- NRL cult hero’s entertainment career gets a boost
Footy star turned media identity Beau Ryan has officially made it to Hollywood after confirming he will feature in the soon-to-be released film The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants.
Ryan, 40, voices Coach Tuna, appearing in a scene with Squidward in the Australian version of the film, which hits cinemas on Boxing Day.
SpongeBob SquarePants is a beloved American animated comedy television series featuring a sea sponge who lives in a pineapple under the sea.
Speaking on Triple M Breakfast with Beau, Cat & Woodsy on Tuesday, former Wests Tigers flyer Ryan admitted it has been challenging to keep the huge news under wraps.
‘It’s been tricky, because I told my son. I’m NDA’d (non-disclosure agreement) up to my eyeballs,’ the ex-NRL star said.
‘I’m coach Tuna… So he’s a big tuna, but he looks like a shark… he’s the coach of Squidward Tentacles.
Footy star turned media identity Beau Ryan has made it to Hollywood after confirming he will feature in the soon to be released film The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants (pictured, with singer Ricky Martin)
Speaking on Triple M Breakfast with Beau, Cat & Woodsy, former Wests Tigers flyer Ryan admitted it has been challenging to keep the huge news under wraps
‘I don’t want to give too much away, but he, like any coach from high school, is still very hard on him (SpongeBob SquarePants).’
Ryan told his Triple M co-hosts he only ‘has two lines in the movie’ – and conceded the role amounts to is ‘about 30 seconds of fame.’
After retiring from the NRL in 2014 due to an ongoing neck injury, the former Footy Show funnyman turned his attention to the big screen.
In 2019, Ryan was the host of Channel 10’s The Amazing Race Australia and then appeared as a contestant on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! three years later.
Ryan has also co-hosted Gladiators Australia and began working for Triple M Breakfast in January.
The married father of two was in the spotlight a decade ago for the wrong reasons after news broke he had reportedly slept with former Hi-5 performer Lauren Brant, who was engaged.
Daily Mail understands Ryan and Brant were working on the set of the stage production Aladdin And His Wondrous Lamp.
At the time, a remorseful Ryan addressed the affair allegations on the NRL Footy Show, stating: ‘I want to apologise to all the people who have been hurt recently.
‘It’s been really, really hard for myself and my family and everyone involved.’
