50 free Ryan Gosling trivia questions with answers — entertainment quiz, new questions added Aug 2026.
Ryan Gosling was a bullied Mormon kid in Ontario who could not read at ten, threw steak knives at school after watching First Blood, and sang at weddings with his sister and his uncle's Elvis act. At twelve he was a Mouseketeer alongside Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake; at nineteen he quit television to be taken seriously. This quiz covers what followed: The Believer at Sundance, Noah Calhoun and the co-star he could not stand, the Oscar nomination for Half Nelson, the sixty pounds he gained for a film he never made, Drive as a violent John Hughes movie, cocktail classes for Crazy, Stupid, Love, Lost River at Cannes, La La Land, Officer K, Neil Armstrong, I'm Just Ken, Project Hail Mary, the marionette-theatre residency of Dead Man's Bones and the Moroccan restaurant he bought on impulse. Fifty questions with four options each and a short explanation after every answer. Play on your phone or print it for a movie-night quiz.
30 of 50 questions with answers and explanations. Play the quiz
Q 01Ryan Gosling was born in which Canadian city?
London, Ontario
He was born at St. Joseph's Hospital on November 12, 1980.
Q 02Gosling's father worked as a travelling salesman for what kind of business?
A paper mill
The family moved often because of his work.
Q 03Gosling was raised in which religious denomination?
Mormon
He now calls himself 'religious but nondenominational'.
Q 04Which film inspired Gosling as a child to become an actor?
Dick Tracy
He said he 'hated' being a child and had no friends until 14 or 15.
Q 05After watching which action film did a young Gosling throw steak knives at school?
First Blood
The incident in grade one got him suspended.
Q 06Gosling could not read at what age, after which his mother homeschooled him?
Ten
He was diagnosed with ADHD and said homeschooling gave him 'a sense of autonomy'.
Q 07Gosling performed as a child with his uncle's tribute act to which singer?
Elvis Presley
The act was called Elvis Perry; he also sang at weddings with his sister.
Q 08Gosling modelled his unusual accent on which actor because Canadian didn't sound 'tough'?
Marlon Brando
Critics have since compared his economical style to Brando's.
Q 09At 12, Gosling won a spot on which Disney Channel show and moved to Orlando?
The All New Mickey Mouse Club
Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Justin Timberlake were castmates.
Q 10Gosling played the title role in which Fox Kids series filmed in New Zealand?
Young Hercules
He moved there at 18 and quit TV afterwards to focus on film.
Q 11In Breaker High, Gosling played which character?
Sean Hanlon
The 1997–98 teen series was set aboard a cruise-ship school.
Q 12Gosling played a young Jewish neo-Nazi in which 2001 film?
The Believer
Director Henry Bean felt his Mormon upbringing helped him understand isolation.
Q 13Gosling's 2001 neo-Nazi drama won the Grand Jury Prize at which festival?
Sundance
It still flopped commercially and aired on Showtime instead of a full theatrical run.
Q 14Who co-starred with Gosling in The Notebook?
Q 21Blue Valentine was directed by whom, in his feature debut?
Derek Cianfrance
The largely improvised film cost $1 million and starred Michelle Williams.
Q 22What classes did Gosling take to prepare for Crazy, Stupid, Love?
Cocktail-making
It was his first comedic role, playing a smooth-talking ladies' man.
Q 23Gosling described Drive as a violent version of whose movies?
John Hughes
'If Pretty in Pink had head-smashing it would be perfect,' he said.
Q 24In Drive, Gosling's character works as a Hollywood stunt performer and what else?
Rachel McAdams
The two later dated, though they clashed so badly on set that he asked for a stand-in.
Q 15What was the name of Gosling's character in The Notebook?
Noah Calhoun
He took inspiration from Sam Shepard's performance in Days of Heaven.
Q 16The Notebook was filmed in which US city?
Charleston
Filming took place in late 2002 and early 2003.
Q 17Gosling's first Oscar nomination came for playing a drug-addicted teacher in which film?
Half Nelson
He shadowed an eighth-grade teacher in Brooklyn for a month to prepare.
Q 18In Lars and the Real Girl, Gosling drew on James Stewart's role in which film?
Harvey
He played an introvert who falls in love with a sex doll.
Q 19Gosling agreed to make Fracture only after which co-star signed on?
Anthony Hopkins
He shadowed lawyers and sat in courtrooms to prepare.
Q 20Gosling left The Lovely Bones two days before filming after gaining how much weight?
60 pounds
Mark Wahlberg replaced him; Gosling said he was 'fat and unemployed'.
A getaway driver
The $15 million film grossed $81 million worldwide.
Q 25Who directed The Ides of March, in which Gosling played a press secretary?
George Clooney
Gosling said he took it partly to become more politically aware as a Canadian.
Q 26In Gangster Squad, Gosling's Sgt. Jerry Wooters battles which real mob boss?
Mickey Cohen
Sean Penn played the gangster and Emma Stone was Gosling's love interest.
Q 27In The Place Beyond the Pines, Gosling's Luke robs banks using what skill?
Motorcycle stunt riding
He called the shoot the best experience he had ever had making a film.
Q 28Gosling trained in which martial art for Only God Forgives?
Muay Thai
He called the script 'the strangest thing I've ever read'.
Q 29Gosling's directorial debut Lost River premiered in which section of Cannes 2014?
Un Certain Regard
The 'fantasy noir' starred Christina Hendricks, Ben Mendelsohn and Matt Smith.
Q 30In The Big Short, Gosling played what kind of character?
A bond salesman
The ensemble satire was a Best Picture nominee.