Biography: Val Kilmer
Movie • 2004
Self (archive footage)
Celebrity Naked Ambition
Movie • 2003
Self - Sally Albright (archive footage)
Inside the Actors Studio
TV • 1994
Self
The Simpsons
TV • 1989
Dr. Swanson (voice)
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
TV • 2003
Self
Charles in Charge
TV • 1984
Meagan Parker
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
TV • 1988
The View
TV • 1997
Self
The Terry and Gaby Show
TV • 2003
E! True Hollywood Story
TV • 1996
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
TV • 1993
Self - Guest
Wildside
TV • 1985
Cally Oaks
One of the Boys
TV • 1982
Jane
The Oscars
TV • 1953
Self - Presenter
Nature
TV • 1982
Host
Curb Your Enthusiasm
TV • 2000
Meg Ryan
How I Met Your Dad
TV
Future Sally Javits
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
TV • 2003
Self
Late Night with Seth Meyers
TV • 2014
Self - Guest
The Kelly Clarkson Show
TV • 2019
Self
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
TV • 1996
Self - Guest
Captain Planet and the Planeteers
TV • 1990
Dr. Blight (voice)
Web Therapy
TV • 2008
Karen Sharpe
Bambi
TV • 1948
Self
Billy on the Street
TV • 2011
Self
Parkinson
TV • 1998
Self
Web Therapy
TV • 2011
Karen Sharpe
The Entertainment Biz
TV • 1998
Self
Elle Style Awards
TV • 1997
Self - Winner