George Ryan; Retired Dancer

George Ryan, who traveled with his wife throughout the United States and Canada working as a professional dance team, has died at a Woodland Hills hospital. He was 78.

A longtime resident of Reseda, Ryan died Tuesday of heart failure, his wife, Nancy Ryan, said.

A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., he learned to dance while in New York and entertained troops in the U.S. Army during World War II. As George’s and Nanette’s Dance Team, the pair appeared throughout the United States and Canada in nightclubs and theaters such as the Coconut Grove in Hollywood and on television and movies, including “Flying Down to Rio” (1933).

Ryan switched careers about 20 years ago and opened a firm called Life Chemical Co., a manufacturer of automotive additives. He operated the Reseda business until his retirement in the early 1980s.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years and two aunts.

A funeral is scheduled for 1 p.m. today at J.T. Oswald Mortuary, 6944 Reseda Blvd. in Reseda. The mortuary is handling the arrangements. Burial will follow at San Fernando Mortuary in Mission Hills. Donations can be made in Ryan’s name to the American Heart Assn.