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Ryan Drummond

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Ryan Drummond
Born
Ryan Shawn Drummond

(1973-01-10) January 10, 1973 (age 52)[1]
EducationEastern Michigan University (BA)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • voice actor
  • comedian
  • singer
  • clown
  • mime artist
Years active1980–present
Spouse
Lisa Drummond
(m. 2002; div. 2019)
Children2
Musical career
Genres
  • Pop
  • musical theatre
  • jazz
  • opera
InstrumentsVocals
Member ofThe A.Y.U. Quartet
Comedy career
Medium
  • Film
  • television
  • theatre
Genres
Websitewww.ryandrummond.com (archive)

Ryan Shawn Drummond (born January 10, 1973)[1][2][3] is an American actor, voice actor, comedian, singer, clown and mime artist, who is best known for his role as the original English voice of Sonic the Hedgehog in the Sonic the Hedgehog video game franchise from 1998 to 2004.[2][3][4]

Early life

[edit]

Ryan Shawn Drummond was born in Lima, Ohio, on January 10, 1973.[1] He attended Clague Middle School in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he participated in various children's theatre, beginning in 1980 at seven years old.[3][5] Both of his parents also worked in theatre, his mother and father was both actors and theatre directors of the children theatre plays that Ryan participated in while in school.[3]

In 1993, he got his first paid acting job at a dinner theater while still attending college.[2] He graduated from the Eastern Michigan University in 1995, with a degree in theater.[3] Upon graduating, he moved to San Diego, California in 1996 to pursue his acting career.[2][6]

Career

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In 1997, Drummond got his first television acting role as DJ Johnny Jam in an episode of the television drama series Baywatch. He would later star in several other television shows, such as Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place, The Chronicle, The Invisible Man, Point Pleasant and Trauma. He also made a guest appearance in an episode on The Rosie O'Donnell Show in December 1998, during the Toys For Tots segment.[3] In film, he made his feature film debut in the 2000 teen cheerleading comedy film, Bring It On, as Theatre Boy.[7]

As a voice actor, he has provided many character voices in various video games titles. In 1998, he became the voice of Sonic the Hedgehog in the video games series for SEGA, he continued to voice the character for six more years until 2004, the video games includes Sonic Adventure, Sonic Adventure 2, Sonic Heroes, Sonic Shuffle, Sonic Battle and Sonic Advance 3.[2][3][8][9][10] He also voiced Knuckles the Echidna in Sonic Shuffle, Metal Sonic in Sonic Heroes and briefly voiced Shadow the Hedgehog for a few lines in Sonic Adventure 2.[11][12][13]

Additionally, he also voiced Elliot Ballade in Blue Stinger, Insider in AirBlade, Bill Bardi in The Godfather II, J. Edgar Hoover and various other characters in Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth, Kevin Kertsman in Illbleed and has recently voiced the Doctor character in Mafia: Definitive Edition, where he also did the motion-capture.[14]

Drummond initially wanted to play Sonic in the anime adaptation Sonic X, and even offered to move to New York so he could play the role, 4Kids instead hired Jason Griffith who later became his successor.[15][2]

In an interview, Drummond stated he was offered the chance by Sega to re-audition as Sonic during the development of Sonic Generations, but he rejected the role because Sega refused to give him a union contract.[16]

He also did acting and voice work in commercials, such as The Padres, McDonald's, Wheel Of Fortune, Sega Dreamcast, Ocean's Eleven, Checkmate Inc., Clear Factor Skincare, Hoist Fitness Systems, and Diedrich Coffee.[17][18][19] Additionally, he has done voices for theme parks including SeaWorld Orlando as Shamu for a few years and has also provided various voices in Legoland California.[4]

Outside of acting, Drummond has also worked in comedy, such as a mime artist and a clown.[2]

Today, Drummond mainly works in theatre. He starred in a musical comedy theatre show in San Diego titled Forever Plaid.[20] He would later star in many other musical theatre productions, such as Godspell, Into the Woods, City of Angels, Zhivago, The Producers, Hairspray, The Wedding Singer, Anything Goes, Singin' in the Rain, Mary Poppins, Sunday in the Park with George, Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus and most recently, Groundhog Day.[21][3][22][23]

