Tim is originally from Jerseyville, one of the many towns in Illinois that is not Chicago. He graduated from Drake University in Des Moines, IA, with a degree in public relations that he used for a frighteningly short amount of time. However, he continues to relate to the public in a strictly non-professional capacity.

While at Drake, he discovered his passion for improvisational comedy and founded the college’s first improv comedy troupe – DICEY (Drake Improv Comedy Experiment, Yo). Upon graduation, he moved to Chicago to study and perform improv and sketch comedy.

He co-wrote and performed two critically-acclaimed revues on The Second City e.t.c. stage: Apes of Wrath and Soul Brother, Where Art Thou? He is also an alumnus of The Second City Touring Company and performed in The Second City Guide to the Opera, The Second City Improv All-Stars, Baby Wants Candy, The Beatbox, and in shows at iO Chicago (The Improvised Shakespeare Company, Musical Armando) and ComedySportz. You might have seen him in videos for The Onion, the webseries Game Bros or on Chicago Fire and Sirens. He also provides the voice for DQ the elf on the comedy podcast Hello From the Magic Tavern. He loves superheroes, video games and his wife Rebecca (not necessarily in that order).

He is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA.

Now a resident of Los Angeles, Tim can be seen as a writer/director/performer on the new seasons of Mystery Science Theater 3000.

Nice things people have said about tim:

“…a lanky young man with an ingratiating smile and a delectable air of charming innocence that played well against the tartness of the material.”– Dan Zeff, Chicagoland Theater Reviews

“…excels at bringing a warmth to cold and emotionally distant characters — whether he is playing a socially inept chess savant or the (dwarf) planet Pluto.”– J. Scott Hill, Chicago Stage Review

“…wiry, Bill Hader-esque…”– Adam Morgan, Gapers Block

“…pinpoint perfect…”– Catey Sullivan, Chicago Theater Beat

“…barbed satire…razor-sharp lyrics to the delight of the audience…”– Dan Zeff, Chicagoland Theater Reviews

“Ryder is fricking funny.”– Katy Walsh, Chicago Theatre Beat

“…impossibly lanky…”– Kris Vire, Time Out Chicago