Harris Ryland is Ann Ewing's manipulative and cunning ex-husband. Ryland is a powerful Texas transportation executive whose goal in life seems to be destroying Ann's newfound happiness. In fact, he would be content ruining the lives of anyone or anything associated with Ann, including Sue Ellen and Southfork. Now Ryland is ready to break Ann for good by using her most personal secret, the disappearance of her daughter.

Prior to his role on TNT's Dallas, Mitch Pileggi is perhaps best known for his role as FBI assistant director Walter Skinner on The X-Files. This actually marks a return to the Ewing saga for Pileggi, who played a small guest role in the original Dallas in 1983, followed by a recurring role in 1990.

Pileggi's notable performances include a recurring role as Daedalus in the sci-fi series Stargate: Atlantis, as well as the characters Ernest Darby in Sons of Anarchy, Larry Jennings in Grey's Anatomy and Sam and Dean Winchester's maternal grandfather in Supernatural. Pileggi also appeared in HBO's acclaimed movie Recount and in the feature film Flash of Genius, opposite Greg Kinnear.

Pileggi's acting career began in high school with musical theatre, later progressing to local theater gigs and eventually guest appearances on such series as China Beach, Code of Vengeance and Walker, Texas Rangers. His film credits include Three O'Clock High and Shocker.

A very mobile man, Pileggi was born in Portland, Oregon, before moving through California, Texas and Turkey with his family. He attended the University of Texas, where he studied business. After college he moved to Iran to work as a defense contractor in the footsteps of his father, although he was forced out by the Iranian revolution in 1979.