In 2020, Drummond would once again reprise his role as the voice of Sonic in the radio fan web-series Sonic and Tails R.[24][25]

Music career

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Drummond was a member and the bass vocalist in the music group, The A.Y.U. Quartet for five years.[2] Together, the music group has released three albums.[5]

Personal life

[edit]

Upon moving to San Diego, California, Drummond met his wife Lisa.[2] The couple were married on October 8, 2002.[2] Together they have two sons.[2] As of 2019, the couple have since divorced.[2] He currently resides in San Francisco, California.[26]

Drummond would update his fans about his personal life from time to time on his online blog.[27]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2000 Bring It On Theatre Boy [7]
2001 Poor Man Mime Short film [7]
2002 Trial By Pies [7]
2003 Miniature Sun [7]
2004 The Color Of Corruption [7]
2005 Man of the House [7]
2008 Based on a True Story Man [7]

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1997 Baywatch DJ Johnny Jam Episode: "Baywatch at Sea World" [28]
1998 Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place Isaac Glickstein Episode: "Two Guys, a Girl and an Elective" [28]
1999 The Rosie O'Donnell Show Sonic the Hedgehog Voice; Season 4, Episode 69 [3][28]
2001 The Chronicle Andy Episode: "What Gobbles Beneath" [28]
The Invisible Man Mime, Man Episodes: "Money for Nothing: Part 2", "Immaterial Girl" [28]
2004 Veronica Mars Associate Episode: "You Think You Know Somebody" [28]
2005 Point Pleasant Booth Vendor Episode: "Hell Hath No Fury Like a Woman Choked" [28]
2009 Trauma Fair Patron Episode: "All's Fair"
2011 Dual Suspects Robert Evans Episode: "Fast Food Fatality"

Video games

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1997 The Three Decoders: Riddle of the Ring Sheldon [2]
The Three Decoders 2: Key to the Carousel [2]
1999 Sonic Adventure Sonic the Hedgehog [4][14]
Nancy Drew: Stay Tuned for Danger Rick Arlen [14]
Blue Stinger Eliot Ballade [14]
Twisted Metal 4 Pizza Boy [14]
2000 Evil Dead: Hail to the King Merchant [14]
Danger Girl Additional voices
The Mummy Jonathan Carnahan
Sonic Shuffle Sonic the Hedgehog, Knuckles the Echidna [4][11][14]
2001 Undying Various
Illbleed Kevin Kertsman [14]
Zax: The Alien Hunter Zax, Korbo, Villager
Sonic Adventure 2 Sonic the Hedgehog, Shadow the Hedgehog (few lines) [4][14]
2002 AirBlade Insider [14]
Sonic Adventure 2: Battle Sonic the Hedgehog, Shadow the Hedgehog (few lines) [4]
NASCAR Racing 2002 Season Spotter [14]
Backyard Baseball 2003 Albert Pujols, Alex Rodriguez, Cliff Floyd, Frank Thomas, Achmed Khan, Ernie Steele, Pablo Sanchez, Tony Delvecchio [14]
Backyard Football Achmed Khan, Amir Khan, Ernie Steele, Pablo Sanchez, Tony Delvecchio [14]
2003 Chrome Additional voices
Rogue Ops
Backyard Soccer 2004 Additional voices [14]
Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut Sonic the Hedgehog Archive recordings [4]
2004 Duel Masters Additional voices
Sonic Battle Sonic the Hedgehog [4][14]
Sonic Heroes Sonic the Hedgehog, Metal Sonic [4][14][12]
Gangland Black Boss, Bouncer, Croupier, Civilian, Sniper, Cop, Ninja, Additional voices
Spy Fiction Michael Kwain
Sonic Advance 3 Sonic the Hedgehog [4][14]
Sega Superstars [4][14]
2005 Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth J. Edgar Hoover, Seaman Willie Thompson, Experiment, Poorhouse Resident, Cutter Urania Seaman, Yithian, Additional voices
Cold War Carter, scientist, Civilian
2006 Scared Rings Additional voices
2008 The Godfather II: Crime Rings Bill Bardi
2009 The Godfather II Bill Bardi, Additional voices [14]
Guitar Hero: Van Halen Additional voices
2020 Mafia: Definitive Edition Doctor Also motion-capture [14][29]

