Actor, Comedian, Executive Producer of the comedy television show 'Whose Line Is It Anyway?'

Ryan Stiles | Biography

Stiles is the founder of the nonprofit improvisation theatre, The Upfront Theatre

• By Anil Pradhan
• Update : December 11, 2021

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Ryan Stiles is an American improvisation comedian and actor. He is best known for his appearance as an actor, and executive producer of the ABC show, Whose Line Is It Anyway? between 1998 and 2006 and again from 2013 to date.

Who is Ryan Stiles?

Ryan Lee Stiles is an American-Canadian improv theater artist, voice artist, TV and film actor, and producer.

Stiles started as a stand-up comedian working at different clubs in Vancouver, Canada. Eventually, he made his way to television as a comedy scriptwriter to the Canadian TV program, The Don Harron Show. His acting debut on TV as a performer and actor was with the 1985 Canadian TV series, The Beachcombers. The same year, he debuted in the Oscar-nominated short film Rainbow War. The debut role was followed by several other TV appearances like The Hitchhiker (1986 horror TV series), 110 Lombard (1988), among many others.

In 1989, Stiles’ improv skills caught the attention of the British TV show producers. They cast him on the popular late 1980s improv TV series, Whose Line Is It Anyway? From 1989, he became the regular of the show until it got canceled in 1998. Following the cancellation of the British version, the American TV host, Drew Carey, lobbied for its American version on the ABC channel in 1998. Since then, the show successfully ran from 1998 to 2007. This time Stiles was not only the main cast but the executive producer. The show was again renewed in 2013 on The CW channel. It has recently completed airing season 18, and talks are going on for season 19.

Whose Line Is It Anyway? helped Stiles gain worldwide fame and provided him the much-needed prominence in the entertainment industry. It landed him some notable roles in Hollywood Squares (2001 TV game show), The Devil Made Me Do It (2003 short film), The Extra (2006 short film), Two and a Half Men (2004-2015 TV series), Drew Carey’s Improv-A-Ganza (2011), American Housewife (2019 TV series), and so on.

Stiles is also the founder of the nonprofit improvisation theatre called, The Upfront Theatre. He established the theatre in 2004 in Bellingham, Washington, to bring joy to people.

Early Age and Family

Ryan Lee Stiles was born on 22 April 1959 in Seattle, Washington, USA, to his father Sonny Stiles and mother, Irene Stiles. Both his parents were Canadian, and his family relocated to Vancouver, Canada, when he was 10.

For formal education, Stiles joined R.C. Palmer Junior Secondary School in Richmond. Later, he attended Richmond Senior Secondary School for high school education. But, Stiles has not graduated from high school as he dropped out just a few months before graduation.

Wife and Kids

The American comedian was married to his wife Patricia McDonald in 1989. They first met at a club called Punchlines. Stiles performed as a stand-up comedian at the club while Patricia served as a waitress. The two soon started their relationship and got married in 1989.

As of 2021, the Stiles couple has completed 32 years of togetherness and has become parents to three children, a son named Sam and two daughters named Claire and Mackenzie.

Height

Ryan Stiles measures 6 feet 6 inches in height.

Net Worth

Stiles has regularly been active in the entertainment industry since 1985. He has accumulated substantial monetary value with numerous credits for stage acts, TV comedy shows, and films. According to Celebrity Net Worth, his exact net worth in 2021 amounts to $8 million.