Former EastEnders actor Jack Ryder has publicly shared a surprising family secret, revealing that his father is a rockstar from a chart-topping 1980s band. Ryder, now 44, is best known for his role as Jamie Mitchell on the BBC soap opera from 1998 to 2002.
Revelation of Famous Roots
In a recent interview with The Sun, Ryder disclosed that his father is Jeremy Allan Ryder, aged 77, who performs under the stage name Jack Hues. Hues was the frontman of the new wave band Wang Chung, which achieved significant success during the 1980s with several international hits.
Wang Chung's Musical Legacy
The band Wang Chung is perhaps most famous for their 1986 single "Everybody Have Fun Tonight," which reached number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 and topped the charts in Canada, while peaking at number 76 in the UK. Earlier tracks like "Don't Let Go" and "Dance Hall Days" both reached number one on the US Dance Chart in 1984.
Wang Chung also contributed music to the iconic 1985 film The Breakfast Club, cementing their place in pop culture history. Although the group disbanded in 1990, they have reunited multiple times over the years and released a greatest hits album in 2017.
Reflections on Fame and Family
Ryder explained that he and his father have discussed their experiences with fame extensively. "My dad was a famous pop star in America in the Eighties and we have talked about this a lot," he told The Sun. "He never enjoyed fame and always found it confusing, and I think I felt much the same way."
EastEnders Career and Departure
Ryder was just 16 years old when he joined the cast of EastEnders as Jamie Mitchell, a troubled teenager who lived with his godfather Phil Mitchell. His storylines often revolved around his tumultuous on-again, off-again relationship with Sonia Fowler, played by Natalie Cassidy.
"Being a heartthrob was never something I really aligned with," Ryder admitted. "I never quite understood it and I found it difficult to deal with, especially the frenzy of it all." He left the soap in 2002 in a dramatic exit storyline that saw Jamie die after being run over by Martin Fowler, a plot that earned a British Soap Award nomination.
Life After Albert Square
Since departing EastEnders, Ryder has built a diverse career across multiple entertainment mediums. He has taken on roles in BBC Radio 4's The Archers and the medical drama Holby City.
Perhaps more significantly, Ryder has established himself as a successful theatre director. His credits include the West End production of Calendar Girls, a touring version of The Full Monty, and Gary Barlow's musicals The Girls and The Band. In 2020, he expanded his creative output by publishing his first children's book, titled Jack's Secret Summer.
This revelation about his rockstar father adds a new dimension to Ryder's public persona, connecting his own experiences in the spotlight with his father's earlier career navigating the complexities of musical fame during the 1980s.
