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Raviv Ullman

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Raviv Ullman
Born
Raviv Ullman

(1986-01-24) 24 January 1986 (age 38)
Eilat, Israel
NationalityIsraeli-American
Occupation(s)Actor, musician, director
Years active1997–present

Raviv "Ricky" Ullman (Template:Lang-he; born 24 January 1986), is an Israeli-American actor, director, and musician. He is best known for playing Phil Diffy, the main character in the Disney Channel series Phil of the Future.

Early life

Ullman was born in Eilat, Israel, to American Jewish parents Laura (née Ehrenkranz), a teacher, and Brian Ullman, a printer.[1][2] He has a younger sister and younger brother named Tali and Nadav, respectively.[3] After his first birthday, his family left their kibbutz in Israel for Norwalk, Connecticut, United States, and then to Fairfield, Connecticut the following year.[1] When Ullman was younger, his father worked as a clown.[citation needed] While attending summer camp, he played Peter Pan, which helped him discover his talents in acting, singing, dancing, and reading drama novels.

Ullman was raised in the Conservative and Orthodox denominations of Judaism.[4][5] His maternal grandfather, Joseph Ehrenkranz, was an Orthodox rabbi in Stamford, Connecticut.[6] Ullman is a first cousin, twice removed, of Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman.[6] Lieberman's mother and Ullman's matrilineal great-grandmother were sisters.

Ullman taught himself how to play the trombone. Ullman was selected to attend the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Foundation (HOBY) youth leadership program of Connecticut in March 2002 where he was selected as the "outstanding ambassador" enabling him to attend the HOBY World Leadership Congress in the summer of 2002. He went to Hillel Academy and is a graduate of Fairfield Warde High School.[1] He was active in National Conference of Synagogue Youth.[4]

Career

Early Career: 1997–2003

Ullman's first professional role was as Louis in the national touring company of The King and I along with Jesse McCartney. Other productions he worked on include Peter Pan at the Polka Dot Playhouse, The Music Man with the New England Repertory Company, and Just People at the Long Wharf Theatre. He received a 1998–1999 Best Actor nomination from the Connecticut Critics' Awards for his character Stanley in Stamford Theater Work's A Rosen by Any Other Name. He had small roles in film and television shows, notably portraying Christopher Knight in the 2000 movie Growing Up Brady.

Prominence in television: 2004–2009

Phil of the Future and Disney

Ullman is best known for his starring role as Phil Diffy, a teen from the year 2121 on Disney Channel's Phil of the Future, a series that debuted June 2004. He also starred as Roscoe in Disney's made-for-television film Pixel Perfect. During this period, Ullman appeared in other Disney Channel programming, such as a guest role on That's So Raven, and was an identified member of the Disney Channel Circle of Stars, appearing with other members of the Circle in the music video for "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes," where he sang as well as played the drums.

Rita Rocks and other television and film

In 2004, Ullman starred as Sam in ABC Family's television film Searching for David's Heart. He appeared in a string of independent films including The Big Bad Swim and Driftwood (2006), Normal Adolescent Behavior (2007), and Prom Wars (2008). During this period, he guest-starred in TV shows like Big Love and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Ullman was cast as Kip in the Lifetime sitcom Rita Rocks, which premiered in 2009. His character was the drummer in the titular character's band and her daughter's boyfriend. The show was canceled after two seasons.

While Ullman previously went by the stage name Ricky, he started using his real name in 2006 when he guest-starred on an episode of House[7] and continued to use Raviv on all projects since.[8]

Music

In June 2006, Ullman and a few of his friends created parody hip-hop music videos under the name the Webee Boys.[9] In December 2006, Ullman met actor Douglas Smith of Big Love fame and together they formed a band called Goodbye Ian. The group expanded to as many as seven people and later changed its name to His Orchestra. Ullman plays drums and glockenspiel in the band, which released its debut album, Field Guide to the Wilds, on February 24, 2009.[10]

Post-television career: 2009–Present

Theater

After completing Rita Rocks in 2009, Ullman had some small roles in short films, television, and film but began to focus his career on theater acting, starring in Off-Broadway and regional theater productions.

