Tygh Runyan is an award-winning actor, best known for his work in feature films such as 15 Minutes with Robert DeNiro, K-19 The Widowmaker with Harrison Ford & Liam Neesen, Antitrust with Tim Robbins, and Snakes On A Plane with Samuel L. Jackson. With a passion for independent film, Tygh has garnered awards & critical acclaim for his nuanced and memorable performances in films like the Sundance hit The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle, Twist with Nick Stahl, Normal, Mount Pleasant, A Night For Dying Tigers, Various Positions, and Emile opposite Sir Ian McKellen.
In 2006, Runyan played the cinematic maestro Stanley Kubrick in legendary director Monte Hellman's film, Stanley's Girlfriend, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. A frequent collaborator with Mr. Hellman, Tygh also starred as an obsessed film director in his 2010 epic Road To Nowhere which won the Special Golden Lion award at the 67th Venice Film Festival. Runyan, who got his start in television on the teen series Northwood, has guest starred regularly on hit TV series such as Dead Like Me, The L-Word, Stargate Universe, and the Peabody Award winning Battlestar Galactica.
In 2001, Tygh founded the Amigos Solos Theater Company with fellow actor James Hutson. Their production of David Mamet's American Buffalo, directed by founding member of The Actors Institute Los Angeles Larry Gilman, was received with critical acclaim.
Having played guitar since childhood, at 19 he formed the experimental rock band Beans with two high school friends, and went on to release 5 albums on various record labels & tour extensively. Runyan also played lead guitar for indie rock band The Awkward Stage. As composer, Tygh has scored the feature films Various Positions, Red Deer (as Beans), & Control Alt Delete. He was nominated for a Leo award for his score of the short film Whiteout. He plays guitar and keyboards in LA-based band Corredor.
A Film/Video alumnus of the world renowned Emily Carr University of Art And Design, Runyan also keeps busy directing and producing his own projects for his company Foreverbad Media Ranch. With several feature film projects in development, he recently completed shooting the sci-fi short film, Eclissi, which he wrote & directed.
Born in Vancouver, Canada to American parents while studying abroad. Runyan is a citizen of both the United States and Canada. Being raised between a small fishing town just outside of Vancouver and Denver, Colorado, he is a self-proclaimed "Citizen of The World".