Jack Ryan (film series) Jack Ryan (film series) The "Jack Ryan" film series is an American series of thriller films, based on the fictional character of Jack Ryan, who originally appeared in a series of books by Tom Clancy. In the series of five films, four actors have portrayed Ryan. Despite inconsistency with its lead actors and crew members, the series has been distributed solely by Paramount Pictures since its inception. Mace Neufeld has produced every film in the series, with producing partner Robert Rehme co-producing "Patriot Games" and "Clear and Present Danger" and Lorenzo di Bonaventura co-producing "Shadow Recruit". With a combined unadjusted
Parker (Stark novels character) in "Slayground"), Mel Gibson (as Porter in "Payback"), and Jason Statham (as Parker in "Parker"). Author Dan Simmons has paid homage to Westlake and his Parker character with three hard-boiled action novels featuring the character of Joe Kurtz, a past and current private investigator who spent time in Attica prison. The first novel, "Hardcase", is dedicated to Richard Stark/Donald Westlake. In the third Kurtz novel, "Hard as Nails", Kurtz mentions that he did not know his father, but that he was a career criminal thief who went by a single name and would have sex with women after a job,