When Ryan was 10, his family moved to Vancouver, Canada. In 1976, a few months before he was scheduled to graduate from high school, 17 year old Ryan dropped out of school to pursue his developing career as a comedian. 'Although he was a good student, Stiles admits that "being a high school senior gave me too much freedom."'(Courtesy of http://www.imdb.com) Ryan could be called one of the veterans of stand-up comedy. He took his first job (a stand-up comedian playing in local clubs) right after dropping out of school.

'"I got out of stand-up when everyone else started doing it." Ryan says.' (Courtesy of http://www.imdb.com) Although people who have met him claim he is soft spoken and slightly shy, he seems to stand out in a crowd, and I don't mean because of his height.

"A Ryan fact that isn't too well known is that Ryan was a member of the TheatreSports League in Vancouver from 1984-1987. Colin Mochrie was also there from 1980-1986. TheatreSports is an improv troupe that puts on shows and workshops for the Vancouver Community." ~Mary, from the Giraffe Board.

In 1986, Ryan joined the well-known Canadian 'Second City Comedy Ensemble', where he gained experience in stand-up and improvisation. Then in 1990, he moved to Los Angeles and joined the Los Angeles Second City Comedy Troupe. He performed with them in local clubs as well as in Toronto, Canada.

Soon others started to recognize Ryan's talents and he was cast in movies such as the Academy-Award Nominee "Rainbow War (1985)", "Hot Shots! (1991, as "Mailman" Farnham)", and "Hot Shots! Part Duex (1993, as Rabinowitz)".

Back in 1989, Ryan became part of Britain's Popular Improvisational TV Program "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" and was a regular cast member until the show's final episode in 1998. In that same year, Ryan and his close friend Drew Carey pitched the idea of an American Version of "WLiiA?" (fondly called 'Drew's Line') to the ABC Network Executives. Fortunately, ABC liked the idea so with Drew as the host, Ryan and close friends: Colin Mochrie (23+ years), Wayne Brady, Chip Esten, Brad Sherwood (10+ years), Greg Proops (15+ years), Kathy Greenwood, and others continue to delight whosers young and old from Hawaii to Europe.

It was not long after he started on the British Version of WL, that Stiles landed television guest starring roles in sitcoms such as a recurring role in "Mad About You" (1992, as the Boss/Video Vogue Manager).

Besides playing himself in "Whose Line?", the most famous role that Ryan has played so far is Lewis Michaelangelo Kiniski, (a 40-year old janitor at Drug Co.). Ryan co-stars (as Lewis) with Drew Carey on "The Drew Carey Show (1995-present)."

Back in 1978, Ryan met Pat McDonald, his future wife. They got married in 1989 (sorry ladies, he's taken!) and have two lovely children (Sam and Mackenzie). Together the Stiles' family divide their time between a house (previously owned by Liberace) in Los Angeles, California, and a house in Custer (7+ years ago). Custer is near Bellingham, WA (which is about 20-30 miles from the Canadian Border). Bellingham is about 80 miles north of Seattle, Washington -- the city where Ryan was born.