Graduated with a Masters of Theatre Arts from Cornell University.
A Freemason and a "Noble" (member) of Abba Shriners of Mobile, Alabama, he starred in and narrated a 16-minute Shriners membership information video in 2008.
His brother, John Tyson Jr. was district attorney for the city of Mobile, Alabama, and was the 2006 Democratic candidate for Alabama
Attorney General, running against incumbent AG Troy King.