From growing up in England and Hawaii to having her own show to acting in television's top-rated shows, Linda Ryan has led an interesting life. Through it all, she has remained a local girl at heart.

Ryan, born in Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk, England, comes from talented stock: Her father was an actor and her mother a singer. After World War II her father, Jack Ryan, became a representative for the Austin Motor Co. of England in Birmingham. The Ryan family transferred to Toronto, then San Francisco.

“;Dad had enough of the cold and enough of corporate life. My parents pulled straws for a major move: Australia, Africa or Hawaii. We arrived (in Hawaii) in 1955 when I was 14,”; Ryan said.

While still in high school at Star of Sea School, Ryan joined Wayne Harada and the late Alan Naluai on “;Teen Town,”; which aired on KGU radio and later on KGMB television. In 1958 she graduated and enrolled at the University of Hawaii and took drama classes. She later worked as a disc jockey at KNDI radio. “;We were the first all-girl radio station,”; Ryan recalled.

Wanting to pursue a career in acting, Ryan joined the Cleveland Playhouse. For two years she toured 40 states and Canada.

Upon returning to Hawaii in 1963, Ryan was hired at KGMB radio as an automation production assistant, but it wasn't long before she ended up co-hosting Jack McCoy's television show, which taped live at Ala Moana Center stage.

“;On Nov. 22, 1963, Jack and I were at Ala Moana stage doing pre-production when the Kennedy assassination was announced. We went numb. People were in shock everywhere throughout the mall. Many were crying. It was hard to sing that day. We realized what we were doing was superfluous.”;

In the mid-1960s Ryan went overseas and toured Asia and Australia, performing for mixed military audiences. She also appeared on “;Tonight with Don Lane,”; often regarded as the Australian version of “;The Tonight Show”; with Johnny Carson.

Back in Hawaii in 1967, Ryan met Ron Cooper, who had been hosting “;Today in Hawaii”; on KHON for two years. “;Ron invited me to take over 'Today in Hawaii,' which I did joyously.”;

The live, daily show was a mix of talk and variety, with such guests as Phyllis Diller, Wayne Newton, Basil Rathbone, Buddy Rich, Frankie Laine, Ray Anthony and the Rascals. Ryan produced the show and booked the talent.

“;Every day was a highlight, whether the guests were internationally renowned or island residents teaching origami or hula or cooking,”; she said. “;I had an agenda: I wanted each person watching to dare to explore their own talents and creativity, whether by keeping up with news of the world or going back to school or classes of some sort. Not to let the brain atrophy.”;

In 1969 KHON abruptly decided to cancel the series, informing her with only three days' notice. “;There was public outrage and fury over the cancellation of the show,”; she said.

But Ryan's exposure on local television and appearances on the local stage caught the eye of “;Hawaii 5-0”; producers, and she ended up appearing on the show a dozen times.

In 1971 Ryan moved to Los Angeles and appeared on many hit television shows of the era, including “;The Rockford Files,”; “;Lou Grant,”; “;Charlie's Angels”; and “;Wonder Woman.”; Later, she also worked on “;Jake & the Fatman,”; “;Raven”; and several episodes of “;Magnum P.I.”;

“;Magnum was the most fun, the friendliest set,”; Ryan recalled. “;Tom (Selleck) had a lot to do with that. The cast and crew always seemed happy.”;

In 1980 Ryan returned to the islands and took the helm of Chaminade University's drama department; she also chaired the fine-arts department and taught theater, film and television courses. For the next decade, Ryan immersed herself in the university's acting workshops and directed plays. She also served as vice president of the local Screen Actors Guild.

In 1990 and for the next six years, Ryan served as executive director of First Night, a no-alcohol New Year's Eve celebration.

Ryan moved to Seattle in 2003, then Portland, Ore., in 2004. “;I fell in love with Oregon and love the Pacific Northwest passionately,”; she said. “;After so many years in Hawaii, I'm fascinated by new topography, flowers, birds, trees, squirrels, forests and to see deer and elk in the wild. It's a joy to experience the seasons, everything from heat waves to ice storms to falling leaves.”;

Ryan still visits Hawaii to see friends and family, including son Eric, a graphic designer, and his wife, Susan.

“;In my heart I still live (in Hawaii); I'm on an extended adventure here.”;

A.J. McWhorter, a collector of film and videotape cataloging Hawaii's TV history, has worked as a producer, writer and researcher for both local and national media. His column runs on the first Monday of each month. E-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).