James Michael Tyler was born in Winona, Mississippi on May 28. The youngest of five children, he was raised by a retired Air Force captain and a homemaker. At age 11, his parents died and he moved to Anderson, South Carolina to live with his sister. Tyler enrolled at Clemson University as a geology major and earned a bachelor of arts degree. He earned his Masters of Fine Arts in Acting from the University of Georgia. In 1988, he moved to Los Angeles and became a production assistant for “Fat Man and Little Boy” and later became an assistant apprentice film editor. He also worked as an extra and practiced music on the keyboard. When not working, Tyler practices the keyboard in his studio at home and writes music. He enjoys playing tennis, golf, and jogging. He is active in the Lili Claire Foundation and AIDS Project L.A charities. James Michael Tyler lives in Hollywood.