John St. Ryan (born 1953 in Burnley, Lancashire) appeared on Coronation Street as a Barman in September 1987 and then between December 1993 and October 1994 as long distance lorry driver Charlie Whelan, who was romantically involved with Rovers landlady Bet Gilroy before embarking on an affair and leaving Weatherfield for Germany with barmaid Tanya Pooley.
He also appeared in an episode of the Street spin-off The Brothers McGregor in 1986.
He spent much of his younger life involved in the world of Martial Arts both as a fighter and a teacher, which led him into the world of independent films and made his acting debut in the 1983 Brit cult movie GBH. He went on to make appearances on-screen including roles in MacGyver, The Twilight Zone, Emmerdale, Wipe Out and The Assassinator.
Moving to California in the mid 1990s, he owns and operates the Red Rose Ranch, a working horse and cattle ranch near Inyokern, California, where he raises, boards, and sells horses. He trains horses and riders in both dressage and western riding; Ryan's specialty is the doma vaquera style of western riding, a Spanish form of competitive Western pleasure riding. He has won multiple national and international titles in the sport, and he has written books and produced videos on the doma vaquera style.
Since moving stateside, he has also appeared in Murder She Wrote, Babylon 5, Gargoyles, General Hospital, EZ Streets, Roar, Cybill, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Revolution.