Ryan Stiles' early life and career were marked by a passion for comedy. As a high school senior, he found himself with too much freedom, which led him to quit school a few months shy of graduation and pursue a job as a stand-up comedian in Vancouver. Despite his parents' objections, Stiles was able to support himself for several years through his comedy career.
However, he eventually got out of stand-up comedy when everyone else started doing it. Undeterred, Stiles joined the renowned Second City comedy ensemble in Toronto in 1986, where he honed his improvisational skills. He later moved to Los Angeles to perform with the Los Angeles Second City group in 1990.
Stiles' transition to film and television roles soon followed, with appearances in "Hot Shots!" (1991) and "Hot Shots! Part Deux" (1993). His television credits include "Parker Lewis Can't Lose" (1990),"Mad About You" (1992),and the cable series "The Hitchhiker" (1983).
Stiles is 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 collaborated with acclaimed director Joe Pytka on some memorable commercials for Nike, including the iconic scene of him doing the wave solo in an empty baseball stadium.
When he's not working, Stiles' mind is always focused on his craft, constantly thinking about his next project or performance.
