Mark Ryan Anderson is a critically acclaimed actor, singer, writer and space enthusiast. He was born in rural Southern Bethalto, Illinois, just east of St. Louis, where he was raised by his mother and stepfather. For most of his childhood he was very imaginative, dreaming grand visions, drawing on all surfaces, and stretching his thumbs for many hours at his video game consoles. With his parents' direction, he also participated in every sport and extracurricular activity possible, swinging at baseballs and tennis balls, running track, wrestling, banging on his drum kit, and playing saxophone, guitar, piano, and harmonica...when he wasn't singing along to the radio, of course.