Who plays Ryan in The Boys? Actor's career and notable projects, explored 

The Amazon Prime Video show The Boys was first released on July 26, 2019.

Since then, it has become one of the most talked-about superhero shows. The show shows a dark and serious world. In this world, “Supes” are famous people with superpowers. They are sold as products, used, and controlled by a powerful company. A small group of vigilantes tries to expose who the Supes really are.

In this harsh and complex world, one young character slowly becomes important. His name is Ryan Butcher, played by Cameron Crovetti. He is the son of Homelander, a very powerful Supe. Ryan’s role points to big questions about power, identity, and innocence. Ryan begins as a weak and hidden child. As the show goes on, he becomes very important to the story. He shows both the effects of abuse and the chance for redemption.

Ryan’s role has changed over many seasons. The young actor who plays him has gained attention. People notice both his acting skills and the recasting of the role.

Next, we look at who plays Ryan in The Boys. We also trace the career and major projects of the actor.

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Who plays Ryan in The Boys? The actor behind Ryan Butcher

The character Ryan Butcher in The Boys is now played by Cameron Crovetti. He started playing Ryan in Season 2. Ryan first appeared at the end of Season 1. That short scene was played by a different child actor. His name was Parker Corno. He was listed as “8-Year-Old Boy.”

Cameron Crovetti was born on March 12, 2008, in California. He started acting at a very young age. He worked on other TV shows before The Boys. Cameron has a twin brother named Nicholas Crovetti. Both brothers acted together in the HBO show Big Little Lies. They played the twin sons of Celeste Wright (played by Nicole Kidman) and Perry Wright (played by Alexander Skarsgård).

In The Boys, Ryan Butcher is the son of Homelander and Becca Butcher. Becca’s last name was Saunders before marriage. Ryan is the first naturally born Supe in the story. He was born with inherited powers. This makes him very important to the story.

Since taking the role, Cameron Crovetti has become the main face of Ryan. He carries much of the show’s emotional weight. Ryan changes from a hidden child into a boy struggling with his powers, who he is, and the dangerous influence of his father.

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Cameron Crovetti’s career beyond Ryan: Early roles and other notable projects

Many people know Cameron Crovetti as “the kid who plays Ryan.” But his acting career goes beyond The Boys. He has played many different roles. These roles show his talent and early promise.

Cameron’s first big role came in Big Little Lies. In this show, he played a normal child. He acted beside his twin brother, Nicholas Crovetti. Together, they played the twin sons of Celeste and Perry Wright.

This early role helped prepare him for future work. It showed he was comfortable on set. It showed he could handle high-profile shows. These skills likely helped him get cast in The Boys.

Cameron Crovetti first appeared on TV in Black-ish (2017). He played Dylan #2. In 2018, he played Tim in Anywhere with You. Later, Cameron acted with his brother in Witch Hunt (2021). He also played Ryan Broderick in Dirty John.

In 2020, Cameron was cast as Ryan Butcher in The Boys. He became a regular character in Season 2. He became a main cast member in Season 4. He had auditioned before Season 1 even aired. By the end of Season 3, his character moves closer to Homelander. His acting earned him a Saturn Award nomination.

In 2022, Cameron starred in Goodnight Mommy. He also played young Ryan Gosling in The Gray Man. He voiced Harry Haphazard in the animated show Firebuds. In 2023, he appeared in Oracle.

He also acted in Boy Kills World. In that film, he played the younger version of Bill Skarsgård’s character.

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Cameron Crovetti’s character arc in The Boys

In The Boys, Ryan is the secret son of Homelander and Becca Butcher. His birth comes from a dark and violent act by Homelander. The show tells this origin differently from the comics.

For his early years, Ryan lived a hidden life with Becca. They stay out of public view. The world does not know Ryan exists. This secrecy is meant to protect both Ryan and Becca.

