Raviv Ullman

Raviv "Ricky" Ullman (Hebrew: רביב אולמן‎; born 24 January 1986), is an Israeli-American actor, director, and musician. He is best known for playing Phil Diffy, the main character in the Disney Channel series Phil of the Future.

Raviv Ullman
Born
Raviv Ullman

(1986-01-24) 24 January 1986
Eilat, Israel
NationalityIsraeli-American
OccupationActor, musician, director
Years active1997–present

Early life

Ullman was born in Eilat, Israel, to American Jewish parents Laura (née Ehrenkranz), a teacher, and Brian Ullman, a printer.[1][2] He has a younger sister and younger brother named Tali and Nadav, respectively.[3] After his first birthday, his family left their kibbutz in Israel for Norwalk, Connecticut, United States, and then to Fairfield, Connecticut the following year.[1] When Ullman was younger, his father worked as a clown. While attending summer camp, he played Peter Pan, which helped him discover his talents in acting, singing, dancing, and reading drama novels.

Ullman was raised in the Conservative and Orthodox denominations of Judaism.[4][5] His maternal grandfather, Joseph Ehrenkranz, was an Orthodox rabbi in Stamford, Connecticut.[6] Ullman is a first cousin, twice removed, of Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman.[6] Lieberman's mother and Ullman's matrilineal great-grandmother were sisters.

Ullman taught himself how to play the trombone. Ullman was selected to attend the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Foundation (HOBY) youth leadership program of Connecticut in March 2002 where he was selected as the "outstanding ambassador" enabling him to attend the HOBY World Leadership Congress in the summer of 2002. He went to Hillel Academy and is a graduate of Fairfield Warde High School.[1] He was active in National Conference of Synagogue Youth.[4]

Career

Early Career: 1997–2003

Ullman's first professional role was as Louis in the national touring company of The King and I along with Jesse McCartney. Other productions he worked on include Peter Pan at the Polka Dot Playhouse, The Music Man with the New England Repertory Company, and Just People at the Long Wharf Theatre. He received a 1998–1999 Best Actor nomination from the Connecticut Critics' Awards for his character Stanley in Stamford Theater Work's A Rosen by Any Other Name. He had small roles in film and television shows, notably portraying Christopher Knight in the 2000 movie Growing Up Brady.

Phil of the Future and Disney

Ullman is best known for his starring role as Phil Diffy, a teen from the year 2121 on Disney Channel's Phil of the Future, a series that debuted June 2004. He also starred as Roscoe in Disney's made-for-television film Pixel Perfect. During this period, Ullman appeared in other Disney Channel programming, such as a guest role on That's So Raven, and was an identified member of the Disney Channel Circle of Stars, appearing with other members of the Circle in the music video for "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes," where he sang as well as played the drums.

Rita Rocks and other television and film

In 2004, Ullman starred as Sam in ABC Family's television film Searching for David's Heart. He appeared in a string of independent films including The Big Bad Swim and Driftwood (2006), Normal Adolescent Behavior (2007), and Prom Wars (2008). During this period, he guest-starred in TV shows like Big Love and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Ullman was cast as Kip in the Lifetime sitcom Rita Rocks, which premiered in 2009. His character was the drummer in the titular character's band and her daughter's boyfriend. The show was canceled after two seasons.

While Ullman previously went by the stage name Ricky, he started using his real name in 2006 when he guest-starred on an episode of House[7] and continued to use Raviv on all projects since.[8]

Music

In June 2006, Ullman and a few of his friends created parody hip-hop music videos under the name the Webee Boys.[9] In December 2006, Ullman met actor Douglas Smith of Big Love fame and together they formed a band called Goodbye Ian. The group expanded to as many as seven people and later changed its name to His Orchestra. Ullman plays drums and glockenspiel in the band, which released its debut album, Field Guide to the Wilds, on February 24, 2009.[10]

Theater

After completing Rita Rocks in 2009, Ullman had some small roles in short films, television, and film but began to focus his career on theater acting, starring in Off-Broadway and regional theater productions.