From January 2012 to March 24, 2012, Ullman starred as the character Alex in the New Group's production of Russian Transport Off-Broadway in New York. On April 30, 2012, it was announced that Ullman joined the cast of Alena Smith's new Off-Broadway play The Bad Guys. It began performances on May 22 at the McGinn/Cazale Theater on the Upper West Side in New York City. In 2014, Ullman acted opposite of Holly Hunter and Richard Chamberlain in the first revival of Sticks and Bones. Sticks and Bones opened November 6, 2014 and closed December 14, 2014.[11]

Ullman starred in the 2017 benefit play Right Before I Go at The Town Hall.[12]

In 2018, Ullman performed in the Roundabout Theatre Company Underground's much-lauded production of Usual Girls by Ming Peiffer.[13]

Music

Ullman is an accomplished musician and plays drums and guitar.[14] He has worked as a touring musician, notably with Soko on her 2012 tour. Ullman was a member of the band Reputante, which released their 2013 debut on Julian Casablancas' record label Cult Records. He departed the band sometime in 2015. With Reputante members James Levy and Jimmy Giannopoulos, Ullman helped form the band Lolawolf with actress Zoë Kravitz.[15] They released their self-titled debut EP on February 4, 2014. He left Lolawolf before the release of their first full-length record, Come Down, in October 2014.

Filmmaking

In October 2016, Ullman announced his project Standing Ground, a documentary that explores the Standing Rock Sioux Nation, the North Dakota Access Pipeline and the fossil fuels industry.[16] Production of the film took place throughout 2017.

Ullman also directs music videos.

Podcasting

Ullman, along with Rabbi Adam Greenwald, hosts The Study, a podcast focused on exploring, questioning, and applying the Torah.[17]. The trailer was released in late September 2020, and the first episode came out on October 2, 2020.

Personal life

Ullman speaks fluent Hebrew and keeps a kosher kitchen.[4] Ullman is an environmentalist and has called himself "a fourth generation activist".[14] He works with TAP (Teens AIDS Prevention).[18]

Ullman lived in Brooklyn, New York until 2020, when he moved to Los Angeles, California.[16] [19]

Filmography

Films

Year Film Role Notes
1998 Crossfire Aziz
2000 Growing Up Brady Christopher Knight TV movie
2001 The Boys of Sunset Ridge John Burroughs at 13
2004 Pixel Perfect Roscoe TV movie
Searching for David's Heart Sam TV movie
Costume Party Capers: The Incredibles Himself TV movie
2005 Kim Possible Movie: So the Drama Eric Voice
Totally Suite New Year's Eve Himself TV movie
2006 The Big Bad Swim Hunter McCarthy
Driftwood David Forrester
That Guy Logan TV Movie
2007 Normal Adolescent Behavior Price
The Violin David Short
2008 Prom Wars Percy
Mother Goose Parade Himself
2010 How to Make Love to a Woman Scott Conners
The Trouble with Cali Lois
2011 A Sense of Humor Laughing Man Short
2013 Contest Rip
TBA The Other Side Jacob In Development
Spring Break '83 Billy Filming completed in 2007; release postponed.

Television

Year Show Role Notes
2002 Guiding Light Jacky Episode dated 16 May 2002
Law & Order: Criminal Intent 1st Boy Episode: "Crazy" (January 13, 2002)
2004–2006 Phil of the Future Phil Diffy Lead role
2004 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Danny Spencer Episode: "Obscene" (October 12, 2004)
2005 That's So Raven Jake Haskell "On Top of Old Oaky" (April 22, 2005)
2006 Big Love Donna's makeout partner Episode: "Eclipse" (April 2, 2006)
House Jeremy Episode: "Fools for Love" (October 31, 2006)
2007 Cold Case Phil DiPreta, '98 Episode: "That Woman" (September 30, 2007)
2007 Phineas and Ferb Additional voices Episode: "Rollercoaster/Candace Loses Her Head" (August 17, 2007)
2008 The Middleman Derek Episode: "The Obsolescent Cryogenic Meltdown" (August 11, 2008)
2008–2009 Rita Rocks Kip Main cast; 40 episodes
2011 Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior Ben Episode: "The Time Is Now" (May 4, 2011)
2015 Broad City Reginald Carolla Episode: "In Heat" (January 14, 2015)
2018 Strangers Rory Recurring; 3 episodes

