- Ryan Stiles
Infobox actor
name = Ryan Stiles
caption = Ryan Stiles inJuly 2008
birthname = Ryan Lee Stiles
birthdate = birth date and age|1959|4|22
birthplace = Seattle,Washington ,United States
othername =
yearsactive =
spouse = Patricia McDonald
homepage =
academyawards =
emmyawards =
tonyawards =
nicknames =Ryan Lee Stiles (born
April 22 ,1959 ) is an Emmy-nominated American-Canadianactor andcomedian , whose work is often associated withimprovisational comedy , and is best known for his work on "Whose Line Is It Anyway? " and "The Drew Carey Show ". In2002 , Stiles and Sean Masterson finished work on ascreenplay entitled "Live Bait", which is reportedly in production. [ABC WCHS-TV: [http://www.wchstv.com/abc/whoselineisit/ryanstiles.html Ryan Stiles] ]Biography
Early life and career
Stiles was born in Seattle,
Washington , the youngest of five children. His father, Sonny, was a fishing plant supervisor. His mother's name is Irene. [ [http://www.filmreference.com/film/78/Ryan-Stiles.html Ryan Stiles Biography (1959-) ] ] When he was ten, his Canadian-born parents moved the family toRichmond, British Columbia . At the age of seventeen, he dropped out ofhigh school to pursue a career incomedy . He worked in his father's fish-processing plant to earn a living while doing stand-up at Punchlines Comedy Club in Vancouver, British Columbia and performing improv with [http://www.vtsl.com Vancouver TheatreSports League.] In1986 , Stiles successfully auditioned for a berth at Toronto's renowned Second City comedy ensemble.Television work
By
1989 , he had gained the attention of the producers of the British improvisational comedy show, "Whose Line Is It Anyway? ". Stiles was a regular on the show until1998 , and the show's short production season allowed him to make numerous television and motion picture appearances in the United States.In 1995, Stiles was tapped by American comic
Drew Carey to be a regular on hissitcom , "The Drew Carey Show". He played Drew's smart but underachieving best friend, Lewis Kiniski. Stiles' first line in the pilot episode of the "The Drew Carey Show", "And that's why the French don't wash," is a line he'd previously used in an episode of the British version of "Whose Line?". In 1998, Carey successfully lobbied ABC to get an American version of "Whose Line?" produced. Following the final series of the British version in 1998, the American version premiered, with both Stiles and Carey credited asexecutive producer s. Stiles featured in every episode of the American series, which was produced until 2003. New episodes continued to air, however, for several years subsequent.Work on "Whose Line?"
Stiles was the most prolific performer on the original UK version of
Whose Line? , appearing in 76 of the series 136 episodes (including compilations). He first appeared in the fifth episode of the second series, which aired in late 1989. He appeared in one other episode of that series, before returning for four episodes of the third series. His prominence increased with each series, ultimately appearing in every episode from the seventh series on.He and
Colin Mochrie were the only two performers to appear in every episode of the US version, thoughWayne Brady also became a regular near the beginning of the second season.Stiles was known for several recurring impressions he performed on the shows, performed both at his own decision, and as an assignment in games. These included
Carol Channing ,Elvis Presley ,John Wayne , and that of adeer . He made clear his dislike of the musical segments of the show, particularly the game "Hoedown," often reacting negatively to its being announced. Other than in early UK playings, Stiles was always the last performer to sing in "Hoedown" and other similar musical games, allowing him more time to devise lyrics, and giving him the final punchlines, as well as injecting (usually not-so subtle) jabs at the hoedown itself, or of the host for having him perform in it. Stiles developed a professional rapport with fellow regular Mochrie on the UK version which continued on to the American series. There were a number of games which exclusively paired Mochrie and Stiles at every playing. Though other performers did so, he was the most common performer to make bald jokes at Mochrie's expense. In return, Mochrie often jokes about Stiles's height, nose, attractiveness, and tendency to wear exotic, flamboyantshoe s.Stiles took part in the regular practice of mocking host
Clive Anderson on the UK series, though he did so with less frequency than others. On the American version, however, he was among the most frequent mockers of Carey.Stiles almost always dressed in a button-up shirt; typically a
