# Riley Smith
**Riley Smith** (birth name Riley Bryant Smith, born 1978 in [Cedar Rapids, Iowa](https://www.edgepedia.org/cedar-rapids-iowa)) is an American actor and singer-songwriter whose television credits include recurring roles on *Freaks and Geeks*, *24*, *True Blood*, and *Nashville*, lead roles in the CW series *Frequency* and the Fox series *Proven Innocent*, and the role of Ryan Hudson on [The CW](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-cw)'s *Nancy Drew* from 2019 to 2023.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0809720/bio/) He also fronts the Los Angeles band [The Life of Riley](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-life-of-riley) as lead singer and guitarist and has released solo country music.[2](https://www.cwtvpr.com/the-cw/talent/?view=riley-smith)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name / born | Riley Bryant Smith, born 1978, Cedar Rapids, Iowa[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0809720/bio/) |
| Upbringing | Raised on his family's Quarter Horse ranch outside Cedar Rapids; began competing as a rider at nine years old[2](https://www.cwtvpr.com/the-cw/talent/?view=riley-smith) • [3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/riley-smith/) |
| Path into acting | Discovered by a talent scout at a Cedar Rapids mall; a Tommy Hilfiger modeling campaign paid for his acting classes[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/riley-smith/) |
| Breakthrough roles | Recurring parts on *Freaks and Geeks* (1999), *24* as Kyle Singer, and a starring ensemble role in Fox's *Drive* (2007)[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/riley-smith/) |
| Later leads | Frank Sullivan on *Frequency* (The CW, 2016), Levi Scott on *Proven Innocent* (Fox, 2019), Ryan Hudson on *Nancy Drew* (2019–2023, 62 episodes)[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/riley-smith/) • [4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0809720/) |
| Music | Founded The Life of Riley in 2006; released a self-titled solo EP with the single "I'm on Fire," whose video reached number one on CMT's Taste of Country Countdown[5](https://buildingourownnashville.com/2017/06/05/interview-chatting-to-riley-smith-about-his-time-on-the-tv-show-nashville-and-his-solo-music/) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0809720/bio/) |
## Early life
Smith was born and raised on his family's Quarter Horse ranch outside Cedar Rapids, Iowa.[2](https://www.cwtvpr.com/the-cw/talent/?view=riley-smith) Horseback riding was his first pursuit: he began competing as a rider at nine years old and was named president of the American Quarter Horse Youth Association at 17.[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/riley-smith/) His own trivia account records that he served as the association's president in 1996 to 1997.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0809720/bio/)
He entered entertainment through modeling. A talent scout discovered him at a mall in Cedar Rapids, which led to a [Tommy Hilfiger](https://www.edgepedia.org/tommy-hilfiger) modeling campaign, and he used the earnings to pay for acting classes.[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/riley-smith/) • [6](https://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=61145) In 1998 he was cast in his first onscreen role, a supporting part on the NBC family series *One World*.[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/riley-smith/) At the 1997 IMTA convention in New York City, his roommate was fellow Iowan Ashton Kutcher.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0809720/bio/)
## Acting career
Smith built his early career on recurring television parts. He appeared as Todd Schellinger in *Freaks and Geeks* in 1999 and 2000, played Kyle Singer in the third season of Fox's *24*, and held recurring roles in *Joan of Arcadia*, *Summerland*, and *Raising Dad*.[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/riley-smith/) • [7](https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=11954) His first starring role came in the ensemble of Fox's *Drive* (2007), an action drama about an illegal cross-country race.[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/riley-smith/)
**Genre and network work followed.** On HBO's *True Blood*, he played Keith, a rock-and-roll vampire with a storyline opposite Arlene, in the show's seventh and final season.[2](https://www.cwtvpr.com/the-cw/talent/?view=riley-smith) He appeared in seven episodes of The CW's *90210* as Riley Wallace, a paraplegic, opposite Shenae Grimes and [Tristan Wilds](https://www.edgepedia.org/tristan-wilds).[2](https://www.cwtvpr.com/the-cw/talent/?view=riley-smith) On ABC's musical drama *[Nashville](https://www.edgepedia.org/nashville-2012-tv-series)*, he played Markus Keen, a rock star trying to cross over to country on Rayna James's Highway 65 label; he sang on his episodes and recorded singles such as "In the Name of Your Love" and "I Want To (Do Everything For You)" for the show's soundtrack.[2](https://www.cwtvpr.com/the-cw/talent/?view=riley-smith)
His lead roles came in adaptations and legal drama. In *[Frequency](https://www.edgepedia.org/frequency-tv-series)* (The CW, 2016), a remake of the 2000 film, he played Frank Sullivan, a detective who died in 1996 and communicates across two decades with his daughter, played by Peyton List, through a ham radio.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0809720/bio/) He then played Levi Scott, a main role, on Fox's courtroom drama *Proven Innocent* (2019) alongside [Kelsey Grammer](https://www.edgepedia.org/kelsey-grammer) and [Rachelle Lefevre](https://www.edgepedia.org/rachelle-lefevre).[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0809720/) • [2](https://www.cwtvpr.com/the-cw/talent/?view=riley-smith)
