Trivia

Not related to, but is often confused with, the younger actor Paul Rudd. The younger actor initially billed himself as "Paul Stephen Rudd" in order to avoid confusion.

Retired from professional acting in 1986 to raise his children. He later began teaching theater, especially Shakespeare, and poetry in local middle schools and high schools, and set up various acting workshops.

He taught theater at Sarah Lawrence College and at the New School for Drama in New York City.

Originally named Paul Kenneth Rudd, he adopted Ryan as his middle name from his mother's maiden name, whose name had become Kathryn Rudd after marriage.

He is survived by his second wife, Martha Bannerman; three children, Graeme Rudd, Kathryn Rudd, and Eliza Rudd; and his mother, Kathryn Ryan Rudd.

He earned his Bachelor's degree in psychology from Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut. He briefly studied for the Roman Catholic Priesthood before he and his seminary parted amicably.

He studied at Boston Latin School and Assumption Prepatory School.

He worked in New York advertising before becoming an actor where he worked in Hartford Stage in Hartford, Connecticut; Long Wharf Theater in Connecticut; and Arena Stage in Washington D.C.