Ryan first appears at the end of Season 1 of The Boys. He is credited only as “8-Year-Old Boy.” His appearance is a big shock. It sets up future conflict in the story. At this point, he is more of a plot twist than a full character.

As The Boys continues, Ryan’s hidden life begins to fall apart. During a violent fight with Supes and politics, Ryan uses his powers. He seems to be trying to protect someone. But his actions cause terrible results. Ryan ends up seriously injuring his mother, Becca. In some versions, this even leads to her death. This becomes a cruel turning point in Ryan’s life.

After this, Ryan is taken away from Homelander for a time. He is placed in the care of Grace Mallory, a former CIA agent. This also connects him to The Boys. The goal is to hide him and keep him safe.

While in hiding, Ryan forms a bond with Billy Butcher. Butcher is Becca’s former husband. He becomes a kind of surrogate father to Ryan. Before Becca died, Butcher promised to protect Ryan. He also promised to stop Ryan from misusing his powers.

Butcher wants to raise Ryan away from Homelander. Ryan feels pulled between his real father, Homelander, and Butcher, who sees Ryan as Becca’s last living connection. Butcher is driven by pain and revenge. He struggles to give Ryan the safe childhood Becca wanted. Meanwhile, Ryan is deeply hurt by his mother’s death. The unstable care around him makes him emotionally weak and confused.

Homelander does not give up on Ryan. In The Boys Seasons 2 and 3, he slowly comes back into Ryan’s life. He uses media tricks and emotional control. The show focuses on nature vs. nurture. Ryan’s values were shaped by Becca and Butcher. Now they are tested by Homelander’s power, charm, and twisted thinking.

By the middle of The Boys, Ryan’s story changes. It becomes about identity and choice, not just survival. He is no longer only a victim of secrets. He is now a child with a powerful Supe legacy. But his future path is still uncertain.

In The Boys Season 4, Homelander puts Ryan into the public eye. Ryan is used in a fake hero rescue. Vought plans a false robbery and hostage scene. Ryan is meant to save a child. This is done to increase public praise and media attention.

The plan goes very wrong. During the stunt, Ryan badly injures a stuntman by accident. The injury is almost fatal. Ryan is deeply shaken and traumatized. Instead of comforting him, Homelander scolds Ryan. He calls Ryan’s guilt a sign of weakness. He teaches him a cold belief: “Humans are playthings.” This creates a crack in Ryan’s mind. Ryan begins to see how cruel his father truly is. He starts to question this dark way of thinking.

While Homelander influences Ryan, Butcher reaches out. Butcher is now dying from Temp-V. He asks Ryan to come to a CIA facility. He wants to save Ryan from Homelander. He wants Ryan to choose humanity over power.

At the facility, Ryan learns the truth about his father’s crimes. He learns about the corrupt system of Vought. He sees how his future could be used as a weapon. Then Grace Mallory tries to lock him up for “his own good.” Ryan panics and pushes her away. She falls and dies by accident. Ryan is terrified and shocked. He then runs away.

This moment becomes a huge turning point in The Boys. Ryan is no longer just an innocent child. His fear, power, and choices now collide.

By late The Boys Season 4, many notice dark changes in Ryan. At the V52 Expo, he humiliates a Vought worker named Adam Bourke. Ryan forces him to kneel and apologize. When the apology is not good enough, Ryan allows others to slap Adam again and again. Ryan watches and even seems to enjoy it. He calmly sips a milkshake while it happens.

This cruel behavior from a child is very disturbing. It shows a shift in Ryan’s morals. The Boys treats this as a major theme. It explores nature vs. nurture. It asks how powers, birth, and upbringing shape Ryan. The fear grows that Ryan may become like Homelander. Or he may become even worse, a future villain.

The Boys Season 4 ends on a dark and unclear note. Ryan is no longer purely innocent. He is confused, shaken, and influenced by Homelander. The danger is now much greater. The final question remains: Will Ryan become his father’s successor? Or will he become something even darker?