Shawn Ryan
Encyclopedia
Shawn Ryan is a writer
, and the creator of the FX Networks
series The Shield
and the Fox TV series The Chicago Code.
and is married to actress Cathy Cahlin Ryan
, who starred on The Shield. They have two children.
and served as a writer/producer on Angel
before creating and acting as Head Writer
on The Shield. He was partnered with David Mamet
to serve as showrunner for The Unit
.
Ryan was set to executive produce Confessions of a Contractor, a 2009 CBS
television pilot
based on Richard Murphy
's book of the same name. The story centres on a successful L.A. contractor who becomes involved with two of his female clients. The production was put on hold when casting contingencies could not be met. He was the show runner
for season 2 of Fox's Lie to Me
. He was the show runner
for FX's Terriers
until its cancellation. He created the crime drama The Chicago Code.
), and a Humanitas Prize
in 1998.
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, and the creator of the FX Networks
FX Networks
FX is the name of a number of related pay television channels owned by News Corporation's Fox Entertainment Group...
series The Shield
The Shield
The Shield is an American television drama series starring Michael Chiklis which premiered on March 12, 2002 on FX in the United States and concluded on November 25, 2008 after seven seasons...
and the Fox TV series The Chicago Code.
Education/Personal life
He graduated from Middlebury CollegeMiddlebury College
Middlebury College is a private liberal arts college located in Middlebury, Vermont, USA. Founded in 1800, it is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges in the United States. Drawing 2,400 undergraduates from all 50 United States and over 70 countries, Middlebury offers 44 majors in the arts,...
and is married to actress Cathy Cahlin Ryan
Cathy Cahlin Ryan
Cathy Cahlin Ryan is an American actress best known for playing the character of Corrine Mackey on the police drama The Shield.A native of Miami, Florida, Ryan has appeared in several television productions such as Numb3rs, Judging Amy, Family Matters, Monk, The Unit, Severence Pay, Roseanne:...
, who starred on The Shield. They have two children.
Career
Ryan got his start in television as a staff writer on the show Nash BridgesNash Bridges
Nash Bridges is an American television police drama created by Carlton Cuse. The show starred Don Johnson and Cheech Marin as two Inspectors with the San Francisco Police Department's Special Investigations Unit. The show ran for six seasons on CBS from March 29, 1996 to May 4, 2001 with a total of...
and served as a writer/producer on Angel
Angel (TV series)
Angel is an American television series, a spin-off of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The series was created by Buffys creator, Joss Whedon, in collaboration with David Greenwalt, and first aired on October 5, 1999...
before creating and acting as Head Writer
Head writer
A head writer is a person who oversees the team of writers on a television or radio series. The title is common in the soap opera genre, as well as with sketch comedies and talk shows that feature monologues and comedy skits, but in prime time series this function is generally performed by an...
on The Shield. He was partnered with David Mamet
David Mamet
David Alan Mamet is an American playwright, essayist, screenwriter and film director.Best known as a playwright, Mamet won a Pulitzer Prize and received a Tony nomination for Glengarry Glen Ross . He also received a Tony nomination for Speed-the-Plow . As a screenwriter, he received Oscar...
to serve as showrunner for The Unit
The Unit
The Unit is an American action-drama television series that focuses on a top-secret military unit modeled after the real-life U.S. Army special operations unit commonly known as Delta Force...
.
Ryan was set to executive produce Confessions of a Contractor, a 2009 CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
television pilot
Television pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
based on Richard Murphy
Richard Murphy
Richard Murphy is the name of:* Dick Murphy , American retired Republican politician* Richard Murphy , Scottish architect* Richard Murphy , Irish poet...
's book of the same name. The story centres on a successful L.A. contractor who becomes involved with two of his female clients. The production was put on hold when casting contingencies could not be met. He was the show runner
Show runner
Showrunner is a term of art originating in the United States and Canadian television industry referring to the person who is responsible for the day-to-day operation of a television seriesalthough such persons generally are credited as an executive producer...
for season 2 of Fox's Lie to Me
Lie to Me
Lie to Me is a 2009-2011 American television series.Lie to Me may also refer to:* Lie to Me , a South Korean drama series* "Lie to Me" , an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer...
. He was the show runner
Show runner
Showrunner is a term of art originating in the United States and Canadian television industry referring to the person who is responsible for the day-to-day operation of a television seriesalthough such persons generally are credited as an executive producer...
for FX's Terriers
Terriers (TV series)
Terriers is an American crime comedy-drama television series created by Ted Griffin for FX. It premiered on September 8, 2010. The show was canceled by FX on December 6, 2010 after the first season.-Premise:...
until its cancellation. He created the crime drama The Chicago Code.
Awards/Nominations
He was nominated for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series in 2002 (Emmy AwardEmmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
), and a Humanitas Prize
Humanitas Prize
The Humanitas Prize is an award for film and television writing intended to promote human dignity, meaning, and freedom. It began in 1974 with Father Ellwood "Bud" Kieser — also the founder of Paulist Productions — but is generally not seen as specifically directed toward religious...
in 1998.