# Ryan Eggold
**Ryan Eggold** (Ryan James Eggold, born 1984 in [Lakewood, California](https://www.edgepedia.org/lakewood-california)) is an American actor, director, and musician known for playing Tom Keen on NBC's *The Blacklist* and its spinoff *The Blacklist: Redemption*, and Dr. Max Goodwin on NBC's medical drama *New Amsterdam*.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1984, Lakewood, California[1](https://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/AA/00/05/43/97/01262/02-01-2020.pdf) |
| Education | Santa Margarita Catholic High School (graduated 2002); USC theater program (graduated 2006)[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2375297) |
| Breakout TV roles | Ryan Matthews on *90210* (three seasons); Tom Keen on *The Blacklist* from 2013[1](https://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/AA/00/05/43/97/01262/02-01-2020.pdf) |
| Spinoff lead | *The Blacklist: Redemption* (2017), built around Tom Keen, with Famke Janssen as Scottie Hargrave[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/115718/ryan-eggold-the-blacklist-redemption/) |
| Lead role | Dr. Max Goodwin, medical director of the oldest public hospital in the U.S., on *New Amsterdam* (2018–2022, 89 episodes)[4](https://worldscreen.com/new-amsterdams-ryan-eggold/) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2375297) |
| Directing debut | *Literally, Right Before Aaron*, written, directed, produced, and composed by Eggold; premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival[5](https://tvmeg.com/index.php/2021/05/01/eggoldsims/) |
| Other work | Walter Breachway in Spike Lee's *BlacKkKlansman*; Broadway debut in *Yellowface* with Daniel Dae Kim (2024)[4](https://worldscreen.com/new-amsterdams-ryan-eggold/) • [6](https://abcnews.com/video/117006437/) |
## Early life and education
Eggold was born in Lakewood, California, and raised in [Southern California](https://www.edgepedia.org/southern-california). He was active in theater in high school and at the [University of Southern California](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-southern-california), graduating from USC's theater program in 2006[1](https://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/AA/00/05/43/97/01262/02-01-2020.pdf) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2375297). Right out of college he landed recurring television roles on CBS, HBO, Cartoon Network, ABC, The CW, and FX, making his professional television debut on *Related* and his film debut in *Con: The Corruption of Helm* in 2006[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2375297).
His first regular series role was as a rule-breaking reporter for a tabloid magazine in FX's *Dirt*[1](https://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/AA/00/05/43/97/01262/02-01-2020.pdf).
## 90210 and early television
For three seasons Eggold played Ryan Matthews, a young literature and sex education teacher, on *90210*, [The CW](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-cw)'s continuation of *Beverly Hills, 90210*. The character had romantic entanglements with former students and original-series characters Kelly Taylor and Brenda Walsh, and was eventually suspended from his job after a romance with an apparent student who turned out to be an undercover police officer[1](https://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/AA/00/05/43/97/01262/02-01-2020.pdf). Early guest work included episodes of *Brothers & Sisters*, *Veronica Mars*, *The Young and the Restless*, and *Entourage*[1](https://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/AA/00/05/43/97/01262/02-01-2020.pdf).
## The Blacklist and Redemption
In 2013 Eggold began playing Tom Keen when NBC's *The Blacklist* premiered[1](https://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/AA/00/05/43/97/01262/02-01-2020.pdf). The character was introduced as a supportive husband and kindergarten teacher and was gradually revealed to be a trained spy and assassin, an arc Eggold described as playing "a guy with all these masks" while trying to find the character's real heart[7](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/actor-director-ryan-eggolds-audition-advice-behind-scenes-3388/). He nearly skipped the audition, having planned to focus on independent films, but his agent urged him to read the script[7](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/actor-director-ryan-eggolds-audition-advice-behind-scenes-3388/).
