Ryan Grantham is a former Canadian actor known for appearances in Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Riverdale, Supernatural, iZombie and the independent film Becoming Redwood. His public identity changed sharply after he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of his mother, Barbara Waite. In September 2022, a British Columbia judge sentenced him to life imprisonment with no parole eligibility for 14 years.
Born on November 30, 1998, Grantham is 27 years old as of July 2026. His acting career began in childhood and appears to have ended in 2019. Reliable public information about his father, relationships, children, height, religion, ethnicity, finances and current correctional location remains limited. This profile explains his biography, family background, education, acting credits, criminal case, sentence, net worth claims and last confirmed status without filling those gaps with speculation.
Profile Summary
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ryan Grantham |
| Professional Name | Ryan Grantham |
| Date of Birth | November 30, 1998 |
| Age | 27 as of July 2026 |
| Birthplace | Squamish, British Columbia, Canada |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Ethnicity | Not publicly confirmed |
| Religion | Not publicly confirmed |
| Height | Not publicly confirmed |
| Mother | Barbara Waite |
| Father | Not publicly confirmed |
| Siblings | A sister was documented during court proceedings |
| Spouse or Partner | Not publicly confirmed |
| Children | Not publicly confirmed |
| Education | Reportedly attended Simon Fraser University |
| Profession | Former actor |
| Famous For | Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Riverdale, Becoming Redwood and his second-degree murder conviction |
| Active Years | Approximately 2007–2019 |
| Net Worth | Not reliably known |
| Social Media | No verified public accounts located |
| Current Status | Serving a life sentence; last confirmed public status is incarceration |
Early Life and Family
Ryan Grantham was reportedly born on November 30, 1998, in Squamish, British Columbia. That date is widely listed in professional entertainment databases, although a publicly accessible civil birth record has not been used to confirm it. Based on the listed date, he was 21 at the time of his mother’s death in March 2020 and is 27 in July 2026.
He grew up in British Columbia and entered screen acting while still a child. Public biographies commonly state that he began acting at about nine years old. Unlike actors who become major household names during childhood, Grantham worked mainly in television films, guest roles, short films and supporting movie parts.
His mother was Barbara Waite, whose identity is firmly established through court records and reporting on the criminal proceedings. She lived in Squamish and was 64 when she died in 2020.
Court proceedings also established that Grantham had a sister, who provided a victim-impact statement during sentencing. Her relationship with her brother and the effect of their mother’s death were discussed in court, but further personal details do not need to be repeated in a celebrity profile.
The identity of Grantham’s father is not publicly confirmed by a dependable source. Claims about additional siblings, extended relatives or his parents’ professions should also be treated as unverified.
Education
Entertainment database biographies report that Grantham attended Simon Fraser University in British Columbia. The public record does not clearly establish what he studied, whether he completed a degree or the exact years he was enrolled.
No dependable source confirms the primary school, secondary school or acting academy he attended. It is reasonable to describe him as a former university student based on the available record, but more specific education claims would require stronger documentation.
His childhood acting work suggests that he balanced school with auditions and production schedules. Still, there is too little verified information to describe his academic performance, campus activities or long-term career plans.
Ryan Grantham’s Acting Career
Grantham began working professionally during childhood. His first widely listed credit was the 2007 television film The Secret of the Nutcracker. The production marked the start of a career that included feature films, television movies, independent projects and appearances in several Canadian and American series.
His early résumé reflects the experience of a working child actor rather than a conventional celebrity breakthrough. He appeared in a number of productions without becoming the central marketing figure attached to them. Over time, however, he collected several recognizable credits that continued to bring search interest after his acting career stopped.
Early Film Roles
One of Grantham’s early film credits was The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, Terry Gilliam’s 2009 fantasy film. His role was small, but the production gave him a credit in a widely released movie with an internationally known cast.
In 2010, he appeared as Rodney James in Diary of a Wimpy Kid. The role was supporting rather than central, yet the film became one of his most recognizable projects because of the franchise’s lasting popularity. Readers sometimes misremember him as a major member of the Heffley family, but his character was a schoolmate involved in the school play.
He also appeared in television movies and smaller films during this period. These jobs helped establish him as a dependable young performer who could move between drama, family entertainment and genre television.
Becoming Redwood and Liz
Grantham received one of his largest roles in Becoming Redwood, a Canadian film directed by Jesse James Miller. He played Redwood Forrest Hanson, a boy who imagines that defeating Jack Nicklaus in the 1975 Masters could reunite his parents.
The film gave him more screen time and dramatic responsibility than many of his supporting television appearances. It was shown at film festivals and received recognition as a Canadian independent production.
Another project associated with Grantham’s early recognition was the short film Liz. An archived Young Artist Awards record credits him with winning Best Performance in a Short Film – Young Actor for that performance. The award is one of the few documented individual honors linked directly to his acting work.