From January 2012 to March 24, 2012, Ullman starred as the character Alex in the New Group's production of Russian Transport Off-Broadway in New York. On April 30, 2012, it was announced that Ullman joined the cast of Alena Smith's new Off-Broadway play The Bad Guys. It began performances on May 22 at the McGinn/Cazale Theater on the Upper West Side in New York City. In 2014, Ullman acted opposite of Holly Hunter and Richard Chamberlain in the first revival of Sticks and Bones. Sticks and Bones opened November 6, 2014 and closed December 14, 2014.[11]

Ullman starred in the 2017 benefit play Right Before I Go at The Town Hall.[12]

In 2018, Ullman performed in the Roundabout Theatre Company Underground's much-lauded production of Usual Girls by Ming Peiffer.[13]

Music

Ullman is an accomplished musician and plays drums and guitar.[14] He has worked as a touring musician, notably with Soko on her 2012 tour. Ullman was a member of the band Reputante, which released their 2013 debut on Julian Casablancas' record label Cult Records. He departed the band sometime in 2015. With Reputante members James Levy and Jimmy Giannopoulos, Ullman helped form the band Lolawolf with actress Zoë Kravitz.[15] They released their self-titled debut EP on February 4, 2014. He left Lolawolf before the release of their first full-length record, Come Down, in October 2014.

Filmmaking

In October 2016, Ullman announced his project Standing Ground, a documentary that explores the Standing Rock Sioux Nation, the North Dakota Access Pipeline and the fossil fuels industry.[16] Production of the film took place throughout 2017.

Ullman also directs music videos.

Podcasting

Ullman, along with Rabbi Adam Greenwald, hosts The Study, a podcast focused on exploring, questioning, and applying the Torah.[17] The trailer was released in late September 2020, and the first episode came out on October 2, 2020.

Personal life

Ullman speaks fluent Hebrew and keeps a kosher kitchen.[4] Ullman is an environmentalist and has called himself "a fourth generation activist".[14] He works with TAP (Teens AIDS Prevention).[18]

Ullman lived in Brooklyn, New York until 2020, when he moved to Los Angeles, California.[16][19]

Filmography

Films
Year Film Role Notes
1998CrossfireAziz
2000Growing Up BradyChristopher KnightTV movie
2001The Boys of Sunset RidgeJohn Burroughs at 13
2004Pixel PerfectRoscoeTV movie
Searching for David's HeartSamTV movie
Costume Party Capers: The IncrediblesHimselfTV movie
2005Kim Possible Movie: So the DramaEricVoice
Totally Suite New Year's EveHimselfTV movie
2006The Big Bad SwimHunter McCarthy
DriftwoodDavid Forrester
That GuyLoganTV Movie
2007Normal Adolescent BehaviorPrice
The ViolinDavidShort
2008Prom WarsPercy
Mother Goose ParadeHimself
2010How to Make Love to a WomanScott Conners
The Trouble with CaliLois
2011A Sense of HumorLaughing ManShort
2013ContestRip
TBAThe Other SideJacobIn Development
Spring Break '83BillyFilming completed in 2007; release postponed.

Television
Year Show Role Notes
2002Guiding LightJackyEpisode dated 16 May 2002
Law & Order: Criminal Intent1st BoyEpisode: "Crazy" (January 13, 2002)
2004–2006Phil of the FuturePhil DiffyLead role
2004Law & Order: Special Victims UnitDanny SpencerEpisode: "Obscene" (October 12, 2004)
2005That's So RavenJake Haskell"On Top of Old Oaky" (April 22, 2005)
2006Big LoveDonna's makeout partnerEpisode: "Eclipse" (April 2, 2006)
HouseJeremyEpisode: "Fools for Love" (October 31, 2006)
2007Cold CasePhil DiPreta, '98Episode: "That Woman" (September 30, 2007)
2007 Phineas and Ferb Additional voices Episode: "Rollercoaster/Candace Loses Her Head" (August 17, 2007)
2008The MiddlemanDerekEpisode: "The Obsolescent Cryogenic Meltdown" (August 11, 2008)
2008–2009 Rita RocksKipMain cast; 40 episodes
2011Criminal Minds: Suspect BehaviorBenEpisode: "The Time Is Now" (May 4, 2011)
2015Broad CityReginald CarollaEpisode: "In Heat" (January 14, 2015)
2018StrangersRoryRecurring; 3 episodes

