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“Saving Private Ryan” has firmly established itself as one of the greatest war films ever made, earning a spot in our top 10 list. One of the elements that contributed to its legendary status is the stellar cast, which features a memorable cameo by Nathan Fillion. In the film, Tom Hanks portrays Captain John Miller, who is on a mission to find a soldier named James Ryan. Fillion’s character, however, turns out to be the wrong Ryan. Despite its brevity in the nearly three-hour epic, this scene leaves a lasting impression.
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The film follows Captain Miller’s harrowing quest to locate Private James Francis Ryan, played by Matt Damon, amidst the brutal realities of war. “Saving Private Ryan” opens with a vivid depiction of the Normandy beach invasion, setting the stage for Miller’s perilous journey inland. The initial search for Ryan occurs not far from Normandy, somewhere still within France. However, the mission proves far from straightforward, as Miller’s squad endures their first casualty while seeking the wrong man. This mix-up introduces Fillion as James Frederick Ryan, listed in the credits as “Minnesota Ryan.” This pivotal moment prompts viewers to ponder the true cost of saving a single life and whether the sacrifice is justified.
The narrative continues to follow Miller’s determined efforts to find the correct James Ryan before he becomes the last surviving brother out of four. While “Saving Private Ryan” may not be entirely historically accurate, it has undeniably influenced subsequent war films such as “1917,” “Dunkirk,” and the 2022 adaptation of “All Quiet on the Western Front.”
The rest of the film follows Miller as he tries to get to the right James before he becomes the fourth and final Ryan brother to die in combat. While it isn’t the most historically accurate war movie, it paved the way for the next generation of films in this genre, including “1917,” “Dunkirk,” and 2022’s “All Quiet on the Western Front.”
In a 2024 interview on Mike Rowe’s podcast, “The Way I Heard It,” Fillion humorously recalled his cameo: “All I had to do was come in and cry. There I was in London, and it was actually important, but I was dry as a popcorn fart.”
Stephen Spielberg helped Nathan Fillion cry on cue
DreamWorks/Paramount
To prepare for the role of Minnesota Ryan, Fillion crafted a backstory to emotionally connect with the character and facilitate his performance. Director Steven Spielberg played a significant role in refining Fillion’s portrayal, tweaking details and guiding him into the appropriate mindset for the scene. While it may not be the role for which Fillion is most recognized, being part of what we rank as a top-five Spielberg film is undoubtedly a noteworthy addition to his filmography.
“All I had to do was come in and cry,” the actor told Mike Rowe on his podcast “The Way I Heard It” in 2024. “Here I was in London, and here it is, it’s actually important, and I was dry as a popcorn fart.”Â
Fillion had developed a backstory in his head for Minnesota Ryan, in order to help him connect with the character and make the crying a bit easier. Director Stephen Spielberg helped him finesse the big moment, changing a handful of details and helping Fillion get into the right headspace for the scene. It may not be the role most audiences remember Fillion for, but a top five Spielberg movie (as we ranked it) remains a big deal to have on your filmography.
