Most people see a picture of Ryan McCartan and immediately think "Diggie." It makes sense. If you grew up with a TV in the mid-2010s, he was the face of the ultimate boy-next-door on Liv and Maddie. But here’s the thing: reducing the guy to a single Disney sitcom is basically like saying a Swiss Army knife is only good for the little scissors.
Ryan is a bit of a shapeshifter. One minute he’s playing a goofy high school basketball player, and the next, he’s a murderous, trench-coat-wearing teenager in an Off-Broadway cult classic. He’s managed to navigate that weird, often-treacherous transition from "teen heartthrob" to "legitimate Broadway powerhouse" without the usual public meltdown or embarrassing rebrand.
Honestly, the sheer variety in Ryan McCartan movies and TV shows is what makes his career worth a second look. He’s not just "the guy from that one show." He’s a Jimmy Award winner who can hold his own against industry titans like Laverne Cox and Jeremy Jordan.
The Disney Era: Liv and Maddie and the Diggie Factor
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Or rather, the Diggie in the room.
Ryan joined the cast of Liv and Maddie in 2013, playing Diggie Smalls. On paper, Diggie was the typical "jock with a heart of gold," but McCartan gave him a weirdly charming, slightly awkward energy that made the "Miggie" (Maddie and Diggie) ship the most popular thing on the Disney Channel for years.
What’s wild is that Ryan didn’t even think he’d get the part. He’s gone on record saying he had two "dream" Broadway auditions fall through right before he booked the show. He called the role a "silly little part on a silly new show" at first, but it ended up being the catalyst for everything else. It’s where he met Dove Cameron, with whom he formed the pop duo The Girl and the Dreamcatcher, and it gave him the visibility to land much darker roles later on.
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Beyond the Mouse: The Dark Side of Ryan McCartan
If you only know him from Disney, seeing him in Heathers: The Musical is a total jump scare.
In 2014, while he was still technically a Disney star, he originated the role of Jason "J.D." Dean in the Off-Broadway production of Heathers. This wasn’t a "sing a happy song and learn a lesson" kind of gig. We’re talking about a character who manipulates his girlfriend into accidental murder and tries to blow up a high school.
His performance was intense. It was gritty. It proved he had some serious vocal pipes—the kind that can belt out "Meant to Be Yours" while looking genuinely unhinged. This was the turning point. It showed the industry that Ryan wasn't just a face; he was a craftsman.
The Rocky Horror Reboot and Genre Hopping
In 2016, Kenny Ortega—the guy behind High School Musical and Descendants—tapped Ryan to play Brad Majors in the Fox television remake of The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let's Do the Time Warp Again.
Taking on a role originally made famous by Barry Bostwick is a lot of pressure. You’re stepping into a cult classic with a very protective fanbase. Ryan played the "square" perfectly, holding his own alongside Victoria Justice and a legendary performance by Laverne Cox as Frank-N-Furter.
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After Rocky Horror, the list of Ryan McCartan movies and TV shows started getting diverse. Fast.
- He did the horror-comedy thing in Freakish (2016) on Hulu.
- He popped up in The Winchesters (2022) as Kyle Reed.
- He starred in smaller, heartfelt films like Love You Anyway (2022) and Emma's Chance (2016).
He even did an R.L. Stine movie, Monsterville: Cabinet of Souls, which is basically a requirement for any actor in the Disney/Nickelodeon orbit.
The Great Gatsby and the Broadway Takeover
By the time 2024 and 2025 rolled around, Ryan had fully transitioned into a Broadway leading man. Most recently, he took over the title role in The Great Gatsby on Broadway, replacing Jeremy Jordan.
Let that sink in. Replacing Jeremy Jordan is like being the guy who has to follow a legendary quarterback—the expectations are through the roof. But Ryan’s Gatsby was different. It was polished but possessed that same underlying vulnerability he’s been honing since his early days in Minneapolis theater. He wrapped up his run as Gatsby in late 2025, leaving a trail of "stage door" videos across TikTok that proved his fanbase had grown up right along with him.
He’s also been Fiyero in Wicked and Hans in Frozen. He’s basically collecting iconic musical theater roles like they’re Pokémon cards.
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What to Watch: A Quick Roadmap
If you’re looking to binge-watch his work, don't just stick to the obvious stuff. Here is a loose guide on where to start depending on your mood:
- For the Nostalgia: Liv and Maddie. It’s classic, it’s comfy, and the chemistry is actually real (since he and Dove were dating at the time).
- For the Talent: Find the pro-shot or clips of him in Heathers. It’s his best work, hands down.
- For the Camp: The Rocky Horror Picture Show remake. It’s colorful, weird, and Ryan looks great in gold underwear.
- For the Drama: The Winchesters. It shows a more "adult" side of his acting that deviates from the musical theater shine.
Looking Forward
The most interesting thing about Ryan McCartan isn't what he's already done—it's that he seems to have no "lane." He produces, he writes music, he streams on Twitch, and he moves between TV sets and Broadway stages like it’s nothing.
If you want to keep up with what he’s doing next, your best bet is to follow his social media or keep an eye on Broadway casting calls for 2026. He’s at that stage in his career where he’s no longer the "replacement" guy—he’s the one people are writing shows for.
Keep an eye on his music too. His solo EP work is a lot more "indie-pop" than the Disney-fied tracks of his past. It’s honest, a little bit raw, and a perfect soundtrack for someone who’s spent their whole life in the spotlight and is finally figuring out who they are when the cameras (or the stage lights) aren't quite as bright.
Actionable Next Step: To see the full range of his evolution, watch an episode of Liv and Maddie season one and then immediately go watch his "Meant to Be Yours" performance from Heathers. The contrast is the best way to understand why he’s one of the most underrated versatile actors of his generation.