Ria Pavia is a director, producer, writer and acting/dialogue coach. Her career in the entertainment industry launched with performing gymnastics in a tampon commercial in the '80s. This stint propelled her into acting in TV commercials, guest spots, and film roles. Back in the day, she recurred on Married With Children, The Hughleys, and the soap opera Santa Barbara. Her career then segued into casting associate on such movies as Twister, Dead Presidents and Flirting with Disaster. Next, she donned her scribe hat, working as a staff writer on Ask Harriet (starring Ed Asner) and Pauly (starring Pauly Shore).
In the theatre world, Pavia has collaborated with Noah Wyle, Jennifer Aniston and Mark Ruffalo;
directing over 45 plays and musicals. She served as acting coach for 6 seasons on Freeform's Grownish
and directed her first music video starring Trevor Jackson in partnership with TikTok and Apple. The
comedic sketches she directed for The Tam & Kevin Show are now viewable on Second City's
streaming platform.She was thrilled to direct Table Read My Screenplay for International Screenwriters
Association at Sundance in January '23.
Ria also recently directed episodes of Grownish and General Hospital. Pavia attended Interlochen Arts Academy for high school as a Theatre Major, studied under the late great Sanford Meisner in the West Indies, and finished up at UCLA focusing on Theatre, TV & Film.
Her most rigorous training revolves around the title of Mother to Adrianna (23 years old) and Dominic & Rocco (21 year old twins).
Grown-ish(2018)
General Hospital(1963)
The Tam and Kevin Show(2022)
Second Team(2020)
They Haunt Him
Ask Harriet(1998)
How I Met Your Mother(2005)as Gloria
American Dreams(2002)
Wanderlust(2001)as Kelley
Skeleton Woman(2000)as Trisha
Benny & James(2023)
Twister(1996)
Dead Presidents(1995)
Descendants: The Rise of Red(2024)
Darcine's Day(2024)