dress shirt , and was one of the few performers to commonly wear aNecktie . One of Stiles's notable trademarks on the US series were his dress shoes, many of which were an unusual color, or had a flashy pattern of several colors. Stiles' shoes were sometimes mocked by Carey and the other performers. In addition, a running gag on the American version of the show had the producers trying (and invariably failing) to stump Stiles, by giving him increasingly bizarre mannerisms or characters in the games that require him to act them out. When reading them just prior to the scene, he and Carey would often laugh at what was written on the cards. Ryan always managed to get a laugh from the audience and fellow co-stars at any cost, which inadvertently earned him the nickname: Ryan "Anything for a laugh" Stiles.Personal life
In
1981 , Stiles met Patricia McDonald at Punchlines where she was waitressing. They lived together for seven years before marrying in1988 . They have three children (Sam, Mackenzie and Claire). [cite web |url= http://www.famoushookups.com/site/relationship_detail.php?relid=8056&celebid=9854|title= Relationship Details: Ryan Stiles & Pat Stiles|accessdate=2008-07-27|work= Famous Hookups|publisher= Joint Venture 1] When not working in Hollywood, he lives at his home on Lake Samish outside Bellingham, WA, [cite news |first= Saint|last= Bryan|title= Ryan Stiles, back home again|url= http://www.king5.com/sharedcontent/northwest/eveningmagazine/stories/NW_032306EMryanstilesKC.547e80d4.html|work= Evening Magazine|publisher=KING-TV |location= Seattle|date= 2006-03-24|accessdate=2008-07-27] where he has opened the Upfront Theatre, a small theatre dedicated to live improv comedy. [cite news |first= Ian|last= Chant|title= Shooting From the Hip - Upfront Theatre Improv mixes it up|url= http://www.whatsup-magazine.com/index.php?navarea=Archives&storyid=382|publisher= What's Up Magazine|location=Bellingham, Washington |year= 2006|month= June|accessdate=2008-07-27]He was rumored to be a
diabetic , as he occasionally played on this idea on WLIIA, although on theApril 7 ,2007 episode of "Outlaw Radio", he laughed at and denied the rumor. He also denied it in several interviews of that year, including one with theEugene, Oregon Register-Guard [cite news |first= Serena|last= Markstrom|title= Improv troupe rolls with it and rocks the house|url= http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Improv+troupe+rolls+with+it+and+rocks+the+house.(Entertainment)(Ryan...-a0165297347|work= |publisher=The Register-Guard |location= Eugene, OR|date= 2007-06-15|accessdate=2008-07-27 ] and one with theIdaho Statesman . [cite web |url= http://www.ryan-stiles.net/interview25.html|title= Improv master Ryan Stiles brings his "Whose Line is it Anyway?" flavored show to Boise|accessdate=2008-07-27 |last= Oland|first= Dana|date= 2007-06-07|work= |publisher=Idaho Statesman ]Stiles reportedly has trouble finding shoes that fit him because of his very large shoe size, 15. He often has shoes custom-made for him by
George Esquivel .Fact|date=February 2007 Jokes pertaining to Stiles' shoes on "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" were quite common, as well as references to his height, with him currently standing at convert|6|ft|6|in|cm|0|abbr=on tall.Stiles once lived in a house previously owned by
Liberace inSherman Oaks, California , but sold the house several years ago.fact|date=January 2008Other appearances
Stiles has a new ad campaign for
Playskool , talking to playful toddlers in a manner as if they were adults. For example: "Where do you see yourself in eighteen months?"Ryan appeared in the 1991 film "
Hot Shots " as Mailman Farnham, and also starred in the 1993 sequel "Hot Shots! Part Deux ", as marine Rabinowitz. In the film, he is heard to say to Charlie Sheen's character, Topper Harley:Know what I'm gonna do if we make it? I'm gonna go back to Eagle River and marry my gal, Edith Mae. Gonna get us a nice little place with a white picket fence. You know the kind. Two-car garage. Maybe a fishing boat. And in 15 years, when they're all paid for... I'll set my charges and blow the shit out of them.
Since 2004, Stiles has been seen as the recurring character Dr. Herb Melnick in several episodes of the comedy "
Two and a Half Men " which stars his "Hot Shots" co-starsCharlie Sheen andJon Cryer . Stiles also made short guest appearances on "Murphy Brown ", "Mad About You ", and "Dharma & Greg ". InJuly 2008 , he was a guest star on "Reno 911! " as Sergeant Clift, an acting coach.References
External links
*imdb name|id=0830198|name=Ryan Stiles
* [http://www.ryan-stiles.net Ryan Stiles Net]
* [http://www.wchstv.com/abc/whoselineisit/ryanstiles.html Ryan Stiles biography]
* [http://www.theupfront.com/ The Upfront Theatre] , an improv theatre inBellingham, Washington founded by Ryan StilesPersondata
NAME= Stiles, Ryan
ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Stiles, Ryan
SHORT DESCRIPTION=actor ,comedian
DATE OF BIRTH= 1959-4-22
PLACE OF BIRTH= Seattle,Washington ,United States
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=
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