In 2017 the character moved to the spinoff *The Blacklist: Redemption*, in which Tom teams with Scottie Hargrave ([Famke Janssen](https://www.edgepedia.org/famke-janssen)) while investigating his own origins. Eggold said the show gave him more creative input than the parent series, and he described its end as bittersweet[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/115718/ryan-eggold-the-blacklist-redemption/) • [8](https://www.etonline.com/exclusive-ryan-eggold-talks-directorial-debut-and-bittersweet-ride-blacklist-redemption-88069). The arrangement included an understanding that if the spinoff did not last, he could return to the original program[1](https://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/AA/00/05/43/97/01262/02-01-2020.pdf).
## New Amsterdam
After leaving *The Blacklist*, Eggold took what he called a 180-degree turn to play Dr. Max Goodwin, the newly hired medical director of the oldest public hospital in the United States, in NBC's *New Amsterdam*[4](https://worldscreen.com/new-amsterdams-ryan-eggold/). Goodwin battles bureaucracy to put patients first, firing an entire department of surgeons, and is diagnosed with cancer himself[4](https://worldscreen.com/new-amsterdams-ryan-eggold/) • [9](https://globalnews.ca/news/4572767/ryan-eggold-new-amsterdam-interview/). Eggold said the character's spirit, wanting to repair failing parts of an institution, could apply to any institution[9](https://globalnews.ca/news/4572767/ryan-eggold-new-amsterdam-interview/). The series ran from 2018 to 2022, with Eggold appearing in 89 episodes[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2375297).
Off screen, the role demanded some suspension of disbelief from the actor himself: Eggold is squeamish about blood, real or fake, and his co-star [Jocko Sims](https://www.edgepedia.org/jocko-sims) called him "the most squeamish on the show"[10](https://www.eonline.com/news/971194/5-things-you-didn-t-know-about-your-new-tv-crush-new-amsterdam-s-ryan-eggold).
## Film work and directing
Eggold appeared in [Spike Lee](https://www.edgepedia.org/spike-lee)'s *BlacKkKlansman* as Walter Breachway, a member of the [Ku Klux Klan](https://www.edgepedia.org/ku-klux-klan), a role he described as a stark contrast to his television characters[4](https://worldscreen.com/new-amsterdams-ryan-eggold/). His other film credits include *Lovesong*, *Fathers & Daughters*, *The Single Moms Club*, *Lucky Them*, *The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby*, *Beside Still Waters*, and Eliza Hittman's *Never Rarely Sometimes Always*, which screened at the 2020 [Sundance Film Festival](https://www.edgepedia.org/sundance-film-festival)[5](https://tvmeg.com/index.php/2021/05/01/eggoldsims/).
**Directing debut.** Eggold wrote, directed, produced, and composed the feature *Literally, Right Before Aaron*, an expansion of his award-winning 2011 short of the same name, inspired by a breakup in his own life. The film stars [Justin Long](https://www.edgepedia.org/justin-long) as a heartbroken man invited to his ex-girlfriend's wedding, with [Cobie Smulders](https://www.edgepedia.org/cobie-smulders), John Cho, and [Kristen Schaal](https://www.edgepedia.org/kristen-schaal)[5](https://tvmeg.com/index.php/2021/05/01/eggoldsims/) • [8](https://www.etonline.com/exclusive-ryan-eggold-talks-directorial-debut-and-bittersweet-ride-blacklist-redemption-88069) • [11](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/way-actors-can-become-directors-best-friend-3232/). It premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival[5](https://tvmeg.com/index.php/2021/05/01/eggoldsims/). Eggold said directing taught him the actor's role in facilitating a production and made him a better collaborator, giving him more appreciation for directors' notes[7](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/actor-director-ryan-eggolds-audition-advice-behind-scenes-3388/) • [8](https://www.etonline.com/exclusive-ryan-eggold-talks-directorial-debut-and-bittersweet-ride-blacklist-redemption-88069).
