All 20 Of Jack Ryan’s Job Titles & Roles In Every Movie & TV Show

Tom Clancy’s Super Spy has been gracing screens since 1990 when he was portrayed by Alec Baldwin in Clear and Present Danger, and each Jack Ryan movie and TV show since has seen the titular character with a different job. Plenty of actors have played Jack Ryan, with Harrison Ford, Ben Affleck, Chris Pine, and John Krasinski all having stepped into his combat boots. This has given audiences varying interpretations of this heroic and complex character.

In all of his adventures, Jack Ryan took on many roles within the CIA, as well as the Marines, and various financial companies. A master of all trades, his intelligence, bravery, and out-of-the-box thinking took him from entry-level analyst to some of the highest-ranking positions within the Agency. Whatever role he took on, Jack Ryan‘s movies and TV shows all saw the character go above and beyond to make sure all hostages were saved, and any disaster was averted.

9 The Hunt For Red October (1990)

Intelligence Analyst, Author, Professor

Adapted from Clancy’s bestselling novel, the film is set toward the end of the Cold War and takes place, largely, deep underwater on covert submarines. Jack Ryan (Alec Baldwin) is a Professor of Naval History at the United States Naval Academy, turned CIA analyst. He’s also a published naval historian and a former U.S. Marine.

He’s called in to help advise on the case of a missing Soviet submarine, the Red October, and applies all his statistical knowledge to help determine the potential intentions of the missing vessel’s captain.

He correctly deduces that Ramius (Sean Connery) plans to deflect to the U.S. and, boards the American Navy’s vessel to lead negotiations. His actions directly impact the outcome of the film, helping save the lives of a group of well-intentioned men, and ultimately avert a nuclear disaster.

8 Patriot Games (1992)

Semi-retired, Teacher, Knight of the Royal Victorian Order

Jack Ryan (Harrison Ford)starts the film retired from the CIA, on a “working holiday” in London, in this 1992 adaptation of Clancy’s novel of the same name. He heroically intervenes in an IRA terrorist plot, which ultimately leads to him rejoining the Agency after his family is attacked in retaliation.

This installment in the series also shows Ryan as more of a family man, focusing on his relationship with his wife, Cathy, and daughter Sally.

His assistance in saving Lord Holmes (James Fox) also leads to his receiving a knighthood. This installment in the series also shows Ryan as more of a family man, focusing on his relationship with his wife, Cathy (Anne Archer), and daughter Sally (Thora Birch).

His reason for returning to the CIA is based on his need to protect them and the film’s final scene also teases a new addition on its way. Exploring this connection with his family adds another layer of depth to his character, allowing the audience to sympathize, and understand the reasoning behind a lot of his actions, whether professional or personal.

7 Clear and Present Danger (1994)

Acting Deputy Director, Negotiator

As Admiral James Greer (James Earl Jones) takes a leave of absence for cancer treatment, Jack Ryan (Harrison Ford) is appointed his temporary replacement. His full title is: CIA Acting Deputy Director (Intelligence) (DDI), and with this new high rank, he uncovers a covert plot deep within his organization.

As part of one of his responsibilities, he approaches Congress for aid in funding the Colombian fight against drug cartels, something that becomes somewhat of a plot point for the entire film. Due to his now higher ranking, Ryan is also sent to Colombia as a negotiator on behalf of the U.S. government.

After layers of deception and betrayed allegiances are uncovered, Ryan leads a covert mission into Bogotá, with the aid of CIA operative Jack Clark (Willem Defoe). At the end of the film, Jack Ryan testifies before the Congressional Oversight Committee, against the President’s wishes, leaving his career status up in the air.

6 The Sum of All Fears (2002)

CIA Analyst

The film was intended as a reboot of the series, still using Clancy’s source material, but instead of continuing the timeline, everything is reset. In Ben Affleck’s version of Jack Ryan, he plays a younger version of the character, and the audience is introduced to him as a CIA analyst.

He accompanies Director Cabot (Morgan Freeman) on a mission to Moscow, Russia. Though there isn’t much new information about Ryan’s backstory, his role at the CIA is conveniently vague. He is an analyst who ends up running an operation that prevents a nuclear attack.

He’s able to reach the National Military Command Center and has close access to the White House. It’s clear that the film was intended to be the first of many, and wanted to give Ryan space to grow in his role and climb the ranks of the Agency.

