Ryan Stiles facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ryan Stiles
Stiles in November 2008
Birth name	Ryan Lee Stiles
Born	(1959-04-22) April 22, 1959 (age 66) Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Medium	Stand up, television, film
Nationality	American Canadian
Years active	1985–present
Genres	Improvisational comedy
Spouse	Patricia McDonald ​ (m. 1988)​
Children	3
Notable works and roles	British and American versions of Whose Line Is It Anyway? Lewis Kiniski on The Drew Carey Show Herb Melnick on Two and a Half Men

Ryan Lee Stiles (born April 22, 1959) is a funny American-Canadian actor and comedian. He is famous for his work in improvisational comedy, which means making up jokes and scenes on the spot. You might know him best from the TV show Whose Line Is It Anyway?. He was on both the original British version and the American version. He also played Lewis Kiniski on The Drew Carey Show and Herb Melnick on Two and a Half Men.

Early Life and First Steps in Comedy

Ryan Stiles was born in Seattle, USA. He was the youngest of five children. His parents were Canadian. When he was ten, his family moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, in Canada.

Ryan went to R.C. Palmer Junior Secondary School and Richmond Senior Secondary. He was a good student, but he decided to leave school at age 17, just before graduating. He wanted to focus on comedy.

Even though his parents weren't sure about it, Ryan started doing stand-up shows. He performed in clubs near his home in Vancouver. He even helped start a comedy club called Punchlines. During this time, he also wrote for a TV show and hosted Comedy College. Ryan was a regular performer with the Vancouver Theatresports League. He then joined a famous comedy group called The Second City. He performed with them in Toronto and Los Angeles.

Becoming a TV Star

Whose Line Is It Anyway? and The Drew Carey Show

In 1989, Ryan Stiles caught the eye of the people who made the British improv show Whose Line Is It Anyway?. He became a regular on the show and was very popular. Fans in the United Kingdom loved his quick thinking and funny characters.

In 1995, another comedian, Drew Carey, asked Ryan to join his new TV show, The Drew Carey Show. Ryan played Lewis Kiniski, Drew's smart but sometimes lazy best friend.

In 1998, Drew Carey helped bring Whose Line Is It Anyway? to America. Ryan Stiles was a big part of this new American version. He was also an executive producer, which means he helped make important decisions about the show. Ryan was even nominated for an Emmy Award in 2002 for his amazing work on the show. A fun thing about the show was Ryan's fancy dress shoes. He also often did funny impressions of actress Carol Channing.

Ryan Stiles came back as a performer and executive producer for the new Whose Line Is It Anyway? show that started in 2013.

Other TV Shows and Movies

Ryan Stiles has been in several movies. He appeared in the 1991 film Hot Shots! and its sequel, Hot Shots! Part Deux, in 1993.

From 2004 to 2015, he played Dr. Herb Melnick on the TV show Two and a Half Men. He also made guest appearances on other shows like Parker Lewis Can't Lose, Murphy Brown, and Dharma & Greg. In 2008, he was a guest star on Reno 911!.

In 1994, during a baseball strike, Ryan appeared in commercials for Nike. He was shown in an empty baseball park, trying to play the organ or do the "wave" by himself. The commercials ended with him asking, "Play ball. Please."

Helping Others

Ryan Stiles cares about helping children who have been hurt by burns. Since 2009, he has raised over $500,000 for the Burned Children Recovery Center. This money helps the center support children and their families.

Personal Life

Ryan Stiles met his wife, Patricia McDonald, in 1981. They got married in 1988 and have three children.

When he's not working, Ryan lives near Bellingham, Washington. He opened a small theater there called the Upfront Theatre. It's a special place for live improv comedy shows.

Filmography

Film

Television

Commercials

See also

In Spanish: Ryan Stiles para niños