Nikki DeLoach's Husband Ryan Goodell Is A Former '90s Boy-Bander
Nikki DeLoach has been acting since the '90s and starred in minor roles in hit movies such as "The House Bunny" and "Love & Other Drugs." She had a long-running stint on the television show "Awkward," where she would go on to star as Lacey Hamilton for five years. DeLoach joined the Hallmark Channel in 2015 with the made-for-television movie "Christmas Land" and has since starred in many romantic films for the network.
The '90s were also significant for DeLoach as that was when she met her now-husband, Ryan Goodell. The two met in 1999 and got married in 2009. DeLoach and Goodell went on to have their son Hudson in 2013 and their second son Bennett in 2017. While DeLoach has a high-profile job and regularly posts on social media, Goodell is a bit more private. However, what many might not know is that he was once part of a popular '90s boy band for four years.
Ryan Goodell was a member of Take 5
The 1990s were a decade full of boy bands and Ryan Goodell was deeply entrenched in that world. In 1997, Ryan joined the all-male band called Take 5, created by '90s boy band aficionado Lou Pearlman. The band consisted of Goodell's brother, Jeff "Clay" Goodell, along with members Tilky Jones, Stevie Scunthorpe, and TJ Christofore. While Take 5 was popular and had hits such as "I Give" and "The Tide is High," they never rose to the level of their competitors NSYNC and Backstreet Boys. They disbanded in 2000 due to issues with Pearlman.
The Goodell brothers' mother, Merrily Goodell, filed a complaint with the Florida Department of Labor, claiming that Pearlman didn't adhere to labor laws protecting minors from working more than a certain number of hours and not providing the band members with tutors, as reported by the Orlando Sentinel. "I abhor what this man has done, and I think he's done it again and again and again. He exploits minors to further his own career interests," Merrily stated. She also claimed that Take 5 members didn't receive any royalty checks from Pearlman.
After Take 5 disbanded, the members went their separate ways and went on to pursue other careers. Ryan never made it back to the spotlight but he found another way to stay in the entertainment industry.
Ryan Goodell became an entertainment lawyer
Merrily Goodell's lawsuit against Lou Pearlman brought on a host of troubles for Ryan and Nikki DeLoach. The "Truly, Madly, Sweetly" actor revealed to The Retaility how Pearlman had the couple followed by ex-cops. "I was followed. My phones were tapped because we didn't know this at the time but the FBI was closing in on [Pearlman] for all of the bank fraud ... My car was broken into by some of his [people] ... crazy stuff happened," Goodell shared. She and Ryan decided to leave Florida. "Ryan was like, 'I was thinking of maybe going to L.A. with you and maybe going to law school," she recalled.
In 2006, Ryan got admitted to Loyola Law School in Los Angeles and graduated in 2009. During his time in law school, he worked as a file clerk and interned at various firms. Ryan landed a job practicing for Yorn Levine Barnes Krintzman Rubenstein Kohner Endlich & Gellman where he is now a partner.
Ryan seems happy being out of the spotlight and doesn't seem to be active on social media. He does, however, pop up on DeLoah's Instagram feed now and then. In November 2022, she posted a pic of her family and wrote, "My whole heart. So grateful for these turkeys. You make everything better. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone."