Profile Text
Murphy in 2019, photo by kathclick /Bigstock.com
Birth Name: Ryan Patrick Murphy
Place of Birth: Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Date of Birth: November 9, 1965
Ethnicity: Irish, one quarter Danish, English, small amounts of Welsh and German
Ryan Murphy is an American writer, director, and producer. He directed the films Running with Scissors , which he wrote; Eat Pray Love , which he co-wrote; and The Prom (2020). He has created the shows Nip/Tuck and The Glee Project , which he was a judge on; co-created the shows Popular , Glee , American Horror Story , The New Normal , Scream Queens , Feud , 9-1-1 , Pose , The Politician , 9-1-1: Lone Star , Hollywood , American Horror Stories , Monster , The Watcher , Grotesquerie , Doctor Odyssey , 9-1-1: Nashville , and All’s Fair ; and developed the show Ratched . He has also been a showrunner on Glee , American Horror Story , and Monster ; directed episodes of all of the above shows except for the 9-1-1 shows, American Horror Stories , Monster , and Doctor Odyssey ; and wrote for all of the above shows except for Ratched . He also directed the made-for-tv movie The Normal Heart , as well as episodes of the show American Crime Story , and wrote for the show Halston . He often works with Ian Brennan and Brad Falchuk .
His father was a circulation director in newspapers. His mother wrote five books. Ryan was raised Catholic. He is married to photographer David Miller, with whom he has three children.
Ryan’s paternal grandfather was Timothy J. Murphy (the son of Patrick Murphy and Helen M. Lane). Timothy was born in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. Patrick was born in Pennsylvania, to Irish parents, Michael Murphy and Catherine Looby.
Ryan’s paternal grandmother was Aldine Linda Holland (the daughter of Harry Leland Stanford Holland and Linda Rae Shade). Aldine was born in Newry, Pennsylvania. Harry was the son of John Baker Holland and Lavenia/Lavinia Weaver. Linda was the daughter of John B. Shade and Mary Catherine Rhodes.
Ryan’s maternal grandfather was Olav Andersen (the son of Anton Andersen and Laurette/Louetta Jensine Molly). Olav was born in Ålborg, Denmark.
Ryan’s maternal grandmother was Myrtle Mary Leppert (the daughter of George William Leppert and Irene Marie Williams). Myrtle was born in Ohio. George was the son of George Leppert and Mary Elizabeth Harrigan. Irene was the daughter of John Loyd Williams and Laura Bell Wilder.
Sources: Genealogy of Ryan’s father – https://www.findagrave.com
Genealogies of Ryan’s paternal grandparents, Timothy J. Murphy and Aldine Linda Holland – https://www.genealogieonline.nl
Genealogy of Ryan’s maternal grandmother, Myrtle Mary (Leppert) Andersen – https://www.findagrave.com