Biography
Mike Rylander has worked as an actor, host, writer and producer in a wide variety of mediums and genres. As an actor, he has appeared in Parks and Recreation (NBC), The Young and the Restless (CBS), The Gambler (Paramount Pictures), and Hollywood Adventures, (a film from Justin Lin).
Presently, he is an Associate Video Producer and Social Content Producer for CBS Interactive and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
Previously, he was the Host, Writer and Producer of two different satirical "weird news" web series from Larry King's Ora TV - "So That Happened..." and "WTFark!" - the latter of which received additional distribution from AOL, The Huffington Post and Fark.com
Mike is the Arena Host for UCLA Bruins Basketball, and was an NBA Arena Host for 7 years, working for the Los Angeles Clippers and Minnesota Timberwolves. He has hosted a variety live events, including the SyFy's Total Blackout Live at The Grove and the Pac-12 Basketball Tournament. Mike also hosted 21 Cards, a Regional Emmy-nominated game show, which aired on The CW Twin Cities.
Mike's appeared in countless commercials, including a Doritos spot that debuted during Super Bowl XLIV and became the "Most Watched Television Commercial of All-Time". Mike has shot spots for Snickers, Denny's, Amica Insurance, Rapala, Mercury Insurance, 5-Hour Energy and others.
He has narrated several audiobooks, including The Fourth Stall from HarperCollins, winner of 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.
He was also a Talk Radio Host on MyTalk 107.1FM, a Television Host on Shop NBC, and was 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. His love of theater and performance continued into high school where we won a Best Actor Award from the Thespian Society for his portrayal of Mercutio in Romeo & Juliet. He 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.
