Mike Rylander has had a diverse career spanning various mediums and genres. As an actor, he has appeared in several notable projects, including Parks and Recreation (NBC),The Young and the Restless (CBS),The Gambler (Paramount Pictures),and Hollywood Adventures (a film from Justin Lin).
Currently, he serves as an Associate Video Producer and Social Content Producer for CBS Interactive and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. In the past, Mike was the Host, Writer, and Producer of two satirical "weird news" web series, "So That Happened..." and "WTFark!", which received additional distribution from AOL, The Huffington Post, and Fark.com.
As an Arena Host, Mike has worked for the UCLA Bruins Basketball and the NBA, hosting games for the Los Angeles Clippers and Minnesota Timberwolves. He has also hosted various live events, including SyFy's Total Blackout Live at The Grove and the Pac-12 Basketball Tournament. Additionally, Mike hosted 21 Cards, a Regional Emmy-nominated game show, which aired on The CW Twin Cities.
As a commercial actor, Mike has appeared in numerous spots, including a Doritos commercial that debuted during Super Bowl XLIV and became the "Most Watched Television Commercial of All-Time". He has also shot commercials for Snickers, Denny's, Amica Insurance, Rapala, Mercury Insurance, 5-Hour Energy, and others.
Mike has narrated several audiobooks, including The Fourth Stall from HarperCollins, which won the 2012 Sid Fleischman Humor Award, and authored by his brother Chris, with whom he is developing book series for television.
Mike has studied improvisation and sketch comedy at the Upright Citizens Brigade (Los Angeles) and Brave New Workshop (Minneapolis),and has performed in other improv/sketch theaters in Los Angeles, including iO West and The Clubhouse.
In Minneapolis, Mike was an active theater actor for many theater companies and productions, including Davenport Theatrical, The Hennepin Theatre Trust, The Actor's Theater of Minnesota, Joking Envelope, Live Action Set, Four Humors, Girl Friday, Urban Samurai, Theatre Unbound, Dana's Boys, and The National Theater for Children.
Mike has also worked as a Talk Radio Host on MyTalk 107.1FM, a Television Host on Shop NBC, and an On-Air Personality at The CW Twin Cities. In 2007, he was featured in Cosmopolitan Magazine as one of the "50 Sexiest Bachelors in America".
Mike grew up in Minot, North Dakota, where he began performing in community and collegian theater at an early age. He continued his love of theater and performance into high school, winning a Best Actor Award from the Thespian Society for his portrayal of Mercutio in Romeo & Juliet. Mike was an All-Conference football player, Captain of the Math Team, and State Champion of the American Legion High School Oratorical Contest. After high school, Mike attended North Dakota State University for one year as a Computer Engineering & Mathematics double major.
Mike lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Jes, and his daughter, Parson, where he continues to work as an actor, host, writer, and producer.