## Stage and recent work
On stage, Eggold starred in a revival of [Arthur Miller](https://www.edgepedia.org/arthur-miller)'s *All My Sons* opposite [Alec Baldwin](https://www.edgepedia.org/alec-baldwin) and [Laurie Metcalf](https://www.edgepedia.org/laurie-metcalf) at the John Drew Theater at Guild Hall in East Hampton, New York[5](https://tvmeg.com/index.php/2021/05/01/eggoldsims/). In December 2024, ABC News reported on his villainous role in *Cross* and his Broadway debut starring with Daniel Dae Kim in *Yellowface*[6](https://abcnews.com/video/117006437/).
He returned to NBC in the *Law & Order* episode "Brotherly Love," airing October 30, 2025, reprising his role as Matt Riley; co-star Reid Scott said he had nudged showrunner Rick Eid to bring Eggold back[12](https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/law-and-order-family-reunion-for-riley-reid-scott-explanation-nudging-boss-bring-ryan-eggold-back). Upcoming credits listed by IMDb include *My Secret Santa* (2025) and voice work as Apollo in *Krapopolis*[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2375297).
## Music and personal life
When not acting, Eggold plays in a band as a musician and singer, and he placed some of his original music in the film *Lucky Them*[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2375297) • [13](https://www.marieclaire.com/celebrity/a115/ryan-eggold-qa/). In July 2018 he joined Samira Wiley in announcing the nominees for the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards[14](https://thewestfieldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Wednesday-July-11-2018a.pdf).
## References
1. [George Dickie, "Ryan Eggold" profile, Sun Newspapers, February 2–8, 2020](https://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/AA/00/05/43/97/01262/02-01-2020.pdf)
2. [Ryan Eggold, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2375297)
3. [John Russell, "Ryan Eggold on His Journey From 'The Blacklist' to 'Redemption'," TV Insider, February 16, 2017](https://www.tvinsider.com/115718/ryan-eggold-the-blacklist-redemption/)
4. [Anna Carugati, "Ryan Eggold," World Screen, September 24, 2019](https://worldscreen.com/new-amsterdams-ryan-eggold/)
5. ["Interview with Ryan Eggold and Jocko Sims," TVMEG, May 1, 2021](https://tvmeg.com/index.php/2021/05/01/eggoldsims/)
6. ["Actor Ryan Eggold on his television villain role and debut on Broadway," ABC News, December 20, 2024](https://abcnews.com/video/117006437/)
7. [Arnold Wayne Jones, "Actor-Director Ryan Eggold's Audition Advice + Behind-the-Scenes of 'The Blacklist'," Backstage](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/actor-director-ryan-eggolds-audition-advice-behind-scenes-3388/)
8. ["EXCLUSIVE: Ryan Eggold Talks Directorial Debut and Bittersweet Ride on 'The Blacklist: Redemption'," Entertainment Tonight](https://www.etonline.com/exclusive-ryan-eggold-talks-directorial-debut-and-bittersweet-ride-blacklist-redemption-88069)
9. [Chris Jancelewicz, "Ryan Eggold on 'New Amsterdam,' health care and leaving 'The Blacklist'," Global News, October 23, 2018](https://globalnews.ca/news/4572767/ryan-eggold-new-amsterdam-interview/)
10. [Lauren Piester, "5 Things You Didn't Know About Your New TV Crush, New Amsterdam's Ryan Eggold," E! News, September 25, 2018](https://www.eonline.com/news/971194/5-things-you-didn-t-know-about-your-new-tv-crush-new-amsterdam-s-ryan-eggold)
11. [Benjamin Lindsay, "1 Way Actors Can Become a Director's Best Friend," Backstage](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/way-actors-can-become-directors-best-friend-3232/)
12. [Laura Hurley, "Ahead Of Law And Order's Family Reunion For Riley...," CinemaBlend, October 30, 2025](https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/law-and-order-family-reunion-for-riley-reid-scott-explanation-nudging-boss-bring-ryan-eggold-back)
13. ["The Blacklist's Sexiest Badass, Ryan Eggold, Returns Next Season," Marie Claire](https://www.marieclaire.com/celebrity/a115/ryan-eggold-qa/)
14. [Westfield News, July 11, 2018](https://thewestfieldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Wednesday-July-11-2018a.pdf)
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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 Do to E*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license