Sheila Ryan is one of the actresses whose name still goes around today despite passing away over a decade ago.
Since Hollywood is known to be the biggest hub for celebrity careers and relationships, many people are curious about her time in the limelight and former famous partners.
Sheila was also linked to Elvis and James Caan, so naturally, fans are interested in the woman who captured the hearts of these idols.
Today’s article will delve into the life of Sheila Marie Ryan, from her background and career to her past romances and family members.
Who Was Sheila Marie Ryan?
Sheila Marie Ryan was a well-known American model and actress. However, her celebrity status skyrocketed when her relationship with idols such as Elvis Presley and James Cann was revealed to the public.
From there, many eyes followed her relationships and personal life during her prime as an actress and even after she retired.
The peak of Sheila Marie Ryan’s career was back in the 1980s and 1990s. Her arsenal of works contains various films and TV shows. Later on, she added “talent agent” to her resume.
What Did Sheila Marie Ryan Do?
As I mentioned above, Sheila Marie Ryan was a former model and actress. Her true prominence can be attributed to the role she played in the movie Road House, released in 1989.
Besides featuring that Patrick Swayze film, her list of works includes 1990’s Fertilize the Blaspheming Bombshell and Hunter in 1984. In 1994, she delivered standout performances in Shelter from the Storm and Lone Blue Star.
Sheila Marie Ryan also appeared in recurring roles and guest features in a few TV series such as Rick Hunter with Fred Dryer in 1984.
As a model, Sheila was the cover girl for October’s issue of Playboy in 1973, which was the professional move that kickstarted her journey to fame and transitioned her to the big screen.
Later in her career, Sheila Marie Ryan turned to talent scouting and management where she discovered various rising actors and actresses as a talent agent.
When Was Sheila Marie Ryan Born?
Sheila Marie Ryan was born in Illinois, USA, specifically in Franklin Park in Cook County, on the 17th of September 1952.
As such, she was of American nationality and her zodiac sign was Virgo. She was of caucasian descent.
How Did Sheila Marie Ryan Grow Up?
Contrary to popular belief, Sheila Marie Ryan was the actress’s real name, not a stage name. She was raised in Franklin Park, Illinois where she was born to parents Arlene Ryan and Gerard Ryan.
Sheila had four siblings and she was the second youngest child after her older brother, Mike Ryan. Her three younger siblings were all sisters.
As for her education, Sheila Marie Ryan went to school in Franklin Park, Illinois. She got her high school diploma from Franklin Park’s East Leyden in 1971.
After that, she attended Playhouse West in North Hollywood for a theater course. By 1973, she was living in the Playboy mansion with a promising career ahead.
When Did Sheila Marie Ryan Die?
Sheila Marie Ryan passed away on the 18th of September 2012, just one day after her 60th birthday.
What Was Sheila Marie Ryan’s Cause of Death?
Sheila Marie Ryan died after a long battle with cancer. She was diagnosed sometime in the 1990s when her career was at its peak, however, the type of cancer wasn’t disclosed.
Sheila wasn’t discouraged though; she fought strong and hard to beat the pain and disease. Unfortunately, she lost to cancer in 2012 at the age of 60, taking her last breath in Canoga Park, California.
How Long Was Sheila Marie Ryan Married to James Caan?
It’s widely known that Sheila Marie Ryan was once married to the famous American actor James Caan. The pair met in 1975 and dated for about a year before they exchanged wedding vows on the 12th of January 1976.
However, their marriage didn’t last long and the couple ended up splitting a year later in 1977.
James Caan left our world on the 6th of July 2022, almost a decade after Sheila’s death. He was 82 years old when he died from a heart attack.
Does Sheila Marie Ryan Have Children?
Yes, Sheila Marie Ryan had one child with her ex-husband James Caan before they got divorced. Their son is named Scott Caan and he was born on the 23rd of August 1976.
In the divorce settlement, Sheila got custody of Scott and received monthly child support of $1,000 until he was 18. Additionally, she and James agreed that he’d pay her $3,000 a month for 5 years after the divorce.
Was Sheila Marie Ryan in a Relationship With Elvis?
Yes, Sheila Marie Ryan dated Elvis Presley before she married Caan. They were together for two years following a magical love-at-first-sight moment involving a grape outside his dressing room in Las Vegas.
Sheila was a muse to Elvis throughout their passionate relationship. He even dedicated the song And I Love You So to her, and Sheila wrote a book about her time with him.