Roz Ryan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Roz Ryan
Ryan singing the National Anthem at Citi Field in 2011
Born	Rosalyn Bowen Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Occupation	Actress singer comedian
Years active	1978–present

Roz Ryan (born Rosalyn Bowen) is an American actress, singer, and comedian. She has been performing in movies, TV shows, and on Broadway for over 40 years!

Roz Ryan first appeared on Broadway in 1978 in a musical called Ain't Misbehavin'. This show featured music by the famous artist Fats Waller. She is also well-known for her role as Amelia Hetebrink in the TV show Amen. Kids might recognize her voice as Thalia, the Muse of Comedy, from the 1997 Disney animated movie Hercules. She also played Grandma Gayle on the Disney Channel sitcom K.C. Undercover.

Roz Ryan's Early Life and Career Beginnings

Roz Ryan was born Rosalyn Bowen in Detroit, Michigan. Her parents were Gertrude and Thomas Bowen. She finished Mackenzie High School in 1969. A year later, she recorded a song called "You're My Only Temptation."

For 13 years, Roz Ryan worked as a singer in nightclubs in Detroit. Then, a friend suggested she try out for a Broadway musical. It was Ain't Misbehavin, a show with music by Fats Waller. Her audition went great! Just 10 days later, she was on stage performing.

Broadway Stage Performances

Roz Ryan has starred in many Broadway musicals. One of her most famous roles is Matron "Mama" Morton in the Tony Award-winning musical Chicago. She has played this character for a very long time, holding the record for the longest time in that role!

Other Broadway shows she has been in include A Christmas Carol, Dreamgirls, One Mo' Time, and The Pajama Game. In 2012, she starred in Scandalous: The Life and Trials of Aimee Semple McPherson. As of May 2016, she began her 13th time playing Mama Morton in Chicago.

List of Broadway Shows

• Scandalous: The Life and Trials of Aimee Semple McPherson (2012)
• The Pajama Game (2006)
• One Mo' Time (2002)
• Chicago (1996–2019)
• Dreamgirls (1981–1985)
• Ain't Misbehavin' (1978–1981)

Roz Ryan in Television and Movies

Roz Ryan is also very well-known for her work in television and movies. She played Amelia Hetebrink on Amen. She was also Mrs. Dixon on Good News and Flo Anderson on All About the Andersons.

Her voice acting is very popular! She was the voice of Thalia, the Muse of Comedy, in Disney's animated movie Hercules and Hercules: The Animated Series. She also voiced Bubbie the whale in the cartoon The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack.

You might also know her voice as Ms. Fitzpatrick, Kick's teacher, in Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil. She was also Witch Lezah in The Looney Tunes Show. She voiced Cake, the female cat version of Jake, in several Adventure Time episodes. She continued voicing Cake in the spin-off series Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake, which started in 2023.

She has appeared in movies like I Think I Love My Wife, The Invention of Lying, and Waiting for Forever. She also starred in The Rickey Smiley Show on TVOne.

Selected Film Roles

Selected Television Roles

Video Game Voice Roles