Profile Text
Ryan in 2011, image via s_bukley / Shutterstock.com
Birth Name: Deborah Ann Popp
Place of Birth: Huntsville, Alabama, U.S.
Date of Birth: May 13, 1993
Ethnicity: English, Czech, German, Irish, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, 1/16th Italian
Debby Ryan, full name Deborah Ann Ryan, is an American actress, singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. Her roles include the series Barney & Friends , The Suite Life on Deck , R. L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour: The Series , Jessie , which she also directed episodes of; The Mysteries of Laura , Sing It! , Daytime Divas , Insatiable , The Resort , Velma , and American Horror Stories ; the films The Longshots , What If… (2010), Secret of the Wings , Rip Tide , Every Day , Life of the Party , Grace (2018), Horse Girl , The Opening Act , Night Teeth , Spin Me Round , Shortcomings , and The Sun Never Sets (2026); and the made-for-tv movies 16 Wishes , The Suite Life Movie , Radio Rebel , and Kristin’s Christmas Past . She was a founding member of indie folk band The Never Ending.
She was raised partly in Germany because of her father’s military career. Debby is married to musician Josh Dun , with whom she has a daughter. She has also been credited as Debby Dun.
Debby has stated that a DNA test has shown her genetic ancestry to be:
*7% Irish
*7% Irish
Debby’s patrilineal line can be traced to Martin Popp, who was born, c. 1735, in Verovice, Jicin okres, Moravosilesian Rebion, Czechia, the son of Mathais Pop and Rozina Kocian.
Debby’s paternal grandfather was Calvin Raymond Popp (the son of Henry H. Popp and Lois Podsednik). Calvin was born in West, Texas. Henry was the son of Frank Popp and Frances Kapavik, who was born in Czechia. Debby’s great-grandmother Lois’ father, Joseph Frank Podsednik, was born in Texas, to Czech parents, Frantisek “Franz/Frank” Podsednik and Antonia Mondrej. Lois’ mother, Mary Elizabeth Schneider, was born in Tours, Texas, the daughter of George Andrew Schneider and Anna Marie “Annie” Uptmor, who were of German descent.
Debby’s paternal grandmother was Selah Rose Shieldes (the daughter of Robert Shieldes and Myra Payne). Robert was the son of Robert Edward Lee Shields and Ida Rickett. Myra was the daughter of Howard Payne and Myrtle Starnes.
Debby’s maternal grandfather was Elwood Lynn “Skip” Carr (the son of Lynn Luther Carr and Roene Wealthy Belcher). Elwood was born in Lenoxville, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, and had deep roots in the U.S. Lynn was born in Lenox, Susquehanna County, the son of Nelson Byron Carr and Frances Emma Dunn. Roene was born in Carbondale Township, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Randell Tilden Belcher and Aletha Adeline Rankin.
Debby’s maternal grandmother was Patricia Leona Carden (the daughter of Francis De Sailes Carden Jr. and Beatrice Fortuner). Patricia was born in Pennsylvania. Francis was the son of Francis De Sailes Carden, whose parents were Irish; and of Mary Elizabeth Lee, whose father had deep roots in the U.S., and whose maternal grandparents were Irish. Debby’s great-grandmother Beatrice was the daughter of Michael Fortuner/Fortunato, an Italian immigrant; and of Anna Wagner, whose father, and maternal grandparents, were German immigrants.
Debby’s matrilineal line can be traced to Katharina Schmaus, who was born, c. 1824, in Germany.
Sources: Obituary of Debby’s paternal grandfather, Calvin Raymond Popp – https://www.legacy.com
Genealogy of Debby’s mother (focusing on her own father’s side) (through her own brother) – https://www.findagrave.com