Ryan Gosling (born November 12, 1980) is a Canadian actor whose career is defined by range. He can anchor a sweeping romance, disappear into a quiet character study, or carry a studio-sized blockbuster without losing the grounded, human edge that makes his performances feel personal.
Many audiences first connected with him through The Notebook, but his modern reputation was built on a run of roles that balance intensity and restraint, including Half Nelson, Drive, and Blade Runner 2049. In La La Land, he blended dramatic weight with musical charm, and in Barbie, he delivered a surprisingly layered comedic performance as Ken that earned major awards attention.
Off-screen, Gosling keeps a famously private profile, but his body of work stays public and easy to trace: smart indie choices, big cultural moments, and a steady pattern of collaborating with director-driven projects. In recent years, that mix has continued with high-visibility releases like The Fall Guy and a slate of upcoming studio films.
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Quick Facts
| Real Name: | Ryan Thomas Gosling |
| Profession: | Actor, producer, musician |
| Born: | November 12, 1980 |
| Age: | 45 (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace: | London, Ontario, Canada |
| Nationality: | Canadian |
| Known For: | Balancing indie credibility with blockbuster roles; acclaimed performances in romance, drama, action, and comedy |
| Notable Films: | The Notebook; Half Nelson; Drive; La La Land; Blade Runner 2049; Barbie; The Fall Guy |
| Awards: | Golden Globe winner; Independent Spirit Award winner; three Academy Award nominations |
| Zodiac Sign: | Scorpio |
| Relationship: | Partner: Eva Mendes (2011 to present); two children |
| Years Active: | 1992 to present |
Early Life & Education
Ryan Gosling was born in London, Ontario, and moved around during childhood due to his father’s work, spending time in places like Cornwall and Burlington. He has described a strict religious upbringing and a period of feeling out of place in school, experiences that later shaped the mix of intensity and sensitivity audiences often recognize in his performances.
As a teenager, he pursued performing seriously, ultimately joining Disney’s The All-New Mickey Mouse Club. His formal schooling included multiple Ontario schools, and he later left high school early to focus on acting full-time. That early commitment led to steady work in television, then a transition into film roles that moved quickly from youth projects into adult dramatic parts.
Career Highlights and Milestones
Gosling’s career began with youth-focused television, but he matured fast as a performer, earning early critical attention in films like The Believer and gaining mainstream visibility with The Notebook. His reputation as a serious actor solidified with Half Nelson, a performance that brought major awards recognition and set the tone for a long run of director-driven choices.
In the 2010s, he became a defining modern leading man by mixing emotional realism with genre precision. Films like Drive, Blue Valentine, and The Place Beyond the Pines built his indie credibility, while La La Land made him a pop-culture anchor and awards-season constant. He then moved comfortably into large-scale studio films such as Blade Runner 2049 and First Man, before returning to broad comedy and global visibility with Barbie and action-forward entertainment like The Fall Guy.
Selected film and TV highlights
- The All-New Mickey Mouse Club (1993 to 1995)
- Breaker High (1997 to 1998)
- Young Hercules (1998 to 1999)
- The Notebook (2004)
- Half Nelson (2006)
- Lars and the Real Girl (2007)
- Blue Valentine (2010)
- Drive (2011)
- The Big Short (2015)
- La La Land (2016)
- Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
- First Man (2018)
- Barbie (2023)
- The Fall Guy (2024)
Major recognition
- Three Academy Award nominations (including Half Nelson, La La Land, and Barbie)
- Golden Globe win for La La Land (Best Actor, Musical or Comedy)
- Independent Spirit Award win for Half Nelson
- Major awards-season recognition for Barbie, including prominent supporting-actor nominations
- Primetime Emmy nomination tied to Saturday Night Live (guest-actor category)
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Awards and Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | MTV Movie Awards | Best Kiss (shared) | The Notebook | Won |
| 2007 | Academy Awards | Best Actor | Half Nelson | Nominated |
| 2007 | Independent Spirit Awards | Best Male Lead | Half Nelson | Won |
| 2011 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Actor, Drama | Blue Valentine | Nominated |
| 2017 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Actor, Musical or Comedy | La La Land | Won |
| 2017 | Academy Awards | Best Actor | La La Land | Nominated |
| 2024 | Academy Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Barbie | Nominated |
| 2024 | BAFTA Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Barbie | Nominated |
| 2023 | AACTA International Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Barbie | Won |
Filmography / Notable Works
| Year | Title | Type | Role / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 to 1995 | The All-New Mickey Mouse Club | TV | Early national exposure as a teen performer. |
| 1997 to 1998 | Breaker High | TV | Early series work during his Canadian TV years. |
| 2001 | The Believer | Film | Early acclaimed dramatic lead that signaled serious range. |
| 2004 | The Notebook | Film | Mainstream breakthrough and long-running pop-culture touchstone. |
| 2006 | Half Nelson | Film | Prestige turning point; major awards recognition for Best Actor. |
| 2007 | Lars and the Real Girl | Film | Offbeat, tender performance that expanded his range in public view. |
| 2010 | Blue Valentine | Film | Intimate drama known for emotional realism and intensity. |
| 2011 | Drive | Film | Modern cult classic; minimalist performance with major influence. |
| 2015 | The Big Short | Film | Ensemble awards-season hit; sharp, comedic-dramatic supporting turn. |
| 2016 | La La Land | Film | Signature musical-era performance; major awards win and nominations. |
| 2017 | Blade Runner 2049 | Film | Led a major legacy sci-fi sequel as Officer K. |
| 2018 | First Man | Film | Played Neil Armstrong in a grounded space-race biographical drama. |
| 2023 | Barbie | Film | Ken; one of his biggest mainstream cultural moments and awards runs. |
| 2024 | The Fall Guy | Film | Action-comedy lead; high-visibility studio release. |
| 2026 | Project Hail Mary | Film | Plays Ryland Grace; major upcoming sci-fi release (also producer). |
| 2027 | Star Wars: Starfighter | Film | Upcoming Star Wars feature directed by Shawn Levy. |
Net Worth, Income, & Lifestyle
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Net Worth (2026) | Public estimates vary widely and are not independently verifiable. Gosling has not published a confirmed net worth figure, so treat single-number claims cautiously. |
| Income Sources | Film acting (studio and independent), producer roles on select projects, and occasional music-related work. Large-scale films can include salary plus backend participation depending on contract structure. |
| Businesses & Assets | He is associated with a co-ownership stake in a Beverly Hills restaurant (Tagine) and has kept most other personal financial details private. |
| Lifestyle | Often described as private and family-focused, with long stretches between projects and selective public appearances outside film promotion. |
Social Media & Online Presence
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| No widely recognized, consistently verified personal account is treated as definitive. Many fan and impersonation accounts exist. | |
| X (Twitter) | Same caution applies. If an account cannot be verified through authoritative channels, treat it as unofficial. |
| TikTok | Most content is clips, interviews, and fan reposts rather than a clear official personal presence. |
| IMDb | Verified credits and awards listings: IMDb profile. |
| Fan Updates | Coming soon, subscribe to follow Ryan Gosling updates. |
Fan communities on social media (unofficial)
NOTE: In addition to any official pages listed above, many fan-run pages and clip accounts exist. These are not confirmed to be affiliated with Ryan Gosling. Links and usernames can change at any time.