Television Appearances
Grantham built much of his career through television guest appearances. His credits include work on Supernatural, Falling Skies, iZombie and Some Assembly Required. He also appeared in television films such as Perfect High, which starred Bella Thorne, and Undercover Cheerleader.
These roles varied in size, and entertainment databases do not always agree on exact episode counts. It is safest to describe him as a guest and supporting actor rather than assigning a precise total without a production-by-production review.
His television work allowed him to appear in fantasy, science fiction, teen drama and family programming. Even so, he did not develop the level of public visibility associated with the main casts of those shows.
Ryan Grantham in Riverdale
Grantham appeared in Riverdale as Jeffery Augustine. The character was involved in the storyline surrounding the death of Fred Andrews, played by Luke Perry.
Because Riverdale was a successful series with a large audience, later news reports often called Grantham a “Riverdale actor” or “Riverdale star.” The first description is accurate, but the second can create a misleading impression. He was not a regular cast member or one of the show’s central performers.
His appearance remains important because it was among his final known screen credits. No reliable acting work after 2019 has been identified.
Movies and TV Shows
Ryan Grantham’s better-known acting credits include:
– The Secret of the Nutcracker
– The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
– Diary of a Wimpy Kid
– Liz
– Becoming Redwood
– Supernatural
– Falling Skies
– Some Assembly Required
– iZombie
– Perfect High
– Considering Love and Other Magic
– Riverdale
– Undercover Cheerleader
This list represents his most recognizable work rather than every credited appearance. Databases may count shorts, television movies and individual episodes differently, so exact career totals should be presented cautiously.
The Death of Barbara Waite
On March 31, 2020, Barbara Waite was killed at her home in Squamish. Grantham later admitted that he shot his mother while she was playing the piano.
The case involved deeply disturbing facts, but a biography does not need graphic detail to explain its legal importance. The central confirmed point is that he caused his mother’s death and later accepted criminal responsibility through a guilty plea.
After the killing, evidence presented in court showed that Grantham recorded video footage and left the home with weapons and supplies. The court also heard that he considered further violence, including a plan involving Justin Trudeau, who was Canada’s prime minister at the time.
He did not carry out that plan. He changed direction, drove to Vancouver and surrendered to police. The distinction matters: the plan was described in court, but it was abandoned before any attack took place.
Police initially charged Grantham with first-degree murder. The case was later resolved when he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in March 2022.
Guilty Plea and Sentencing
Second-degree murder carries an automatic life sentence under Canadian law. The sentencing judge must also determine how long the convicted person must wait before becoming eligible to apply for parole, within the range allowed by law.
During the 2022 sentencing proceedings, the court heard an agreed statement of facts, psychiatric evidence and victim-impact statements. Reports from the hearing described Grantham’s mental state during the period before the offence, as well as treatment he received after entering custody.
Those details should be presented with care. Evidence about depression or other mental-health concerns does not establish a simple cause for the killing, and a court discussion from 2022 should not be presented as a current medical diagnosis in 2026.
On September 21, 2022, Justice Kathleen Ker sentenced Grantham to life imprisonment with no parole eligibility for 14 years. The court also imposed a lifetime firearms prohibition.
The judge considered the planned nature of the offence, the breach of trust involved in killing a parent and the effect on the victim’s family. She also considered his guilty plea, age, expressions of remorse and evidence concerning rehabilitation.
Is Ryan Grantham’s Sentence Only 14 Years?
No. Ryan Grantham did not receive a fixed 14-year prison sentence. He received life imprisonment.
The 14-year period refers to parole ineligibility. It establishes how long he must wait before he can ask the Parole Board of Canada to consider releasing him under supervision.
Eligibility does not guarantee parole. A person serving a life sentence must satisfy the parole authority that release would not present an undue risk and that legal requirements have been met.
Even if parole is granted at some point, the life sentence does not disappear. A person released from a life sentence remains subject to supervision and can be returned to custody if parole conditions are breached.
Some online articles state that Grantham will become eligible in 2036 by adding 14 years to his September 2022 sentencing date. That calculation may be inaccurate because Canadian law can count qualifying pre-sentence custody toward the parole-ineligibility period for murder.
An exact eligibility date should come from an official correctional or parole record. It should not be guessed from a headline or calendar calculation.
Where Is Ryan Grantham Now?
Ryan Grantham’s last reliably documented status is incarceration under the life sentence imposed in September 2022. No dependable public report reviewed for this profile confirmed that he had been released, granted parole, won an appeal or returned to acting by July 2026.
His precise correctional institution is not publicly confirmed through the strongest sources used for this article. Naming a prison based on reposts, anonymous claims or unsourced biography pages would create unnecessary risk of error.
There has also been little verified public activity connected to him since the sentencing. He has not announced new film or television work, and no authenticated public social media account has provided direct updates.
Parents, Siblings and Personal Life
Barbara Waite is the only parent whose identity is firmly established in the public record. Information about Grantham’s father is not publicly confirmed.
A sister was involved in the legal proceedings and addressed the impact of their mother’s death. Beyond that fact, her personal life should not become a focus of the article.
