The Evolution of Ryan Gosling

The Evolution of Ryan Gosling

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re looking at Ryan Gosling’s evolution from child star, to dramatic actor, to Ken.

Part One: Can’t Wait to Grow Up

Born in Ontario, Canada at the dawn of the 80s, Ryan Gosling spent much of his youth on the road due to his father’s job as a traveling salesman. With his family’s lives revolving around the Mormon Church, Gosling wasn’t allowed to watch films unaffiliated with the Bible. He nonetheless managed to see “Dick Tracy,” one of his earliest acting influences. He also saw “First Blood,” which inspired the friendless Gosling to throw steak knives at the other school children, resulting in a suspension. Things weren’t much better at home as his parents’ marriage crumbled, although TV provided an escape. Seeing Raquel Welch dance with a giant spider on “The Muppet Show,” Gosling was no longer content watching TV. He wanted to be on it!

Demonstrating his knack for song and dance in talent shows, a 12-year-old Gosling was cast in a reboot of “The Mickey Mouse Club.” He performed alongside fellow rising stars Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Justin Timberlake. Gosling developed a close friendship with the latter, stealing a golf cart together. Timerlake’s mother also took temporary custody of Gosling as his parents divorced and his mother had to remain in Canada for work reasons. He eventually reunited with his mother, who stepped back from the church while allowing her son to choose his spiritual path. Gosling was raised alongside his sister Mandi, calling her his “best friend and… hero growing up.” The young actor otherwise had few friends until his early teens, calling himself “a lonely child.”

As much as he loved being a Mouseketeer, Gosling felt his co-stars were more gifted. That didn’t stop him from finding work. Gosling is among the few actors to appear in episodes of both “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” and “Goosebumps.” By 17, Gosling had dropped out of school to pursue acting full-time, starring in the teen dramedy “Breaker High” and playing the lead in “Young Hercules.” Unsatisfied portraying one character for an extended period, Gosling branched out to feature films. Following the little-seen “Frankenstein and Me,” Gosling hit the silver screen running as football player Alan Bosley in Disney’s “Remember the Titans.” Although this supporting role showcased his potential as a dramatic actor, Gosling sought to distance himself from his former child stardom, taking on darker parts.

Part Two: A Serious Actor

Since Gosling “hated being a kid,” it makes sense why he’d be eager to tackle adult characters. “The Believer” marked Gosling’s first film as a lead, playing a neo-Nazi from a Jewish upbringing. While Gosling shared little in common with this hate-filled protagonist, both had complicated relationships with their religious backgrounds, helping to shape his layered performance. The film was a Sundance favorite while Gosling’s transformative work echoed Edward Norton in “American History X.” After starring in “The Slaughter Rule,” “The United States of Leland,” and “Murder by Numbers,” briefly dating co-star Sandra Bullock, he rose to mainstream recognition as Noah Calhoun in the sleeper hit, “The Notebook.” This tearjerker was even more in the zeitgeist thanks to Gosling’s off-screen relationship with co-star Rachel McAdams.

Just as Noah and Allie get off on the wrong foot, Gosling recalls him and McAdams bringing out “the worst in each other” on set. Yet, it wasn’t long until they were a real-life item, accepting the MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss with another iconic smooth. When Gosling’s next film, “Stay,” bombed at the box office, he revisited the indie scene as Dan Dunne in “Half Nelson.” Gosling played a teacher trying to keep a sharp young student away from the drug world. Considering that Dunne himself has a substance issue, he’s not exactly a role model, but he still feels responsible for his students. Earning comparison to a young Marlon Brando, Gosling won the Indie Spirit Award for Best Male Lead.

Given the film’s minuscule budget and release, some wondered if “Half Nelson” would be on the Academy’s radar. In something of a pleasant surprise, Gosling received his first Best Actor Oscar nomination, still being among the category’s ten youngest nominees. He worked with the category’s oldest winner, Anthony Hopkins, in the legal thriller “Fracture,” but “Lars and the Real Girl” showcased a completely different side of Gosling. Channelling Jimmy Stewart in “Harvey,” Gosling unleashed his inner goofiness as a man who falls in love with a RealDoll. At the same time, Gosling infused the character with quiet sadness and sincerity, making us care about Lars and his Real Girl. Gosling was the real deal, although his career slowed down before shining brighter than ever.

Part Three: You Never Shined So Brightly

Gosling was set to play a grieving father in “The Lovely Bones.” Despite gaining 60 pounds for the role, Gosling was deemed too young, being replaced with Mark Wahlberg. Gosling took a three-year hiatus from acting. During this time, his romantic relationship with McAdams officially ended. Gosling remained in the public eye as one half of the rock duo Dead Man’s Bones while the infamous “Hey Girl” meme set the internet ablaze. Returning to the screen, Gosling rounded out 2010 playing a thinly veiled version of Robert Durst in “All Good Things” and Dean Pereira in “Blue Valentine.” The latter contained possibly Gosling’s most heartbreaking performance as we see Dean dissolve from an optimistic fool in love to a shell who can’t preserve his marriage.

Although co-star Michelle Williams scored a Best Actress nomination, Gosling’s absence from the Best Actor lineup was considered a major Oscar snub. Gosling said he was actually “relieved” not to be nominated, meaning his work on the campaign trail was done. He continued to exhibit his range, playing a lovable womanizer in “Crazy, Stupid, Love,” a stoic driver in “Drive,” and a Shakespearean campaign manager in “The Ides of March” all within one year. While only in the first act of “The Place Beyond the Pines,” this would be among Gosling’s most important projects, marking the beginning of his romantic partnership with co-star Eva Mendes. Following roles in “Gangster Squad,” “Only God Forgives,” and “White Shadow,” Gosling made his directorial debut with 2014’s “Lost River.”

That same year, Gosling and Mendes welcomed their first of two daughters. Becoming a father compelled Gosling to accept fewer dark roles. Between comedies like “The Big Short” and “The Nice Guys,” he hosted “SNL” for the first time. In 2016, Gosling reunited with co-star Emma Stone for the third time in “La La Land,” a modern musical in the nostalgic spirit of Fred and Ginger. Gosling learned to tap dance and play piano as Sebastian Wilder, his second Oscar-nominated role. Although he didn’t win, Gosling got to go on stage when “La La Land” won Best Picture… for a few minutes. The notorious mixup gave us many memeable moments, but nothing tops the image of Gosling giggling as the audience watched in horror.

This photo sums up Gosling in a nutshell. He takes his work seriously, but isn’t afraid to laugh at himself or the industry. After revisiting his silent yet strong side in “Blade Runner 2049,” “First Man,” and “The Gray Man,” Gosling went all in on his silly side as Ken. He decided to star in “Barbie” after he found his daughter’s Ken doll facedown in the mud, feeling his story must be told. Gosling molded Ken from Barbie’s most glorified accessory to a scene-stealer, resulting in the coolest Oscar nomination of his career. His most recent film, “The Fall Guy,” shines a spotlight on the unsung heroes who are stunt performers, although Gosling is now ironically one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood. Whether starring in a film as serious as “Blue Valentine” or playing a character as dimwitted as Beavis, Gosling has proven on his road from Mouseketeer to A-lister that he’s more than Kenough.

What’s your favorite Ryan Gosling performance? Let us know in the comments.