By Chris Kornelis
JUNE 9, 2006
Ryan Stiles hates Los Angeles.
Sure, it made him famous. He's worked there for years, notably as Lewis Kiniski on "The Drew Carey Show." But he doesn't care if he ever works in the town again.
"Being away from (Los Angeles) makes you a lot more creative," he said in a phone interview from his dreaded part-time home in Los Angeles. "The idea is to live in L.A. to make enough money to get out of L.A."
Maybe his role in the movie "Hot Shots!" and its sequel didn't make him rich. But "Drew Carey" and "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" did. Now he can be choosy with the projects he accepts.
"I've kind of reached the point in my life where I don't need to work," he said. "That's a real luxury to have. I'm just really enjoying being home with (my family) for a change. And my wife's pretty happy I'm home, too. And she's something. She was with me when I made $200 a month."
But if there is one job Stiles loves – and can do outside L.A. – it's getting on stage.
"It's just the old: you need attention," he said. "I know I can't sit at home and do nothing. I need to get up and work once in a while."
Stiles is putting in a day at the office at 7 tonight at The Met with A Night of Improv, featuring "Whose Line" alums Chip Esten, Jeff B. Davis and Greg Proops.
Stiles has figured out a way to keep himself in show-business, stick close to his family, get on stage and avoid Los Angeles: It's called the Upfront Theatre in Bellingham, the town he and his family keep their primary residence. Stiles funded the improv theater after becoming aware of the multitude of improv students in the area that weren't getting a chance to perform in front of an audience.
Stiles made a deal with the locals: He creates the theater, and they run the place. Stiles also gets a hometown gig whenever he feels like it.
"The whole Northwest," he said, "everything from Portland to Seattle and Vancouver, that whole corner there is a whole hotbed for improv."
Stiles said he hasn't abandoned the notion of returning to a television series. He's working on a couple of scripts and would jump at the chance to appear on "Curb Your Enthusiasm" or the next Christopher Guest movie. But right now, he's a bit busy making sure his son finishes his school year.
"I've never planned anything in my career," he said. "I'm not in any rush to do anything. But I need to get on stage."