**Nancy Drew** gave him his longest run. From 2019 to 2023 he played Ryan Hudson, described in the network's publicity as a charming and wealthy man who may be hiding dark secrets, appearing in 62 episodes.[2](https://www.cwtvpr.com/the-cw/talent/?view=riley-smith) • [4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0809720/) In the series, set the summer after [Nancy Drew](https://www.edgepedia.org/nancy-drew)'s high school graduation, the murder victim is Ryan Hudson's socialite wife, making his character central to the mystery.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0809720/bio/) His film work includes *Radio* with [Ed Harris](https://www.edgepedia.org/ed-harris) and [Cuba Gooding Jr.](https://www.edgepedia.org/cuba-gooding-jr), *Eight-Legged Freaks*, *Not Another Teen Movie*, *New York Minute*, *Gallowwalkers* with Wesley Snipes, the Sundance Grand Jury Prize nominee *Weapons*, and *Christmas in Conway* with Andy Garcia and Mary-Louise Parker.[2](https://www.cwtvpr.com/the-cw/talent/?view=riley-smith)
## Music
Smith's music career began on a film set: he picked up his first guitar at a secondhand shop in Vancouver while shooting a movie, taught himself four chords, and started writing songs immediately.[5](https://buildingourownnashville.com/2017/06/05/interview-chatting-to-riley-smith-about-his-time-on-the-tv-show-nashville-and-his-solo-music/) He formed the band The Life of Riley in 2006 with three friends, and the Los Angeles-based group, in which he sings and plays guitar, has released three albums.[5](https://buildingourownnashville.com/2017/06/05/interview-chatting-to-riley-smith-about-his-time-on-the-tv-show-nashville-and-his-solo-music/) • [2](https://www.cwtvpr.com/the-cw/talent/?view=riley-smith) The band has toured the United States and Europe.[5](https://buildingourownnashville.com/2017/06/05/interview-chatting-to-riley-smith-about-his-time-on-the-tv-show-nashville-and-his-solo-music/)
**Nashville reshaped his solo direction.** Filming in the city in 2015, he set a goal to leave with a solo record and wrote with as many people as he could; by the end of his roughly seven-month run on the show he had 14 demos.[5](https://buildingourownnashville.com/2017/06/05/interview-chatting-to-riley-smith-about-his-time-on-the-tv-show-nashville-and-his-solo-music/) • [8](https://www.cowboysindians.com/2017/08/actor-and-singer-songwriter-riley-smith-sticks-to-his-roots/) The resulting self-titled debut EP of modern country songs includes "I'm on Fire," "Mad Love," "I Can't Keep Missing You," and "Change of Seasons."[8](https://www.cowboysindians.com/2017/08/actor-and-singer-songwriter-riley-smith-sticks-to-his-roots/) Its first single, "I'm on Fire," reached number one on CMT's Taste of Country Countdown with its music video.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0809720/bio/)
Publication dates for the EP differ between sources: IMDb's biography says he released it in 2016, while a discography listing gives July 21, 2017, on the label Worn Out Sole, and an August 2017 interview describes it as newly released.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0809720/bio/) • [9](https://www.valeorine.com/reference/riley-smith) • [8](https://www.cowboysindians.com/2017/08/actor-and-singer-songwriter-riley-smith-sticks-to-his-roots/) Later singles listed under his name include "Radio" (2019) and "Chocolate" (2020).[9](https://www.valeorine.com/reference/riley-smith)
## Off screen
Smith remains involved with his hometown, supporting the Eastern Iowa Arts Academy, a nonprofit after-school arts organization for K-12 students that offers classes in art, music, drama, dance, cultural arts, and creative writing.[2](https://www.cwtvpr.com/the-cw/talent/?view=riley-smith) In interviews he describes returning to Iowa to reset, saying that even in 20-below snow weather he comes back with a warm heart.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0809720/bio/)
## People of the same name
At least two other performers share the name. A Los Angeles-based writer, comedian, and actor named Riley Smith co-wrote plays and sketch shows including *Dick Hopper, Private Eye* with partner Tommy Fleming, and performed with USC's improv team Commedus Interruptus; he is a distinct person from the Iowa-born actor.[10](https://rileysmithwebsite.com/) A separate Riley Smith works as a composer and music editor, with additional score credits on *Alert: Missing Persons Unit* and *Blacklist: Redemption* and music editing credits spanning dozens of series including *[Snowfall](https://www.edgepedia.org/snowfall-tv-series)* and *Saint X*.[11](https://www.rileymsmith.com/)
## References
1. [Riley Smith Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0809720/bio/)
2. [Riley Smith bio, The CW Press Talent](https://www.cwtvpr.com/the-cw/talent/?view=riley-smith)
3. [Riley Smith, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/riley-smith/)
4. [Riley Smith, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0809720/)
5. [Interview: Chatting to Riley Smith about his time on the tv show Nashville and his solo music, Building Our Own Nashville (2017)](https://buildingourownnashville.com/2017/06/05/interview-chatting-to-riley-smith-about-his-time-on-the-tv-show-nashville-and-his-solo-music/)
6. [The Academy of Cinema and Television Announces Collaboration with Riley Smith, WebWire](https://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=61145)
7. [Riley Smith, TVSA](https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=11954)
8. [Actor and Singer-Songwriter Riley Smith Sticks to His Roots, Cowboys & Indians (2017)](https://www.cowboysindians.com/2017/08/actor-and-singer-songwriter-riley-smith-sticks-to-his-roots/)
9. [Riley Smith, VALÉORINE Encyclopedia](https://www.valeorine.com/reference/riley-smith)
10. [Riley Smith comedy website](https://rileysmithwebsite.com/)
11. [Riley Smith composer site](https://www.rileymsmith.com/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 2000s onward › Surnames Sh to So*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license