Ryan Cooley

Ryan Hadison Cooley (born May 18, 1988) is a Canadian consultant and former actor. He is best known for his role as James Tiberius "J.T." Yorke on Degrassi: The Next Generation which he starred in from 2001 until 2007.

He is currently the Vice President of Konrad Group, a digitial agency that creates apps and products.

Prior to joining the Degrassi cast, he had a two-year run as Pleskit, the alien lead in the television series I Was a Sixth Grade Alien. Cooley's other television credits include the series, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Queer as Folk, Lexx: The Series and Life with Derek. He has also appeared in the features Sachsenhausen 1944, Toy Men, Disney Channel film The Color of Friendship, the Animal Planet film Cybermutt and CBC television film Happy Christmas Miss King alongside his Degrassi co-star Lauren Collins.

In 2001, Cooley began appearing on Degrassi: The Next Generation as a regular character in the first season of the show and continued until his character's death in 2007, the show’s sixth season. In 2002, Cooley was nominated for a Young Artist Award (LA) for Best Performance in a TV Comedy Series for the show.

Cooley has also appeared in the 2007 film The Tracey Fragments with Elliot Page.[a]

In 2012, Cooley guest starred in a YouTube miniseries Millie and Midge, in episodes 2 and 4 as Parker.

Cooley was to appear in former co-star Drake's 2018 music video for the single "I'm Upset," however he declined due to believing it was a scam. The video was set around around a Degrassi reunion.

Following his departure from Degrassi, Cooley took a break from acting and attended the University of Toronto where he studied theatre.