Bloody Disgusting has learned that new documentary film He Came from Ridley Park: The RL Ryan Story is coming soon from Leroy Street Films and Movie Dumpster, exploring the life and legacy of the 1980s cult film actor who memorably appeared in the classic Troma films The Toxic Avenger and Class of Nuke ‘Em High, as well as the original Street Trash.
The documentary team tells Bloody Disgusting, “RL Ryan was a beloved and recognizable 1980s cult film actor whose life off-camera was largely unknown to the audiences who remember his work. RL (aka Robert or Bob) was born and raised in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania and is best remembered today as “Mayor Belgoody” in the Troma classic The Toxic Avenger (1984); “Mr. Finley” in Class of Nuke ‘Em High (1986); the alien creature “Murray” in the sci-fi cannibal comedy, Eat & Run (1986); and “Frank Schnizer” in the original Street Trash (1987).”
“Beyond these cult genre favorites, Bob also appeared alongside Nicolas Cage and Matthew Modine in Birdy (1984); and Kim Cattrall and Andrew McCarthy in Mannequin (1987),” the documentary team continues. “He also had many small roles and background parts in NYC and Philadelphia-area film productions. He was a cherished member of his Ridley Park community and a familiar face in the bustling local theater scene of the 1970s and 1980s.”
Tragically, Bob passed away in 1991 at the age of 44, but not before leaving his mark on many memorable films from his era. The announcement of the upcoming documentary film He Came from Ridley Park coincides with the 35th anniversary of Bob’s untimely passing.
He Came From Ridley Park: The RL Ryan Story will pull back the curtain on a man with dynamic talents who persevered to fulfill his dream of becoming a professional actor. Through rare interviews with his acting and filmmaker colleagues – including Troma co-founder and legendary indie filmmaker Lloyd Kaufman – and intimate conversations with Bob’s family, this documentary will offer a unique portrait of a towering man and a kind and gentle soul.
The film will also showcase rare and never-before-seen archive from across his life and professional career to help tell his story. The team behind the documentary includes…
John Campopiano is an award winning New England documentary filmmaker, archivist, and producer, and is co-founder of Leroy Street Films. For the last decade he has worked as the Archives & Rights Manager for the Emmy & Academy Award-winning PBS documentary filmseries Frontline and has written and produced independent documentaries including Unearthed & Untold: The Path to Pet Sematary (2017); Snapper: The Man-Eating Turtle Movie That Never Got Made (2021); Pennywise: The Story of IT (2022) which premiered at the Sitges Film Festival in Spain and won FANGORIA’s Chainsaw Award for Best Documentary in 2023; Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story (2023); The Farmer & the Shark (2026) and the upcoming Sasqua: The Lost Bigfoot Film of Massachusetts.
Joe La Scola is a New Jersey grown director, cinematographer, producer, and visual effects artist. He has worked on a range of independent genre projects, including Outhouse (2010), She Kills (2016), Swamp Zombies 2 (2018), The Arrangement (2020), The Barn: Part II (2022), Art Attack! The Dissection of Terrifier 3 (2025), and The Angry Video Game Nerd 8-Bit (2025). In addition to his film work, Joe is the co-creator and host of the Movie Dumpster podcast, where he explores cult classics, horror, and genre filmmaking with history, insight, and humor.
Matthew Spry is a writer, producer, and co-founder of Leroy Street Films. He has been writing, blogging, and podcasting about films since 2010. He was a co-writer for The Farmer & the Shark (2026) and a producer and writer for the upcoming Sasqua: The Lost Bigfoot Film of Massachusetts.
Witter Entertainment is co-producing alongside Leroy Street Films and Movie Dumpster.
