Biography for
Ryan Stiles More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

22 April 1959, Seattle, Washington, USA

Birth Name

Ryan Lee Stiles

Height

6' 6" (1.98 m)

Mini Biography

It's not surprising that Ryan Stiles would feel comfortable doing a comedic turn in the role of Lewis, one of Drew Carey's ever-present friends in the new comedy, "The Drew Carey Show" (1995). After all, the first job Stiles ever had was that of a stand-up comedian. Although he was a good student, Stiles admits that "being a high-school senior gave me too much freedom." He got so carried away with his flexible schedule that he quit school a few months shy of graduation and got a job doing stand-up comedy in Vancouver. In spite of his parents' objections, he was able to support himself for several years, but "I got out of stand-up when everybody else started doing it," he says. He didn't stray too far from the world of comedy. In 1986, he joined the highly acclaimed Second City comedy ensemble in Toronto, where he honed his improvisational skills. In 1990, Stiles moved to Los Angeles to perform with the Los Angeles Second City group. Film and television roles soon followed, including roles in Hot Shots! (1991) and Hot Shots! Part Deux (1993). Stiles' television credits include "Parker Lewis Can't Lose" (1990), "Mad About You" (1992), and cable's "The Hitchhiker" (1983). He's currently a series regular on the British improvisational series, "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" (1988), which has been nominated for three CableACE awards. During the 1994-95 baseball strike, Stiles and acclaimed director Joe Pytka made some memorable commercials for Nike. That's Stiles in the empty baseball stadium doing the wave solo. When he's not at work, Stiles spends his time thinking about work.

IMDb Mini Biography By: GLLee90298@yahoo.com

Spouse

Pat McDonald

(1989 - present) 3 children

Trade Mark

Nearly always dresses in a button-down shirt and tailored trousers

His outrageous shoes

Does dead-on impressions of John Wayne, Carol Channing, and Jimmy Stewart.

Trivia

He has three children with wife Patrica McDonald - Two girls, teenager Mackenzie (1st child) and child Claire (3rd child born in January 2004) and a boy, teenager Sam (2nd child).

Once lived in a house once owned by Liberace.

On "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" (1998), frequently does impersonations of John Wayne and Carol Channing.

Passionately hates the "Hoe-down" on "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" (1998). In protest, nearly all of his songs insult Drew Carey in some way.

On "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" (1988), he often insulted host Clive Anderson. When he joined "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" (1998), he did the same thing to host Drew Carey.

He is frequently mocked by his co-stars on "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" (1998) and is compared to a giraffe due to his towering height, lanky frame, big nose and his 1950s-like shoes.

In an episode S03E38 of "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" (1998), he accidentally broke the decorative neon light on Drew Carey's desk by slamming it with his head. He did not, however, break character.

Was photographed for life-size stand-ups displayed at Kinko's stores. His name tag said "Kenny," though.

Best friends with Colin Mochrie.

Dropped out of high school at age 17.

Appeared in a commercial for Yugo Cars in the late 1980s.

Has been with his wife, Patrica McDonald, since 1989. They lived together for ten years before marrying.

Has a fear of flying.

His family originally thought it was a joke when Ryan announced he wanted to go into comedy because his brother Robert was apparently considered the funny one.

Has a brother called Robert. His mother is called Irene and his father is called Sonny.

Personal Quotes

On performing improv theater: "I'm convinced to do improv. All you have to do is listen to what people are saying to you, and then just add more information to what they've just said. That's all there is to improv, but it's the hardest thing to do"

Where Are They Now

(April 2005) Can be seen in commercials for Progressive Car Insurance.

(July 2005) Currently stars in a Pizza Hut commercial

(2006) Has started a theater group to teach comedy and improv in his hometown.

(February 2007) Tours with Greg Proops, Jeff Bryan Davis, and Chip Esten as the "Improv All Stars". Appears at venues within bus driving distance of his homes in Bellingham, Washington and L.A.

(2008) Has a reoccurring role as "Dr. Herb Melnick" in the CBS comedy, "Two and a Half men."

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