Raviv Ullman

Raviv Ullman

Ullman in the Huntington Theatre Company’s production of "Choice", September 2015
Born Raviv Ullman
(1986-01-24) January 24, 1986
Eilat, Israel
Other names Ricky Ullman
Occupation Actor, musician
Years active 1997–present

Ricky Ullman (Hebrew: רביב אולמן; born January 24, 1986), is an Israeli-American actor 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 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, USA, and then to Fairfield, Connecticut the following year.[1] When Ullman was younger, his father worked as a clown. 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, is 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

Acting

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.

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 and as Sam in ABC Family's television film Searching for David's Heart (2005). Ullman was an identified member of the Disney Channel Circle of Stars, and appeared 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. Ullman also appeared in the Law & Order: SVU episode "Obscene," in which his character rapes a teen star (Maggie Grace).

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] In 2008, he appeared in an episode of the television series The Middleman.

He played the character Kip in the sitcom Rita Rocks on Lifetime. He is Rita's daughter's boyfriend and plays the drums in Rita's band. The show was canceled after two seasons. Ullman was later featured in a television commercial for State Farm Insurance alongside John C. McGinley and in a commercial for Cox Cable. 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.

Music

In June 2006, Ullman and a few of his friends created a parody hip-hop music video, "Pointy Hat (The Boat Song)," under the name the Webee Boys.[9] The video was viewed over 300,000 times since it was posted to YouTube on June 26, 2006.[10] Two other music videos were released, "Refrigerator (Gangsta' Way)" in August 2006, which was viewed over 100,000 times[11] and "Bop It (Webee Anthem)" in March 2007. The Webee Boys have performed live exclusively at the Gig in Hollywood, California.[12]

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.[13]

Both groups communicate online through the social networking Web sites MySpace[9][13] and Twitter.[14][15] Raviv is currently in the band Reputante on Julian Casablancas' Cult Records.

Personal life

Ullman speaks fluent Hebrew and keeps a kosher kitchen.[4]

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 Sam 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
2010 Spring Break '83 Billy
The Trouble with Cali Lois Post-production
How to Make Love to a Woman Scott Conners
2013 Contest Rip
2015 The Other Side Jacob

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)
2004–06 Phil of the Future Phil Diffy 43 episodes
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)
2008 The Middleman Derek Episode: "The Obsolescent Cryogenic Meltdown" (August 11, 2008)
Phineas and Ferb Additional voices
Rita Rocks Kip 2008-2009 (40 episodes)
2011 Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior Ben Episode: "The Time Is Now" (May 4, 2011)
2012 "State Farm Insurance Commercial" Kevin July 2012
2015 Broad City College Kid Episode: "In Heat" (January 14, 2015)

Stage

Year Play Role Notes
1997 The King and I Louis
1999 A Rosen By Any Other Name Stanley
2005 Dead End Tommy
2012 Russian Transport Alex
2012 The Bad Guys Paul
2014 The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner Gunthorpe
2014 Deathtrap Clifford Anderson
2014 Sticks and Bones Rick
2015 Bad Jews Jonah

References

  1. 1 2 3 Levinson, Linda Tishler (19 November 2004). "Fairfield youth is 'Phil of the Future' on Disney Channel". Jewish Ledger (Fairfield, Connecticut). 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. 1 2 3 "Ricky Ullman: Jewish A'Phil'iation". Babaganews. Behrman House. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
  5. "A teen idol with a difference". December 9, 2004.
  6. 1 2 Jacobson, Judie (23 February 2006). "Jewish Geography: The Celebrity Edition". Jewish Ledger. 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. 1 2 "Webee Boys on MySpace Music". MySpace. Retrieved July 19, 2009.
  10. "The Boat Song". YouTube. Retrieved July 15, 2009.
  11. "Refrigerator (Gangsta' Way)". YouTube. Retrieved July 15, 2009.
  12. "Webee Goin To Da Gig". YouTube. Retrieved July 15, 2009.
  13. 1 2 "His Orchestra on MySpace Music". MySpace. Retrieved June 25, 2008.
  14. "Webee Boys (webeeboys) on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved July 19, 2009.
  15. "his Orchestra (hisorchestra) on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved July 19, 2009.

External links

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