Ryan Stiles: A Tall....Master of Improvisation
Ryan Stiles has been on most of the episodes of Whose Line (but Greg's been on longer actually). Ryan's talent for improv is incredible. How does he do it? Well, I don't have the authority to judge so you'll have to figure it out. He was the one that brought Whose Line over to the states. He is very tall (6'6 actually...), and everyone considers him with Whose Line. He can also be seen on the Drew Carey Show and a few ads for Kinkos. Here is a biography on him brought to you by the people at Improv Genius: Ryan Stiles-Ryan Lee, the youngest of 5, was born in Seattle, Washington on Wednesday, April, 22, 1959, to Sonny (a fisherman by trade) & Irene Stiles. In 1969, his family moved back to Richmond, British Columbia, a suburb of Vancouver. In 1976, at the age of 17, to the dismay of his paraents, Ryan quit school (Richmond Senior Secondary) to perform at local comedy clubs, with fake ID. In 1978, he met his future wife, Pat McDonald. They moved in together in 1979 & married in 1989. (They have 2 children: daughter - Mackenzie, born in 1992, & son - Sam, born July 3, 1994.) In 1986, Ryan joined the Second City troup in Tornto. Three years later, in 1989, he joined Second City in LA. In 1990, his big break occured - appearing on the British program, "Whose Line is it Anyway?", which helped lead to guest spots in TV programs & commercials, movies &, eventually, to the role of "Lewis Kiniski" on "The Drew Carey Show" in 1995...still all the while appearing on "Whose Line is it Anyway?" in England. In 1998, Ryan got Drew Carey together with the show's executive producer, Dan Patterson, to pitch the idea of "Whose Line is it Anyway?" to ABC. The pitch would prove to be successful, becoming first a summer series then joining the ABC prime-time schedule later in the year. Sadly, 1998 would also be the last year for the original UK series. Ryan splits his time between 2 homes - in Sherman Oaks, California, & in Custer, outside of Bellingham, in northwestern Washington (state). To go along with the 6'6" packaging, Ryan also has a big heart, taking part in various charities, including the TJ Martell Foundation. Add all of that together, along with being a good cook, he's defintely one of a kind.
Here is a list of everything he's appeared in (from the same place)-
Television & Movie Credits:
1985:
"Rainbow War"
(unknown)
"The Beachcombers": "Halibut Stu"
"Tall Suit"
1987:
"110 Lombard Street"
Himself(?)
1988:
"Andrea Martin Together Again"
"Bill"
1989 - 1998:
"Whose Line is it Anyway" (UK)
performer
1990:
"The Hitchhiker": "?"
(unknown)
"It's Garry Shandling's Show": "Chester Gets A Show"
"Bob #2"
1991:
"Parker Lewis Can't Lose": "Citizen Kube"
"Man"
"Parker Lewis Can't Lose": "Teens From A Mall"
"Clerk"
"Who's The Boss": "Party Politics"
"Bobo the Clown"
"Hot Shots"
"'Mailman' Farnham"
1992:
"Parker Lewis Can't Lose": "Jerry's Journey"
"Weather Guy"
1993:
"Hot Shots: Part Deux"
"Rabinowitz"
"The John Larroquette Show": "Thirty Day Chip"
"Washington General"
"The John Larroquette Show": "Pros & Cons"
"Mac"
"Mad About You": "The Unplanned Child"
"Video Vogue Manager"
1994:
"Mad About You": "The Tape"
"Video Village Manager" or "The Boss"
"Weird Science": "Unplugged"
"Dale Griffin"
Nike: Play Ball, Please (commercial)
lone baseball fan in stadium (various)
DuPont StainMaster Carpet (commercial)
man with dog whistle
1995 -:
"The Drew Carey Show"
"Lewis Michelangelo Kiniski"
1997:
"Murphy Brown": "Desperate Times"
"Acolyte Monk #2"
"Mad TV"
guest host
"Courting Courtney"
"Chad Gross"
1998- :
"Whose Line is it Anyway?" (US)
performer (also co-producer)
1998:
"The Martin Short Show" (date: ?)
guest
"Later" (date: ?)
guest
"Comedy Central Presents the New York Friars Roast of Drew Carey"
Master of Ceremonies
1999:
"The Norm Show": "Gambling Man"
(uncredited)
"The Business of Acting: How to Become A Professional Actor in Hollywood"
(guest)
2000:
"The Rosie O'Donnell Show": "Backstage Pass" (2/?/00)
guest
"The Drew Carey Show": "Kate Vs. Speedy"
(director)
"Foe Paws" (animated): "Pilot Episode"
?
"The Late, Late Show with Craig Kilborn" (9/13/00)
guest
"Buzz Lightyear of Star Command" (animated): "Eye of the Tempest"
"Professor Von Madman (formerly known as Spiro Lepton)"
"The Wonderful World of Disney": "Walt Disney World's Twas the Night Before Christmas"
Ryan Stiles - Santa Tracker
2001:
"Dharma & Greg": "Dutch Treat"
"President Abraham Lincoln" (uncredited)
"Hollywood Squares"
(January 22 - 26) - with other WL stars
"Doritos Presents Drew Carey's Improv All-Stars"
performer
"The Rosie O'Donnell Show": "Walt Disney's California Adventure" (2/21/01)
guest
Kinko's (commercial)
"Kenny - a Kinko's employee"
"Hollywood Squares"
(May 7 - 11) - with his mom, Irene
"Rendez-View"
guest
2002:
"Live Bait"
(Co-writer)
He is married and his two kids (Mackenzie and Sam). He also claims that he doesn't want to learn how to use a computer...aw come on Ryan! Its the 21st century! He is best friends with Colin Mochrie. Well, anyway, he is really cool beyond words.
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