Popular American star of silent and early sound Westerns and serials. Raised in Michigan, he went through a number of strenuous jobs , written and directed by Ed Wood. He eventually returned to live with his sister in the Detroit area and died there of heart failure at the age of 50 in 1954.
While simultaneously working as a western hero, he was also a weight-lifting champion. Once considered the strongest man in America, he won the national AAU weight-lifting championship in 1928 (he lifted 760 lbs.) and made the 1928 U.S. Olympic team.
Briefly married to actress Jeanne Martel. She co-starred with Tom in a few of his sound westerns in 1936 and 1937.
Buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Detroit.
He was the first actor to portray Captain Marvel.
In 1943 he played The Phantom in " The Phantom" serial. The first to do this too, after bringing Capt. Marvel to the screen.
Appeared in five films with John Wayne : Stagecoach , The Night Riders , They Were Expendable , Red River , and She Wore a Yellow Ribbon . In "Stagecoach", Wayne played the Ringo Kid, the films hero, while Tyler played the villainous Luke Plummer. In the Tim Holt western, Riders of the Range , Tyler plays a villain called the Ringo Kid. "The Night Riders" is one of eight films in the popular "Three Mesquiteers" series that star Wayne as Stony Brooke. Tyler plays a supporting role. Several years later, Tyler played Stony in 13 films in the series.