Web

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2020–2021, 2024 Sonic and Tails R Sonic the Hedgehog 11 episodes
YouTube fan-made series
[24]

Theme parks

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1999 SeaWorld San Diego Shamu [4]
Legoland California Character voices [4]

Commercials

[edit]
Title Role Notes Ref.
The Padres Baseball fan Channel 4 [17]
McDonald's Sonic the Hedgehog Voice [17]
Wheel of Fortune King World distribution [17]
Sega Dreamcast Sonic the Hedgehog Voice [17]
Oceans Eleven Casino Himself [17]
Checkmate Inc. [17]

Ads

[edit]
Title Ref.
Mastercard [19]
Pizza Hut [19]
Weekenders Clothing Company [19]
Chrysler [19]
Jack in the Box [19]
Washington Mutual Bank [19]
Carl's Jr. [19]
Petco [19]
Deputy Inc. [19]
Sunrider [19]
Applied Micro Circuits [19]
Lifeforce [19]
Ford Motor Company [18]
CTX International [18]
Mamillian Express [18]

Theatre

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1996 Festival Of Christmas: Once Upon A Time... Thorr Lamb's Players Theatre [23]
2000–2005 Forever Plaid Smudge Lamb's Players Theatre, Latina Playhouse Moulton Theatre [20][30][21][21]
2002 Godspell Lamb's Players Theatre [23][21]
2003 Cotton Patch Gospel Rock Lamb's Players Theatre [23][21]
Festival of Christmas: It's Christmas And It's Live! Ronald Harmon Lamb's Players Theatre [23]
2005 Palm Beach Ensemble La Jolla Playhouse Mandela Weiss Theatre [23][21]
2006 Zhivago Performer La Jolla Playhouse Mandela Weiss [23][21]
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Young Max Old Globe Theatre [21]
Into the Woods Baker Lamb's Players Theatre [23][21]
2008 Caroline, or Change Stuart Gellman Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts [23]
Annie Get Your Gun Frank Butler John Muir Amphitheater [23]
2009 The Producers Leo Bloom Lesher Center for the Arts Hofmann Theatre [23]
The Wedding Singer Robbie Hart Willows Theatre Company Concord [23]
On the Town Ozzie Lesher Center for the Arts Hofmann Theatre [23]
2010 A Grand Night for Singing Lesher Center for the Arts Cosmopolitan Cabaret [23]
Hairspray Corny Collins Woodminster Amphitheater [23]
I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change Man #1 [21]
She Loves Me Georg Nowack Lesher Center for the Arts [23]
2011 Curtains Lieutenant Frank Cioffi Foothill Collage Lehman Theatre [23]
The Fantasticks El Gallo Willows Theatre Company Concord [23]
2012 Anything Goes Moonface Martin Foothill Collage Lehman Theatre [23]
Assassins Samuel Byck The Ashby Stage [23]
Pal Joey Ludlow Lowell The Eureka Theatre [23]
2013 Singin' in the Rain Cosmo Brown Lester Center for the Arts [23]
Carnival Paul Berthalet The Eureka Theatre [23]
1776 Richard Henry Lee American Conservatory Theater [23]
2013–2014 Edward Gant's Amazing Feats of Loneliness! Dearlove The Ashby Stage [23]
2014 Painting the Clouds With Sunshine Russell James The Eureka Theatre [23]
Du Barry Was a Lady Jones, Le Docteur, Paingrille The Eureka Theatre [23]
Life Could Be a Dream Denny Lester Center for the Arts [23]
2015 Nick & Nora Nick Charles The Eureka Theatre [23]
Company David San Francisco Playhouse [21]
2015, 2016 Scrooge in Love Jacob Marley The Eureka Theatre [23]
2016 City of Angels Buddy Fidler, Irwin S. Irving San Francisco Playhouse [23]
2017 La Cage aux Folles Georges San Francisco Playhouse [23]
2017–2018 A Christmas Story The Old Man San Francisco Playhouse [23]
2017–present Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus Performer [3][22]
2018 Sunday in the Park with George Jules, Bob Greenberg San Francisco Playhouse [23]
2018–2019 Mary Poppins Mr. George Banks San Francisco Playhouse [23]
2019–2020 Groundhog Day Phil Connors San Francisco Playhouse [31][21]