There is no dependable public evidence that Grantham is married or has a publicly identified partner. No children have been confirmed.
Older celebrity pages sometimes add relationship labels without providing interviews, photographs, public records or direct statements. Such claims should not be treated as fact simply because they appear across several copied websites.
Height, Ethnicity and Religion
Ryan Grantham’s height is not reliably confirmed. Figures published by unsourced entertainment blogs may be estimates or copied from one another.
His ethnicity is also not publicly confirmed through a direct interview or trustworthy biographical source. His Canadian nationality should not be used to infer a specific ethnic background.
No dependable source identifies his religion or personal beliefs. The responsible wording for all three subjects is that they are not publicly confirmed.
Social Media
No verified Instagram, X, TikTok or Facebook account belonging to Ryan Grantham has been identified. Accounts using his name may belong to unrelated users, fan pages or impersonators.
Before his arrest, he did not appear to maintain the kind of heavily followed public profile associated with a social media celebrity. Most public information about him came through acting databases, promotional material and screen credits.
The absence of a verified account also means posts claiming to share messages, prison updates or personal statements from him should be treated cautiously unless confirmed by legal representatives or established news organizations.
Ryan Grantham’s Net Worth
Ryan Grantham’s net worth is not publicly verified. Celebrity finance websites sometimes assign him specific figures, but those estimates are not supported by known contracts, property records, business filings or financial disclosures.
He earned money from acting during childhood and early adulthood. Possible income sources included film fees, television payments and residuals from repeat broadcasts or distribution.
That information is not enough to calculate his assets. Public sources do not establish his career earnings, debts, legal costs, savings, property ownership or present financial position.
The most accurate conclusion is that his net worth is unknown. Publishing a precise dollar amount would create false certainty.
Public Image and Common Misinformation
Before 2020, Grantham was known as a former child actor with a modest but varied filmography. He was not one of the most famous performers from Riverdale or Diary of a Wimpy Kid, though those titles made his name recognizable.
Coverage after his arrest often reduced his entire career to the phrase “Riverdale star.” That wording attracted attention but overstated his role on the series.
Another common error is calling his punishment a 14-year sentence. The correct description is a life sentence with 14 years of parole ineligibility.
Reports about the abandoned plan involving Justin Trudeau also require precise language. The court heard that Grantham considered and prepared for further violence, but he did not carry out an attack on the prime minister.
Claims about his wife, girlfriend, children, religion, ethnicity, height and wealth are also frequently repeated without strong support. A responsible profile leaves those fields unconfirmed rather than turning weak claims into biography facts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ryan Grantham?
Ryan Grantham is a former Canadian actor who appeared in Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Riverdale, Supernatural, iZombie and Becoming Redwood. He later became widely known after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in the death of his mother.
How old is Ryan Grantham?
Ryan Grantham is 27 years old as of July 2026. His reported date of birth is November 30, 1998, meaning he will turn 28 in November 2026.
Where is Ryan Grantham from?
He is reportedly from Squamish, British Columbia, Canada. He also worked and studied in British Columbia during his acting years.
What role did Ryan Grantham play in Riverdale?
He played Jeffery Augustine in a guest appearance. Grantham was not a main or recurring star of the series.
Was Ryan Grantham in Diary of a Wimpy Kid?
Yes. He played Rodney James in the 2010 film Diary of a Wimpy Kid. It remains one of his most recognizable movie credits.
What sentence did Ryan Grantham receive?
He received life imprisonment for second-degree murder. The court ruled that he would not be eligible to apply for parole for 14 years.
When is Ryan Grantham eligible for parole?
The court imposed a 14-year parole-ineligibility period, but the exact calendar date is not publicly confirmed here. Canadian law may count pre-sentence custody, so simply adding 14 years to the 2022 sentencing date can produce an incorrect answer.
Is Ryan Grantham married?
A marriage or current partner is not publicly confirmed. There is also no dependable evidence that he has children.
What is Ryan Grantham’s net worth?
His net worth is not reliably known. Although he earned income from acting, no trustworthy source provides enough financial information for an accurate estimate.
Where is Ryan Grantham now?
His last confirmed status is incarceration under a life sentence. No verified release, parole, successful appeal or new acting project had been publicly confirmed by July 2026.
Conclusion
Ryan Grantham’s story begins with a childhood acting career that included familiar films and television shows, but it cannot be separated from the criminal case that now defines public interest in his name. His credits show that he was a working young actor, though descriptions of him as a major television star exaggerate his level of fame.
The legal facts are clear: he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in his mother Barbara Waite’s death and received life imprisonment in September 2022. The 14-year figure relates to parole eligibility, not the total length of his sentence.
Much of his personal biography remains undocumented. His father, relationship status, children, height, ethnicity, religion, net worth and current prison location should not be guessed.
As of July 2026, his last verified public status remains incarceration. Any future parole, appeal or correctional development will require confirmation from an official record or dependable current reporting.