Ria Pavia is a multifaceted professional in the entertainment industry, boasting an impressive array of skills that include directing, producing, writing, and acting/dialogue coaching.
Her career began with a stint as a gymnast in a tampon commercial during the 1980s, which led to her transition into acting, with roles in TV commercials, guest appearances, and film. She made notable recurring appearances on Married With Children, The Hughleys, and the soap opera Santa Barbara.
Pavia's career then took a turn into the world of casting, where she worked as a casting associate on films such as Twister, Dead Presidents, and Flirting with Disaster. Her experience in casting preceded her shift into writing, where she served as a staff writer on the TV shows Ask Harriet, starring Ed Asner, and Pauly, starring Pauly Shore.
In the theatre world, Pavia has collaborated with renowned actors such as Noah Wyle, Jennifer Aniston, and Mark Ruffalo, directing over 45 plays and musicals. She has also served as an acting coach for six seasons on Freeform's Grownish and directed her first music video, featuring Trevor Jackson, in partnership with TikTok and Apple.
The comedic sketches she directed for The Tam & Kevin Show are now available to stream on Second City's platform. Pavia was thrilled to direct Table Read My Screenplay for the International Screenwriters Association at Sundance in January 2023.
In addition to her work in the entertainment industry, Pavia has recently directed episodes of Grownish and General Hospital. She attended Interlochen Arts Academy for high school as a Theatre Major, studied under the guidance of the late Sanford Meisner in the West Indies, and finished her education at UCLA, focusing on Theatre, TV & Film.
Pavia's most challenging and rewarding role, however, is that of a mother to her three children: Adrianna, 23 years old, and twins Dominic and Rocco, 21 years old.
