Thomas Ryan |
|
|---|---|
 | |
| Biological Information | |
| Full name |
Thomas Ray |
| Nicknames |
Tommy |
| Gender |
Male |
| Born |
1883 |
| Death |
April 15, 1912 (age 29) |
| Cause |
Gunshot wound |
| Background Information | |
| Titanic Statistics | |
| Destination |
New York, U.S.A. |
| Occupation |
Passenger |
| Class |
Third class |
| Fate |
Accidentally shot and killed by William Murdoch |
| Production | |
| Classification |
Fictional character |
| Portrayal | |
Thomas "Tommy" Ryan was an Irish third-class passenger who befriended Jack Dawson and Fabrizio De Rossi aboard the Titanic. He was particularly impressed with Jack's drawing skills and the fact that he had actually managed to befriend Rose, who was a first class passenger.
He later accompanied Jack, Fabrizio and Rose as they tried to escape the sinking ship. He and Fabrizio ultimately got separated from Jack and Rose. Tommy died when he was instinctively shot by First Officer Murdoch when pushed forward by other passengers towards the lifeboat Murdoch was manning. His death deeply affected Fabrizio who was forced to take his lifebelt in order to survive, though he also perished regardless.
Tommy was also seen amongst the people in Rose's dream of the Titanic.
Character history[]
Early life[]
Little is known of Ryan's background or his reason for being on the Titanic, but he was probably born and raised in Ireland.
Life onboard Titanic[]
Although he was rarely seen onboard, it was shown that he met Jack Dawson and Fabrizio De Rossi on Titanic's deck; he was fascinated by Jack's drawings. He was cheerfully cynical of the glaring differences between the classes onboard Titanic, reflecting the differences within society at the time. Upon seeing Jack staring at Rose, he remarked that Jack is as likely to "Have angels fly out of [his] arse as get with the likes of her".
Tommy was later seen at the 3rd Class Party, smoking and having a good time. He arm wrestled with a fellow 3rd class passenger but lost, denied another round. Tommy was admiring Jack's artwork, saying "This is very good." Tommy was seen smoking onboard at various times.Note: This appears in a deleted scene.
Titanic's sinking[]
Tommy was awakened by the ship's collision with the iceberg and his cabin soon started flooding. He was shown, along with Fabrizio and various other third-class passengers, fleeing for safety. As the ship continued to sink, Tommy and Fabrizio encountered Jack and Rose behind a locked gate that prevented the steerage passengers from ascending to the boat deck, guarded by several crew members including one with a pistol. He forced his way up to the gate and yelled at the crew, begging them for a "chance to live". Having given in, the four of them tried another, smaller exit gate guarded by two stewards and the three men ultimately ram it open using a wooden bench they pluck from the floor, scaring one of the guarding stewards away and infuriating the other one whom Tommy knocks out cold with a punch. Tommy tried to find a lifeboat for all four of them to get off safely. Upon failing, Jack told Tommy and Fabrizio to go to the other side of the ship to find a lifeboat and the two pairs were separated.
Tommy and Fabrizio found Collapsible Boat A being run by William Murdoch, who wouldn't let Tommy, Fabrizio, Caledon Hockley and a panicked mob of men board. Murdoch then threatened to shoot any man who tried to board the lifeboat. A man attempted to do so regardless and was shot. Straight after this, someone pushed Tommy and Murdoch shot him in the torso. Fabrizio held him in his arms, cursing Murdoch for firing. Tommy bled to death within minutes after the shot. With the water rushing towards them, Fabrizio untied Tommy's lifebelt from his corpse and strapped it on to himself. Fabrizio then left Tommy's body behind, which floated up and was dragged into the A-deck promenade by the water.
Tommy was seen in the crowd between Wallace Hartley and Benjamin Guggenheim during Rose's dream sequence.
Behind the scenes[]
- A real Thomas Ryan was on the ship and was among the casualties, but this is likely coincidental. Similar to the film's homonymous Ryan, the real historical Ryan traveled in third class; the only difference was that the latter was a steward assigned to the third class steward team and was not a passenger as depicted in the film.
Gallery[]
