Nate Mooney

With his offbeat looks, it wasn't always obvious that actor Nate Mooney was destined for a thespian career. Indeed, Mooney initially received a degree in aerospace engineering at Iowa State and only gradually decided to try his hand at performance. His first screen part came in the obscure 2000 direct-to-video horror film "Vampire Vermont," but the following year brought him a more meaningful guest part. Mooney appeared for three episodes on the small-town dramedy "Ed," which quickly led to more television work. Like many up-and-coming actors, many of these roles were small parts on crime dramas like a 2002 appearance on the long-running "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit." Always attempting to demonstrate his versatility, Mooney's roles over the years have included playing a psychic on the run from the government in the 2009 action film "Push." His greatest acclaim, though, has come from his comic work. In 2005, he was given his first multi-episode opportunity to showcase his funny side on the bawdy sitcom "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia," part of the cable channel FX's attempts to attract younger viewers seeking edgier fare. As Ryan McPoyle, part of a trio of creepy siblings, Mooney gained a cult following for his appearances over the show's many seasons. Alongside his career, Mooney stays true to his degree by tinkering with machines in his off hours.