Check Out Tyler Ellis’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tyler Ellis.

Hi Tyler, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My father wanted an athlete. He pushed it. Then I got a few concussions, and football was over. Then he went to prison for ten years. The two biggest things in my life were gone just like that.

I went to Physical Therapy school. I thought it was the right thing to do. It wasn’t. I hated it. Then there was a paperwork mistake, and I got put in an acting class. I went in. It was all right. It beat what I was doing.

I started going to New York on the weekends for modeling castings. I took the bus. I didn’t get any work, but I was out of the house.

I moved to L.A. to live with my brother. We were broke. We got kicked out of our first place. We ended up in a neighbor’s one-bedroom apartment. There were five of us. My brother got the couch. I slept on the floor. I stared at the ceiling for six months.

Then my father overdosed.

It wasn’t a tragedy. The man had been in prison. He was a weight. When he died, the weight was gone. I felt like I could finally do what I wanted. I didn’t have to be what he wanted anymore. I got off the floor.

The virus came. The world stopped. I didn’t. I met some people. I got some work.

It took a broken head and a dead father, but I’m doing it.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I was born in Vermont. We weren’t poor, but we weren’t rich either. Middling. My mom worked two jobs to support us. The house was filled with addiction and prison sentences.

I played football. Then I got hit in the head too many times. The doctors said I had to quit. Dropped out after my second year with no plan.

I moved to Los Angeles. I slept on floors. I slept on couches. The agents had lied to me. They didn’t know what they were doing.

Then my father overdosed. He died. It was sad, but it was a relief. The weight was gone. I felt free to work.

The managers were bad. They tried to sue me. They tried to take money I didn’t have. I had to fight them off. It was a dirty business. I survived it.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Specialization & Work: I specialize in high-impact roles that require a commanding physical presence. Standing 6’4″, I leverage my background as a competitive athlete to excel in action sequences and stunts. I combine this physicality with a comprehensive education in various acting methodologies, allowing me to handle complex character work alongside demanding physical performance.

Credits & Reputation: My resume reflects versatility across platforms. I have appeared on HBO, Hulu, FOX, Comedy Central, and Apple TV. A career highlight was my progression with the American Horror Story franchise—booking a commercial spot during my rookie year in LA and eventually earning a role in the series itself. I am also known for my reliability and stamina as a lead actor, having helmed 13 vertical dramas and various indie films.

Differentiation: My work ethic is rooted in survival. Coming from a background of financial hardship and starting my LA journey sleeping on floors, I possess a level of grit that cannot be taught. I bring that same tenacity to every set, whether it’s a vertical drama or a network production.

Proudest Achievement: I am currently most proud of my work as a main supporting character in an upcoming Western. It is a project I have dedicated three years to, and it represents the culmination of my growth as both an action performer and a dramatic actor.

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I was a very shy kid. I felt pretty stuck in my small town, so I turned to nature for freedom. I was never inside. I spent my entire youth cliff jumping, mountain biking, skateboarding, and skiing. The outdoors was the one place where I didn’t feel shy—I felt capable. It was the perfect breeding ground for the actor I am today: quiet and observant in my preparation, but explosive and physical in my performance.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://tylerjohnsonellis.my.canva.site/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tylerjohnsonellis/
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11466170/

Image Credits
Luke Fontana