You know that face. You’re watching a sitcom—maybe it’s Superstore or It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia—and this guy pops up. He’s tall, got that specific kind of "disappointed dad" or "overly intense office manager" energy, and he usually steals the entire scene without even trying. That’s Ryan Gaul. Honestly, he’s one of those "working actors" who makes everything better just by showing up.
If you’ve spent any time looking into Ryan Gaul movies and tv shows, you’ve likely realized he’s everywhere. From being Amy’s deadbeat husband Adam in Superstore to playing a high-stakes real estate agent in the cult-favorite Bajillion Dollar Propertie$, Gaul has built a career on being the perfect "guy next door who is actually a total weirdo."
He didn't just stumble into this, though. Gaul is a Maine native who basically worked at W.B. Mason (the office supply company) before moving to LA and joining The Groundlings. That improv background is his secret weapon. It’s why he can go toe-to-toe with people like Tracy Morgan or Zach Galifianakis and not blink.
The Big Break: Bajillion Dollar Propertie$ and The Last O.G.
Most people first really "got" Ryan Gaul when Bajillion Dollar Propertie$ hit the scene. If you haven't seen it, it’s a parody of those glitzy real estate reality shows like Selling Sunset, but way more unhinged. Gaul played Andrew Wright. He was part of this ensemble of shallow, competitive, and deeply strange agents. It was the perfect playground for his improv skills because the show was mostly outlined rather than strictly scripted.
Then came The Last O.G. Gaul landed the role of Josh Birkeland, the guy who married Tracy Morgan's ex-girlfriend (played by Tiffany Haddish) while Morgan’s character was in prison. It sounds like a role that could be a total snooze—the "nice guy" foil—but Gaul made Josh strangely endearing. He wasn’t just a punchline. He brought a genuine, slightly awkward heart to a show that was often loud and chaotic.
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The Superstore Effect: Being the World’s Most Relatable Ex
In Superstore, Gaul plays Adam Dubanowski. He’s Amy’s (America Ferrera) husband, and later ex-husband. Adam is... well, he’s a lot. He’s a guy with a lot of "big ideas" that never quite pan out, like trying to become a professional YouTuber or starting a grill-based business.
What’s interesting about his work here is how he plays the "lovable loser." You don't hate Adam, even though he's clearly the reason Amy is so stressed out all the time. Gaul has this way of playing characters who are deeply confident in their own incompetence. It’s a specific comedic lane that very few people can drive in without becoming annoying.
A Quick Rundown of Key TV Roles:
- The Last O.G.: Josh Birkeland (Main Cast)
- Bajillion Dollar Propertie$: Andrew Wright (Main Cast)
- Superstore: Adam Dubanowski (Recurring)
- House of Lies: Will (Supporting)
- It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Greg (The guy in the "The Gang Tries Desperately to Win an Award" episode)
Ryan Gaul Movies: From Identity Thief to Between Two Ferns
While he’s a titan of the "guest star" world in TV, Gaul has also popped up in some pretty major films. He usually plays the character who has a two-minute interaction with the lead that ends up being the funniest part of the movie.
In Between Two Ferns: The Movie, he played Cameron "Cam" Campbell. This was basically a dream role for a Groundlings alum because it allowed for that high-level awkwardness that Zach Galifianakis is known for. Gaul fits into that world perfectly. He also had a role in Killing Gunther alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger and played Officer Milligan in The Happytime Murders.
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More recently, you might have spotted him in Paint (2023) or The Donor Party. He’s not always the lead, but he’s consistently the guy that directors like Christopher Guest (who cast him in Mascots) want in the room.
Why He’s the "Improv King" of the 2020s
The thing about Ryan Gaul movies and tv shows is that they almost always feature a heavy dose of improvisation. If you listen to podcasts like Comedy Bang! Bang!, you’ve heard Gaul transform into dozens of different characters. He’s a regular on the "Wet Day" specials and has a chemistry with P.F. Tompkins and Ben Schwartz that is basically telepathic at this point.
He’s talked in interviews about how he’s actually become less confident as he’s gotten older, which is wild considering how fearless he seems on screen. He once mentioned that he booked The Last O.G. partly because he just didn't care about the audition anymore—he was just being himself. There's a lesson there for anyone in a creative field: sometimes the "I don't give a damn" energy is exactly what makes you stand out.
What Most People Miss About His Career
People often pigeonhole Gaul as "just a funny guy," but his work in House of Lies showed he can handle darker, more corporate-style comedy too. He spent nine episodes playing Will, a character that had to hold his own against Don Cheadle.
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Also, his "one-off" guest spots are legendary among comedy nerds. His appearance in It’s Always Sunny as the representative from the restaurant awards board is a masterclass in playing the "straight man" who is slowly losing his mind.
How to Watch the Best of Ryan Gaul
If you're looking to dive into his filmography, don't just go for the big hits. Start with the weird stuff.
- Watch Bajillion Dollar Propertie$: It’s available on various streaming platforms now and it’s the purest distillation of his comedic voice.
- Binge The Last O.G.: See how he handles a long-arc character who has to actually grow over four seasons.
- Find his Comedy Bang! Bang! episodes: Specifically the ones where he plays "More-imony Tony." It’s audio-only, but it’ll give you a better sense of his brain than any scripted show.
- Catch the Guest Spots: Look up his episodes of Modern Family (the "Halloween" episode) and 2 Broke Girls.
Next Steps for the Ryan Gaul Superfan
If you want to stay updated on his latest projects, follow the Earwolf podcast network or check out the Groundlings schedule if you’re ever in Los Angeles. Gaul still performs live there frequently. Also, keep an eye out for his voice work; he’s been popping up in more animated projects like SuperMansion and Mike Tyson Mysteries. Honestly, the best way to support "that guy you recognize" is to actually learn his name and seek out his indie work, because that's usually where the real gems are.