birthday:  September 10, 1974

hometown:  New Castle, DE

early sightings:  TV's One Life to Live and the movies White Squall and I Know What You Did Last Summer

sweetie status:  He's been spotted around Los Angeles with screen star Reese Witherspoon.

slammin' summer movie:  He plays the mixed-up bartender Shane O'Shea in the '80s-excess flick 54.

cutie confession:  "I think it's funny [that girls might have crushes on me]," the blond babe says.  "I'm kind of uncomfortable with myself.  It's really unpleasant for me to look in the mirror."

role-model move:  Ryan's first gig broke new ground.  "I played a gay teenager on One Life to Live in 1992," he says.  "It was the first long-running story about a homosexual character."

cool work perk:  To prepare for his part in 54, Ryan hit the party scene:  "I spent a lot of time in New York City clubs," he says.