We Speak Actors
Actor and wrestler Ryan Nemeth on appearing alongside Zac Efron in ‘The Iron Claw’
Ryan Nemeth – actor, writer, comedian and pro-wrestler – is a truly multi-faceted Hollywood talent. He plays the iconic 1980s wrestler Gino Hernandez in the much-anticipated A24 film ‘The Iron Claw’, and has appeared on TV shows including ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’, ‘The Eric Andre Show’, and ‘I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson’. Ryan, known in the wrestling world as ‘Hollywood Hunk Ryan Nemeth’, currently wrestles exclusively on AEW (All Elite Wrestling)TV programming, but his contract is up in early spring 2024 and he says he’s “open-minded and excited” about what the future holds. He is repped by BAC Talent and Brevard Talent Group.
Tell us about your role in the upcoming wrestling film ‘The Iron Claw’?
“It was an absolute dream! The script brought me to tears every time I read it. I’ve wrestled Kevin Von Erich’s sons in the past, and they’re great, so to be cast in this prolific film about the Von Erich family was very meaningful for me. I studied Gino Hernandez matches for months, every move and mannerism; I just wanted to nail it. After one of the longest in-ring days on set, Sean Durkin (the writer and director) pulled me aside and said, ‘Ryan, you seriously brought Gino to this film’. I was speechless. It was one of those moments you just feel like you’re in the right place in life. I worked about three weeks on the film, and loved every minute of it. The cast is amazing. It was a thrill to do so much in-ring stuff with Harris Dickinson and Zac Efron, who both took to it really naturally. They really put in the work! Harris has a really great dropkick in the film as well.”
What’s your wrestling persona?
“I’ve been wrestling for about 10 years. I worked in WWE NXT for three years, then on independents, and in 2021 I signed with AEW. I perform as ‘Hollywood Hunk Ryan Nemeth’ – I’m a cocky, pretty-boy villain with a dash of Ken from ‘Barbie’. A himbo you love to hate!”
Tell us about how you got started in the film industry?
“When I moved to LA I started auditioning, networking, and helping out on other people’s projects. I got lots of reps on stuff like ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’and some bigger things like ‘Pee-wee’s Big Holiday’. I also started writing: things like ‘WWE Swerved’ for Jeff Tremaine, and smaller projects that I could act in myself. I was also lucky early on to book a few national commercials, like a very fun Venmo campaign where I’m riding miniature horses, and an Xfinity spot alongside Amy Poehler. Look up the Venmo one, it’s very funny.”
Other than ‘The Iron Claw’, which film projects are you most proud to be a part of?
“I wrote and starred in a short film called ‘Heel’ that I’m so proud of. It was the first time I collaborated with filmmaker Maggie Levin, which was really great. It was screened and won awards at over 20 festivals around the world. I am eternally grateful to everyone who worked on it. I had two screenplays optioned last year – I’m always working on something! I had a really fun part in Ethan Nestor’s new movie ‘I Have to Do This’; playing his best friend Justin, in this hyper-stylized, insane, absurd world. I’ve started to do some voice acting as well, which is a whole new challenge.”
Featured photo credit: Brandon Cohen
We Speak Actors
Joseph Nybyk Guests On “If These Walls Could Talk” With Hosts Wendy Stuart and Tym Moss Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026
Who else but hosts Wendy Stuart and Tym Moss could “spill the tea” on their weekly show “If These Walls Could Talk” live from Pangea Restaurant on the Lower Eastside of NYC, with their unique style of honest, and emotional interviews, sharing the fascinating backstory of celebrities, entertainers, recording artists, writers and artists and bringing their audience along for a fantastic ride.
Joseph Nybyk will be a featured guest on “If These Walls Could Talk” with hosts Wendy Stuart and Tym Moss on Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026 at 2 PM ET live from the infamous Pangea Restaurant.
Wendy Stuart is an author, celebrity interviewer, model, actor, filmmaker and along with If These Walls Could Talk, she hosts TriVersity Talk, a weekly web series with featured guests discussing their lives, activism and pressing issues in the LGBTQ Community.
Tym Moss is a popular NYC singer, actor, and radio/tv host who recently starred in the hit indie film “JUNK” to critical acclaim.
Joseph Nybyk is an award-winning writer, actor, director, and stand-up comedian with a career that bridges both the creative and business sides of Hollywood. Originally from Tucson, Arizona, he moved to Los Angeles in 1997 and began his career in the marketing department at Paramount Pictures before serving as a creative executive at Landmark Entertainment, where he worked under James Cameron and Michael Jackson. That early industry experience gave him a rare, inside-out understanding of how stories are made—and sold.
Joseph left the corporate world to pursue acting full-time after landing a role in Jerry Maguire, launching a performance career that includes over fifty national commercials and appearances across film and television. As a filmmaker, he has written, directed, and starred in numerous short films, web series, and independent features that have screened at festivals around the world. His work has earned awards for Best Film, Best Short, Best Screenplay, and Best Director, as well as Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the provocative short The Day the Rabbit Died. His short Feeling Blessed got into virtually every faith based film festival and two Academy Award nominating festivals. He made this short back to back with a horror short titled Lights Off that got into 10 of the most prestigious horror film festivals in the world. His indie feature Ocean Front Property, which he wrote, directed, and starred in, marked his feature debut. He has since continued developing and financing original projects while optioning scripts to multiple producers.
A veteran of the stand-up comedy circuit, Joseph’s comedy blends sharp observation with personal storytelling, often drawing from his time bartending at the legendary Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel. His routine has taken him to clubs, colleges, theaters, and casinos nationwide, and in 2025 he was named Best Comedian by Tucson Weekly. He is also the founder of the Faith in Film International Film Festival, dedicated to supporting meaningful, faith-driven storytelling. Joseph holds a Master’s degree in Film from the New York Film Academy. He is a proud alumnus of the University of Arizona and continues to balance performing, filmmaking, and developing original content from his home base in Arizona and California.
Watch Joseph Nybyk on “If These Walls Could Talk” with hosts Wendy Stuart and Tym Moss on Youtube here:
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