Meg Ryan Biography- Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra, known professionally as Meg Ryan, was born on November 19, 1961. She is an American actress celebrated for her portrayals of quirky, charismatic women, particularly in romantic comedies. Since the late 1980s, Ryan has been a prominent figure in this genre, earning the title of “America’s Sweetheart” and becoming one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars during the 1990s. Ryan made her acting debut in the drama film Rich and Famous in 1981 and joined the cast of the CBS soap opera As the World Turns in 1982. In the 1980s, she appeared in notable films such as Top Gun and Promised Land (1987), as well as the iconic romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally(1989), which earned her a Golden Globe nomination.
Meg Ryan Biography 2025
Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra, known professionally as Meg Ryan, is an American actress. Known for her leading roles as quirky, charismatic women since the late 1980s, Ryan is particularly recognized for her work in romantic comedies, a genre she dominated during the 1980s and 1990s.
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Born: 19 November 1961 (age 62 years), Fairfield, Connecticut, United States
Meg Ryan was born and raised in Fairfield, Connecticut, to Susan Jordan, a former actress and English teacher, and Harry Hyra, a math teacher of Polish descent. Raised Catholic, she attended St. Pius X Elementary School and has two sisters, Dana (who passed away in 2022) and Annie (who passed away in 2019), as well as a brother, musician Andrew Hyra, a member of the band Billy Pilgrim. Her parents divorced when she was 15.
Ryan graduated from Bethel High School in 1979 and initially studied journalism at the University of Connecticut before transferring to New York University. While in college, she acted in television commercials and on As the World Turns to support herself. Her growing success as an actress led her to leave college just a semester short of graduating. When she joined the Screen Actors Guild, she adopted the surname “Ryan,” which was her maternal grandmother’s maiden name.
Meg Ryan’s net worth is estimated at $85 million. Throughout her over 40-year career, she has established herself as one of America’s favorite leading actresses, particularly in the romantic comedy genre. During her peak, she earned between $10 million and $15 million per film, at times making her one of the highest-paid actresses in the world.
Early Life
Born Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra on November 19, 1961, in Fairfield, Connecticut, Ryan studied journalism at both the University of Connecticut and New York University. While in college, she earned extra income through commercials and minor roles in soap operas. When she joined the Screen Actors Guild, she chose to adopt her mother’s maiden name, “Ryan.”
Ryan gained significant recognition for her role on the soap opera As The World Turns, which she starred in from 1982 to 1984. She also appeared in the short-lived sitcom One of the Boys in 1982. Her breakout role came in 1989 with When Harry Met Sally, which catapulted her to international stardom and led to a string of successful romantic comedies, including Sleepless in Seattle (1993) and French Kiss (1995). In 1994, she branched out from romantic comedies with When a Man Loves a Woman, where she played an alcoholic high school guidance counselor, earning critical acclaim for her performance.
Salary Highlights
Meg Ryan’s earnings skyrocketed throughout her career. In 1994, she received $5 million for her role in I.Q. By 1998, she was paid $8.5 million for City of Angels and $10.5 million for You’ve Got Mail, making her 1998 earnings a combined $19 million—equivalent to about $30 million today after adjusting for inflation. In the 2000s, she earned $15 million for both Proof of Life and Kate & Leopold. Overall, during her peak from 1994 to 2002, Ryan earned over $60 million in film salaries before adjusting for inflation.
Meg Ryan was married to actor Dennis Quaid from 1991 until their divorce in 2001, and they have one son, Jack. While some reports suggested her relationship with actor Russell Crowe contributed to the split, Ryan indicated that their marriage had already been struggling. After taking a break from Hollywood, she adopted a daughter from China in 2006 and became involved with CARE, a charity focused on poverty alleviation for women. Since 2010, she has been in an on-and-off relationship with singer John Mellencamp, with reports of their engagement in November 2018.
Ryan has owned several notable properties over the years. She sold her mansion in Bel-Air in 2009 for $11.1 million, having initially listed it for $14.2 million. In 2006, she purchased a 5-acre property on Chappaquiddick Island for $6.5 million, later selling it for $11 million in December 2019. In 2013, she bought a 4,000 square-foot loft in New York City for $4.625 million, which she sold in 2017 for $9.85 million. In 2017, Ryan acquired a condo in Tribeca for $10 million.
