Profile Text
Ryan in 2009, photo by miromiro /Bigstock.com
Birth Name: Margaret Mary Emily Hyra
Place of Birth: Fairfield, Connecticut, U.S.
Date of Birth: November 19, 1961
Ethnicity: * father – one half Rusyn/Ruthenian, one half Polish * mother – Irish (five eighths), one quarter German, one eighth English
Meg Ryan is an American actress, director, and producer. Her roles include the films Rich and Famous (1981), Amityville 3-D , Top Gun , Armed and Dangerous , Promised Land (1987), Innerspace , D.O.A. (1988), The Presidio , When Harry Met Sally… , Joe Versus the Volcano , The Doors (1991), Prelude to a Kiss , Sleepless in Seattle , Flesh and Bone , When a Man Loves a Woman , I.Q. (1994), French Kiss , Restoration (1995), Courage Under Fire , Addicted to Love , Anastasia (1997), City of Angels , Hurlyburly , You’ve Got Mail , Hanging Up , Proof of Life , Kate & Leopold , In the Cut , Against the Ropes , In the Land of Women , The Deal , My Mom’s New Boyfriend , The Women (2008), Serious Moonlight , Ithaca , which she directed; and What Happens Later , which she directed and co-wrote; the series As the World Turns , One of the Boys , Charles in Charge , Wildside , Captain Planet and the Planeteers , and Web Therapy ; and the made-for-tv movie Fan Girl (2015).
Meg is the daughter of Susan, an actress and English teacher, and Harry Hyra, a math teacher. Her father is of half Rusyn/Ruthenian and half Polish ancestry. Her mother is of approximately five eighths Irish, one quarter German, and one eighth English, descent. Meg took on Anne as a confirmation name, becoming Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra. Her brother is singer, songwriter, and musician Andrew Hyra. Meg has a son, actor Jack Quaid , with her former husband, actor Dennis Quaid ; and a daughter, that she adopted from China.
Meg’s paternal grandfather was Michael Orest Hyra (the son of Orest J. Hyra and Anna “Annie” Durniak/Durkin). Meg’s grandfather Michael was born in New York, of Rusyn/Ruthenian descent. Meg’s great-grandfather Orest was born in Zdynia, Galicia, now Poland, the son of Georgi John Hyra and Katarzyna Mary Filyk/Fylak. Meg’s great-grandmother Anna was born in Pennsylvania, to Rusyn immigrant parents, from Hańczowa, Poland, Nicolaus Durniak/Durnyak/Mikolai/Michael Durkin and Catherine.
Meg’s paternal grandmother was named Mary Helen Jackowitz (the daughter of Michael Jackowitz/Jackiwicz/Jackewicz and Petronella). Mary was born in Connecticut, to ethnic Polish parents, from Kaunas, Lithuania.
Meg’s maternal grandfather was William Edwin Duggan (the son of Michael John Duggan and Matilda Dolz). William was born in New York. Michael was born in Ireland, the son of Denis Duggan, who had roots in Macroom, Cork; and Johanna Kellaher/Keliher. Matilda was born in New York, to German parents, George Dolz and Mary Elizabeth Franck.
Meg’s maternal grandmother was Margaret Mary Ryan (the daughter of Thomas Timothy Ryan and Emily Louise McManus). Margaret was born in New York. Thomas was born in Elmhurst, New York, to Irish parents, Timothy Ryan, with roots in O’Briensbridge, County Clare; and Johanna Luby/Looby, with roots in Clonmel, Tipperary. Meg’s great-grandmother Emily was born in New York, the daughter of Phillip H. McManus, who was born in Ireland; and of Ann/Ana Thomas, who was also born in the British Isles. Emily’s sister, Lucille Ryan, had a radio show broadcast across Europe, My Gal Saturday .
Sources: Genealogy of Meg Ryan (focusing on her father’s side) – https://www.geni.com
Meg’s paternal grandfather, Michael Orest Hyra, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Meg’s paternal grandmother, Mary Helen Jackowitz, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Meg’s mother on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Meg’s maternal grandfather, William Edwin Duggan, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Marriage record of Meg’s maternal great-grandparents, Michael John Duggan and Matilda Dolz – https://familysearch.org
Meg’s maternal grandmother, Margaret Mary Ryan, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org Margaret Mary Ryan on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Meg’s maternal great-grandparents, Thomas Timothy Ryan and Emily Louise McManus, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org