Stage
Year Play Role Venue Notes
1997The King and ILouisNational tour[20]
1999A Rosen By Any Other NameStanley
2005Dead EndTommyAhmanson Theatre [18]
2012Russian TransportAlexThe New Group @ Theatre Row [21]
2012The Bad GuysPaulMcGinn/Cazale Theatre [22]
2014The Loneliness of the Long Distance RunnerGunthorpeStage 2 [23]
2014DeathtrapClifford AndersonBucks County Playhouse [24]
2014Sticks and BonesRickThe Pershing Square Signature Center [11]
2015Bad JewsJonahGeffen Playhouse [25]
2015ChoiceHunterHuntington Theatre[26]
2018Right Before I GoThe Town HallOne-night benefit[18]
2018 Usual Girls Rory Roundabout Underground Black Box Theatre [13]

References
  1. Levinson, Linda Tishler (19 November 2004). "Fairfield youth is 'Phil of the Future' on Disney Channel". Jewish Ledger. Fairfield, Connecticut. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
  2. "Fairfield Actor in Disney Channel Program This June". Fairfield Citizen News. 19 March 2004.
  3. "Ricky Ullman". NNDB. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
  4. "Ricky Ullman: Jewish A'Phil'iation". Babaganews. Behrman House. Archived from the original on 14 April 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
  5. "A teen idol with a difference". December 9, 2004.
  6. Jacobson, Judie (23 February 2006). "Jewish Geography: The Celebrity Edition". Jewish Ledger. Archived from the original on 23 June 2009. Retrieved June 15, 2006.
  7. "Screen capture from House". Retrieved June 28, 2008.
  8. The following film posters feature his real name: 1, 2
  9. "Webee Boys on MySpace Music". MySpace. Retrieved July 19, 2009.
  10. "His Orchestra on MySpace Music". MySpace. Retrieved June 25, 2008.
  11. "BWW TV: STICKS AND BONES' Richard Chamberlain, Holly Hunter, Bill Pullman & More Meet the Press! Video". www.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 2018-02-18.
  12. "Choice | Huntington Theatre Company". www.huntingtontheatre.org. Retrieved 2018-02-14.
  13. "Roundabout Theatre Company: Usual Girls". www.roundabouttheatre.org. Retrieved 2020-02-07.
  14. "Standing Ground - A Documentary Film". Kickstarter. Retrieved 2018-02-14.
  15. "I Was Very on Edge: Zoe Kravitz Explains Why Her New Band Lolawolf Came Together at Just the Right Time". ELLE. 2014-01-24. Retrieved 2018-02-14.
  16. "Standing Ground - A Documentary Film". Kickstarter. Retrieved 2018-02-18.
  17. https://screenrant.com/podcasts-hosted-by-former-child-actors/
  18. "CAST". Right Before I Go | A New Play by Stan Zimmerman | December 4, 2018 Town Hall NYC. Retrieved 2018-02-18.
  19. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0O3-v1kQGI&ab_channel=Aly%26AJ
  20. League, The Broadway. "Ricky Ullman – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved 2018-02-18.
  21. Desk, BWW News. "The New Group Closes RUSSIAN TRANSPORT". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2018-02-18.
  22. Desk, BWW News. "Michael Braun et al. Star in Second Stage Theatre's THE BAD GUYS, Opening Tonight, 6/4". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2018-02-18.
  23. Desk, BWW News. "Photo Flash: Meet the Cast of Atlantic Theater's LONELINESS OF THE LONG DISTANCE RUNNER". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2018-02-18.
  24. Rogers, Marakay. "BWW Reviews: DEATHTRAP With Marsha Mason at Bucks County Playhouse". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2018-02-18.
  25. Grigware, Don. "BWW Reviews: BAD JEWS a Riotous Dramedy at the Geffen". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2018-02-18.
  26. "Choice | Huntington Theatre Company". www.huntingtontheatre.org. Retrieved 2018-02-18.
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