Ryan Barton-Grimley, affectionately known as "RBG" to his colleagues, is a multi-talented individual who has made a significant impact in the entertainment industry. Born in Harare, Zimbabwe, RBG graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and began his career as an actor.
Throughout his early years, RBG landed starring roles in several indie feature films, including "Tropical", "Now & Never", and numerous graduate films. He also appeared in notable television shows such as "Criminal Minds" and "The Price of Love". However, RBG soon became frustrated with the lack of creative control he had as an actor and decided to take on a new challenge.
With his passion for storytelling, RBG began writing and directing his own projects. One of his most notable works is the internationally acclaimed home invasion thriller "The Truth", which starred John Heard, Brendan Sexton III, Erin Cardillo, and Daniel Baldwin. The film was distributed worldwide by Warner Brothers, Netflix, Gravitas, and Showtime.
RBG's success with "The Truth" led him to star in and produce Douglas Mueller's debut feature film drama "Repatriation", which explores the theme of stolen valor. He also wrote, directed, and starred in the festival darling "Elijah's Ashes", a dark comedy that tackles brotherly love and homophobia. Both films received critical acclaim, won numerous awards, and were distributed worldwide.
As a lifelong fan of horror, RBG decided to take on a new project, writing, producing, directing, and starring in the 80's-inspired horror-comedy "Hawk & Rev: Vampire Slayers". The film premiered at the Dances with Films festival in 2020 and went on to play at over 30 horror and traditional film festivals worldwide. It won a slew of awards and received distribution worldwide from Freestyle Releasing in 2021, with write-ups in Bloody Disgusting, Rue Morgue, and a Rotten Tomato score of 83%.
Currently, RBG is in post-production on his latest project, "Listen Carefully", a psychological horror feature film that he wrote, directed, and stars in. According to RBG, this film will "make new parents cringe at the mere mention of a baby monitor!" The film is set to premiere on the film festival circuit in 2024.