Stage

Year Play Role Venue Notes
1997 The King and I Louis National tour [20]
1999 A Rosen By Any Other Name Stanley
2005 Dead End Tommy Ahmanson Theatre [18]
2012 Russian Transport Alex The New Group @ Theatre Row [21]
2012 The Bad Guys Paul McGinn/Cazale Theatre [22]
2014 The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner Gunthorpe Stage 2 [23]
2014 Deathtrap Clifford Anderson Bucks County Playhouse [24]
2014 Sticks and Bones Rick The Pershing Square Signature Center [11]
2015 Bad Jews Jonah Geffen Playhouse [25]
2015 Choice Hunter Huntington Theatre [26]
2018 Right Before I Go The Town Hall One-night benefit[18]
2018 Usual Girls Rory Roundabout Underground Black Box Theatre [13]

References

  1. ^ a b c Levinson, Linda Tishler (19 November 2004). "Fairfield youth is 'Phil of the Future' on Disney Channel". Jewish Ledger. Fairfield, Connecticut. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
  2. ^ "Fairfield Actor in Disney Channel Program This June". Fairfield Citizen News. 19 March 2004.
  3. ^ "Ricky Ullman". NNDB. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c "Ricky Ullman: Jewish A'Phil'iation". Babaganews. Behrman House. Archived from the original on 14 April 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
  5. ^ "A teen idol with a difference". December 9, 2004.
  6. ^ a b Jacobson, Judie (23 February 2006). "Jewish Geography: The Celebrity Edition". Jewish Ledger. Archived from the original on 23 June 2009. Retrieved June 15, 2006.
  7. ^ "Screen capture from House". Retrieved June 28, 2008.
  8. ^ The following film posters feature his real name: 1, 2
  9. ^ "Webee Boys on MySpace Music". MySpace. Retrieved July 19, 2009.
  10. ^ "His Orchestra on MySpace Music". MySpace. Retrieved June 25, 2008.
  11. ^ a b "BWW TV: STICKS AND BONES' Richard Chamberlain, Holly Hunter, Bill Pullman & More Meet the Press! Video". www.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 2018-02-18.
  12. ^ "Choice | Huntington Theatre Company". www.huntingtontheatre.org. Retrieved 2018-02-14.
  13. ^ a b "Roundabout Theatre Company: Usual Girls". www.roundabouttheatre.org. Retrieved 2020-02-07.
  14. ^ a b "Standing Ground - A Documentary Film". Kickstarter. Retrieved 2018-02-14.
  15. ^ "I Was Very on Edge: Zoe Kravitz Explains Why Her New Band Lolawolf Came Together at Just the Right Time". ELLE. 2014-01-24. Retrieved 2018-02-14.
  16. ^ a b "Standing Ground - A Documentary Film". Kickstarter. Retrieved 2018-02-18.
  17. ^ https://screenrant.com/podcasts-hosted-by-former-child-actors/
  18. ^ a b c "CAST". Right Before I Go | A New Play by Stan Zimmerman | December 4, 2018 Town Hall NYC. Retrieved 2018-02-18.
  19. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0O3-v1kQGI&ab_channel=Aly%26AJ
  20. ^ League, The Broadway. "Ricky Ullman – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved 2018-02-18.
  21. ^ Desk, BWW News. "The New Group Closes RUSSIAN TRANSPORT". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2018-02-18. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  22. ^ Desk, BWW News. "Michael Braun et al. Star in Second Stage Theatre's THE BAD GUYS, Opening Tonight, 6/4". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2018-02-18. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  23. ^ Desk, BWW News. "Photo Flash: Meet the Cast of Atlantic Theater's LONELINESS OF THE LONG DISTANCE RUNNER". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2018-02-18. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  24. ^ Rogers, Marakay. "BWW Reviews: DEATHTRAP With Marsha Mason at Bucks County Playhouse". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2018-02-18.
  25. ^ Grigware, Don. "BWW Reviews: BAD JEWS a Riotous Dramedy at the Geffen". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2018-02-18.
  26. ^ "Choice | Huntington Theatre Company". www.huntingtontheatre.org. Retrieved 2018-02-18.
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