Ryan Hansen

A handsome, gifted actor, Ryan Hansen became a familiar TV face thanks to his innate charm and considerable talent. Born July 5, 1981 in San Diego, CA, Ryan Hansen broke into show business with guest spots on such series as "Ally McBeal" (Fox, 1997-2002) and "That's So Raven" (Disney Channel, 2003-07). His profile earned a major boost with the recurring role of Dick Casablancas on "Veronica Mars" (UPN, 2004-06; The CW, 2006-07). Playing a hot but seemingly heartless bully, Hansen turned his character into a much more complex figure, whose arrogance and cruelty came from a place of insecurity. Elevated to a series regular, Hansen's Casablancas eventually seeks redemption after surviving a series of horrible tragedies. After the series ended, he appeared in "Superhero Movie" (2008) and "Friday the 13th" (2009) before impressing both fans and critics as a supremely confident and supremely untalented actor-model-musician working alongside fellow aspiring entertainers-caterers on the acclaimed Hollywood-skewering comedy "Party Down" (Starz, 2009-2010). Despite its brief life, the show became a cult favorite, and Hansen rebounded after its demise by landing the starring role on "Friends with Benefits" (NBC, 2011). Rarely without a gig, Hansen then scored a recurring role on "2 Broke Girls" (CBS, 2011- ) as a candy store proprietor. In 2013, Hansen fans rejoiced when the long-awaited "Veronica Mars" feature film was greenlit, thanks to a successful Kickstarter campaign that raised money for the project via fan donations.

By Jonathan Riggs