Trivia & Lesser-Known Facts
- He began acting young and gained early exposure on Disney’s The All-New Mickey Mouse Club.
- He has released music as part of the band Dead Man’s Bones, which toured and put out a self-titled album.
- He made a major mainstream jump with The Notebook, then deliberately leaned into riskier, director-driven roles that built his reputation.
- He made a directorial debut with Lost River (2014), taking on behind-the-camera creative control.
- He is associated with co-owning a Moroccan restaurant in Beverly Hills (Tagine), an unusual side note for a modern film star.
- He keeps a notably private personal life relative to his fame, which has helped keep public focus centered on work rather than constant publicity.
Quotes
“Sweetheart, thank you.”
From his Golden Globes acceptance speech for La La Land (2017).
“To my daughters, Amada and Esmeralda, I love you.”
From his Golden Globes acceptance speech (2017).
“Ken, his job is beach. For 60 years, his job has been beach.”
Gosling describing Ken while discussing Barbie.
“I treat it more like work now, and not like it’s, you know, therapy.”
Gosling on how his relationship to acting changed after time away from work.
“Like, you thought you were winning by not trying.”
Gosling reflecting on how confidence and effort can get tangled over time.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is Ryan Gosling’s age?
A: Ryan Gosling is 45 years old as of 2026 (born November 12, 1980).
Q: What is Ryan Gosling best known for?
A: He is widely known for The Notebook, Drive, La La Land, Blade Runner 2049, Barbie, and The Fall Guy, plus a long run of acclaimed indie performances.
Q: Has Ryan Gosling been nominated for an Oscar?
A: Yes. He has received three Academy Award nominations, including for Half Nelson, La La Land, and Barbie.
Q: Is Ryan Gosling married?
A: He has been in a long-term relationship with Eva Mendes since 2011. The couple keeps personal details private.
Q: Does Ryan Gosling have official social media accounts?
A: He does not have a widely recognized, consistently verified personal social media presence. Many fan and impersonation accounts exist, so confirm carefully before treating any account as official.
Upcoming Projects
- Project Hail Mary (scheduled for March 20, 2026) – Gosling stars as Ryland Grace in the adaptation of Andy Weir’s novel (also producer).
- Star Wars: Starfighter (scheduled for May 28, 2027) – A standalone Star Wars feature directed by Shawn Levy, with Gosling starring.
- Love of Your Life (TBA) – Gosling is attached as a producer on the Amazon MGM Studios project directed by Rachel Morrison.
Interviews & Features
- GQ, “Ryan Gosling on Stepping Away From Hollywood and Playing Ken in Barbie” (May 31, 2023) , a deep profile on his approach to acting, time away from work, and how he built Ken into a fully realized performance.
- Variety, “Ryan Gosling on Barbie, Oscars performance, and Ken” (Feb 7, 2024) , a feature that frames his late-career mainstream peak and how he approached the role’s comedy and sincerity.
- Business Insider, “Ryan Gosling… stunts for The Fall Guy” (Feb 2024) , a behind-the-scenes look at practical stunt work and why the production leaned into real spectacle.
- NBC Insider, “Watch Ryan Gosling’s SNL Monologue & Sketches” (Apr 14, 2024) , a recap hub for his hosting episode and standout sketch moments during the The Fall Guy promotion run.
- TIME, “Ryan Gosling Credits Eva Mendes for Golden Globes Win” (Jan 8, 2017) , coverage of his La La Land acceptance speech that became a widely shared pop-culture moment.
Public Appearances & Festivals
- Cannes Film Festival (May 2011): Appeared during Cannes-era press and festival visibility (frequently photographed during the festival period).
- San Diego Comic-Con International (July 22, 2017): Participated in Blade Runner 2049 promotion at Comic-Con.
- First Man Premiere at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (Oct 4, 2018): Attended the Washington, D.C. premiere event tied to the film.
- 96th Academy Awards (March 10, 2024): Performed “I’m Just Ken” from Barbie during the Oscars ceremony.
- Saturday Night Live (April 13, 2024): Hosted SNL during the The Fall Guy promotional run, with multiple viral sketches.
