Kat Harlton
Photo: provided via artist
Poster: Apple TV Media
Based on the true story of disability rights activist Judy Heumann, Being Heumann chronicles the historic 1977 San Francisco Section 504 sit-in and subsequent journey to Washington, D.C., as Heumann and fellow activists fought for equal rights for people with disabilities.
Ryan Allen portrays Willy Dicks, a real person who became an important ally to the movement. After learning about the activists’ cause, Willy played an instrumental role in helping get the protestors from San Francisco to Washington, D.C., and drove them around the city once they arrived. While Ryan’s role is woven into select moments throughout the film, his character becomes part of several crucial moments in the activists’ journey.
We had the opportunity to connect with Ryan to discuss his character work, the film premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival and what he hopes the audience connects with.
Kat: What was your first reaction when you were offered the role of Willy Dicks, and what drew you to being part of Being Heumann?
Ryan: I was completely stoked to work with Sian Heder because I was such a fan of her film CODA. One of my favorite aspects of being an actor is that every time you do a project you have the opportunity to learn something new. Doing this project meant I’d have to do a deep dive into this historical event. Which excited me.
Kat: Willy Dicks was a real person who played an important role in helping the activists during the 504 movement. What did you discover about him while preparing for the role that helped you understand the person behind the history?
Ryan: I learned that Willy was a religious man. It was at Glide Memorial Church where his pastor Cecil Williams first told him of Judy Heumann and the protest.
Kat: There’s a particular responsibility that comes with portraying someone who actually lived through such an important moment in history. How did you approach balancing authenticity with bringing your own interpretation to Willy?
Ryan: For this character I started my process by researching as much as I could about him and his involvement in the protest but in playing each scene, I allowed my instincts to take over. Listening and reacting to my fellow actors in the moment as truthfully as possible.
Kat: For audiences who may not be familiar with the 1977 Section 504 sit-in, what do you hope they take away from seeing this chapter of the disability rights movement brought to life on screen?
Ryan: So many things!! But if I had to narrow it down to one, I’d have to quote my mother, “many hands make light work”. Which just basically means that the more people that pitch in, the more there is possible to achieve.
Kat: Judy Heumann’s story has become increasingly well known, but Being Heumann also highlights the people who stood alongside her. What did working on the film teach you about the power of allies within a movement?
Ryan: I came into the project with a fair amount of historical knowledge of the Black Panther Party and its struggle for equality but I had no idea how supportive they were of Judy Heumann. In retrospect I shouldn’t be surprised. It truly highlights the belief that “if one of us is not free, none of us is free”.
Kat: What was it like working with Sian Heder, particularly in bringing a story rooted in real events and real people to the screen? Was there something about her approach that surprised or inspired you?
Ryan: Sian is the real deal and it was a privilege to work with her. One of her attributes that I admired the most while filming was the care and time she put into helping the actors establish relationships. Many of our scenes are huge group scenes with a room full of actors but before we would roll she would go through the entire room and make sure we were all confident and solid in our relationship to each other.
Kat: Were there any moments while filming that made you stop and think about the history you were recreating in a different way?
Ryan: In many of the scenes Willy is in, he is helping people in chairs get around. When we would cut and have to reset, it would often take a little long because it would include an elevator or lifting someone back into a chair. That served as a reality check of how much harder life can be for those of us that mobility is a challenge.
Kat: This is your second consecutive year at TIFF, following Normal in 2025. What does it mean to return to the festival with a film that has such a significant Canadian connection for you?
Ryan: I’m born and raised in Scarborough, I love the Leafs, and I’m a proud Canadian. Being at TIFF means the world to me. So much of the rhetoric growing up as an actor was “you have to go to America to make it”. It’s nice to be home and celebrating a movie I’m in.
Kat: What do you think audiences might be surprised to learn about the 504 movement or about the people who helped make the journey from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. possible?
Ryan: I think people are in for a real treat to see just how powerful the human spirit is. The perseverance required by all those involved in the movement was a force of nature.
Kat: Looking at Being Heumann alongside your other recent projects, including Ice Cream Man and your upcoming return to Shoresy, what has this film given you as an actor that you’ll carry into your next roles?
Ryan: Gratitude. I worked with some brilliant actors in this film who were making their debut, simply because there are not a lot of roles written for actors who use the aid of a chair to get around. Opportunity and visibility are crucial for growth!
For more on Being Heumann including showtimes visit: https://www.tiff.net/films/being-heumann