Discography

[edit]
  • S.C.R.A.M. (1994) – Harmony, lead vocals
  • Atomic Young Ultrasonics (1996) – Harmony, lead vocals
  • Acappella Yuletide Uproar (2010) – Harmony, lead vocals

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Ryan Drummond interview". Angelfire. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Orr, John (July 27, 2011). "Seen and heard: The wide-ranging career of Ryan Drummond". MercuryNews.com. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Arbor, Ann (January 28, 2017). "Huron High and EMU alumnus starring in 'Men are from Mars' in Detroit". Milve.com. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "RyanDrummond.com: Voice-Overs". www.ryandrummond.com. Archived from the original on October 20, 2007. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Ryan Drummond short bio".
  6. ^ Coddon, David L. (October 24, 2024) [October 24, 2024]. "S.D. Arts and Culture Newsletter: Aimee Mann returns to Belly Up next week". San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on December 23, 2024. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h "RyanDrummond.com: Film". www.ryandrummond.com. Archived from the original on October 20, 2007. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  8. ^ Sonic Team (September 9, 1999). Sonic Adventure (Dreamcast). SEGA. Scene: Credits. English Character Voices
  9. ^ Sonic Team (December 5, 2003). Sonic Heroes (GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox, & Windows). SEGA. Scene: Credits. English Voices
  10. ^ Sonic Team & Hudson Soft (November 14, 2000). Sonic Shuffle (Dreamcast). SEGA. Scene: Credits. Voice Acting
  11. ^ a b "Sonic Cult // Sonic – Post 16 bit // Sonic Adventure // Interviews // Interview with Ryan Drummond //". www.sonic-cult.org. Archived from the original on September 18, 2017. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  12. ^ a b Ryan Drummond [@RYANtheDRUMMOND] (April 6, 2015). "@jakefagan1233 I was Knuckles for a short while, and Metal Sonic for a short while. Find out where!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  13. ^ "Drummond's confirmation". Twitter. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "Ryan Drummond". Behind The Voice Actors.
  15. ^ Drummond, Ryan. "Current Events: July". Ryan Drummond (Blog). Archived from the original on July 16, 2015. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  16. ^ Oliver, Tristan. "Report: Drummond Re-Auditioned for Sonic VA During Generations Development". TSSZ News. Archived from the original on September 12, 2012. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g "RyanDrummond.com: Commercials". www.ryandrummond.com. Archived from the original on September 12, 2010. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  18. ^ a b c d "RyanDrummond.com: Printed Ads". www.ryandrummond.com. Archived from the original on October 20, 2007. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "RyanDrummond.com: Industrials". www.ryandrummond.com. Archived from the original on October 20, 2007. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  20. ^ a b Writer, PAM KRAGEN – Staff. "Welk's fine 'Plaid' is worth another look". sandiegouniontribune.com.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "RyanDrummond.com: Theatre". www.ryandrummond.com. Archived from the original on September 12, 2010. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  22. ^ a b ""Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus" actor says show remains relevant 28 years later". February 2020.
  23. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai "Ryan Drummond theatre profile".
  24. ^ a b "Fan-Made Sonic Audio Play Featuring Original Sonic Adventure Voice Actor Gets Second Season". GameRant. January 28, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  25. ^ Drummond, Ryan (April 23, 2020). "Something fun this way comes..." X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  26. ^ Drummond, Ryan. "This update is for my mom and everyone else". Current Events. Archived from the original on July 26, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  27. ^ Drummond, Ryan. "RyanDrummond.com: Current Events". www.ryandrummond.com. Blogspot. Archived from the original on July 26, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  28. ^ a b c d e f g "RyanDrummond.com: Television". www.ryandrummond.com. Archived from the original on October 20, 2007. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  29. ^ "Mafia Definitive Edition Game Credits".
  30. ^ "'Forever Plaid' not bad, but by no means great". April 17, 2003.
  31. ^ "Groundhog Day the Musical – San Francisco Playhouse Official Site". San Francisco Playhouse. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
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