Bio
Ryan Lane is an American actor best known for his roles as Cincinnati Reds center-fielder William Ellsworth Hoy in the Documentary Channel biography Dummy Hoy: A Deaf Hero, as well as for his recurring role as Travis on the ABC Family drama series Switched at Birth.
Ryan was born in Fullerton, California and is a third generation Native Californian. He was the last of three children (he has two older sisters) born to Jill and Bill Lane, who divorced when Ryan was around 8-years-old.
Ryan was diagnosed with congenital nerve deafness at two weeks old. He grew up and went to school in the Los Angeles County School District until he graduated CSDR (California School for the Deaf, Riverside) in 2007.
In September of 2006, Ryan was involved in a dirt bike accident at Pismo Beach, where he suffered a fractured spine and left femur. He underwent surgery on both areas, requiring rod and screw fixation. He spent four months in a body brace, walking with a walker and using a wheelchair to get around when he got back to school.
Shortly after his recovery, Ryan was approached by a director/producer, David Risotto, who was interested in having Ryan play the lead in a documentary about a deaf baseball player from the 1800s, William Ellsworth Hoy, otherwise known as Dummy Hoy.
David had found Ryan through a football picture on the wall at CSDR, because he closely resembled Dummy Hoy. Ryan really had no acting experience, but when asked if he was interested in playing the part, he agreed.
He received the script on a Sunday night before the shoot the next morning at 08h00. During the shoot, deaf actress Deanne Bray, who played Hoy's wife in the documentary, took Ryan under her wing and coached him with his lines.
This documentary led to other guest starring roles on the popular TV shows Cold Case, House and Miami Medical and a recurring role playing Travis on ABC Family's Switched at Birth. He also appeared in the first Facetime commercial for Apple's Iphone.
Ryan is a huge animal lover and spends his time off with his rescued deaf boxer. He supports groups such as Dogs for the Deaf, OC Boxer Rescue and campaigns for organisations like Save Japan's Dolphins, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and PETA, to name a few.