5 Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014)

Student, U.S. Marine, CIA recruit, Spy, Financial Auditor

Kenneth Branagh directed this second reboot attempt, which utilized the characters created by Tom Clancy but did not follow the plot of any particular novel. Chris Pine takes on the role of Jack Ryan and starts his journey as a student at the London School of Economics. He then becomes a U.S.

Marine, serving in Afghanistan, but is badly injured during a rescue operation trying to save some of his fellow Marines. After a lengthy recovery time, Jack is recruited by a veteran CIA operative (Kevin Costner) and joins the organization. The film employs various time jumps during its run, and the audience finds Ryan, now an undercover spy, working as an auditor on Wall Street.

As he investigates suspicious transactions, he uncovers a connection to a Russian oligarch that leads to a thrilling operation in Moscow. With, probably, the most action sequences in the franchise so far, Pine’s youth and physical strength are on full display. As the credits approach, Ryan is called to the White House, implying a promotion might be on the cards.

4 Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, Season 1 (2018)

PhD, U.S. Marine, financier, junior CIA analyst, field agent

John Krasinski took the reins in this Amazon Prime series. As in the previous source material, Jack Ryan holds a PhD in economics which led him to a private bank on Wall Street, and is a former U.S. Marine turned CIA recruit. His experience as a Second Lieutenant and Infantry Officer comes in handy once an assignment takes him to the field.

As he works as a financial analyst at the Terror Finance and Arms Division in Washington, D.C., he uncovers suspicious transactions potentially linked to a terrorist group in Yemen. After a slew of dangerous missions across the Middle East with James Greer (Wendell Pierce), he manages to foil a terrorist plot on American soil, thus saving the President of the United States.

Because of his heroic work, Ryan is offered the job as head of Terror, Finance, and Arms Division.

Because of his heroic work, Ryan is offered the job as head of Terror, Finance, and Arms Division. Meanwhile, Greer offers him a job in Moscow to work for him, but the audience is left wondering what choice he’ll make in this Season 1 cliffhanger.

3 Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, Season 2 (2019)

Political Advisor, Diplomatic Delegate, Unemployed, Super Spy

In the show’s second season, it’s revealed that Jack Ryan (John Krasinski) is working for his senator friend in Washington, D.C., where he advises various politicians. He is then sent on a diplomatic visit to Venezuela to investigate an arms shipment. Things escalate rather quickly, as Jack teams up with his close friend Greer (Wendell Pierce) and they play a part in overthrowing a corrupt political regime.

Ryan’s relieved of his official duties by the U.S. Government, but continues to conduct his investigation on his mission to find the truth. He works closely with the UK’s MI-5, as well as German intelligence and, after another successful mission, appears to be drawn back in by the Agency.

2 Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, Season 3 (2022)

CIA Field Agent, Potential Trator

Stationed in Europe, Jack Ryan (John Krasinski) uncovers a potential nuclear threat, which eventually turns out to be part of a plot to bring back the Soviet Union. Throughout most of the season, Ryan goes rogue, working with old assets and evading his Station Chief (Betty Gabriel), who believes he is responsible for killing a Greek police officer.

While he is widely regarded as having committed treason, his paths end up crossing back with his close allies. Ultimately, with the joint efforts of Jack Ryan and James Greer (Wendell Pierce), they are able to prevent the start of World War III. The friends and colleagues end up returning to the United States as heroes, where they are both presented with the Central Intelligence Agency Intelligence Star.

1 Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, Season 4 (2022)

Acting Deputy Director

Krasinski returns in Jack Ryan season 4 as acting Deputy Director to the new CIA Director, Elizabeth Wright (Betty Gabriel). The two withdraw funding to a covert drug cartel operation in Mexico, which connects to a series of events that includes deception within the CIA, and a potential international disaster.

The series was not based on any of the novels, instead, combining existing characters from the Clancy universe with current world affairs. Despite his high ranking, Jack Ryan is by no means tied to his desk. He travels the world, interrogating criminals, infiltrating cartels, and even being tortured.

Tom Cancly’s Jack Ryan
has a Rotten Tomatoes critics’ score of 78%.

As he inevitably saves the world, yet again, he exposes an even more powerful government official (a Senator), effectively earning favor with the president. Krasinski is said to be reprising this role in the upcoming Jack Ryan movie, but it’s unknown at what level and rank the spy will be then.