Tyler Parks’ Life On Center Stage and Center Court

For many, Los Angeles symbolizes the ultimate dream, that being an opportunity to break into the entertainment industry and build a lasting career. While the path is often filled with challenges and uncertainty, Tyler Parks stands as living proof that the dream is attainable.

Tyler is best known as an accomplished performer, but those who know him personally, whether in Los Angeles or back home in Georgia, also recognize him for his prowess on the tennis court. A man of many talents, Tyler wears many hats as an actor, singer, songwriter, teacher, and tennis coach.

Beyond his artistic and athletic achievements, Tyler is a passionate advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. Through both his work and his presence, he champions inclusion and helps others see what’s possible by simply being himself. 

Georgia Roots of Performance and Tennis 

Born in Atlanta and raised in Marietta, Georgia, Tyler grew up an only child in a household shaped by hard work. His parents made personal sacrifices to create every opportunity for their son, working tirelessly to ensure the Parks family could thrive.

At age five, Tyler was enrolled in a summer daycare so his parents could continue working. Unlike many who are introduced to tennis through family or TV, Tyler discovered the sport unexpectedly during daycare field trips to swimming pools, museums, and occasionally, tennis courts. On one of those outings, Tyler picked up a racquet, unknowingly igniting a lifelong passion.

At the same time, he explored other interests, trying a range of  sports like soccer, baseball, and basketball. He also took his first dance class, a moment that would become a cornerstone of his life. Unlike tennis, his love for performance was inspired by someone close to his heart, his grandmother.

“My grandmother and her sister were once a duo that would perform for military service events and other local events when they were teenagers and young adults,” Tyler mentioned. “My grandmother used to say that I got my talent from her, and I can’t argue with that.” 

As Tyler continued taking dance classes, his talent and passion grew. He began performing and competing with various competitive studios, notably appearing on the stages of national competitions broadcasted on ESPN, and was even selected for All-Star Dance Team. His love of dance sparked a deeper passion for performing and being in front of an audience. 

Encouraged by a competition director at his studio, Tyler auditioned for a movie role later that year. Although he didn’t land the part, he was captivated by the process and enrolled in local acting classes. Not long after, he was discovered by Atlanta-based agent Joy Pervis and signed with her. Just two weeks later, he booked his first audition, and soon began landing print and regional commercial work.

“I was very intrigued about the entire experience when it came to auditioning, mainly because I had never been asked to speak before,” said Tyler. “It was always, you know, movement based expression. So, I asked my parents to sign me up for acting classes, and they got me into an on-camera acting school. There, I got my first agent, and the rest is history.” 

Over the next several years, Tyler balanced a busy career in dance and acting while continuing to pursue tennis. As his performing career gained momentum, he also committed to competing on the USTA junior circuit. 

Tyler’s parents were always encouraging of all his pursuits, providing the support,  resources, and guidance needed to excel in whatever he set out to achieve. Throughout middle and high school, he competed in local and regional USTA tournaments, earning success on multiple teams. At Osborne High School, he was named tennis team captain, also serving as an assistant coach while continuing to compete. His achievements were made possible in large part by his parents’ dedication.

“I remember how my dad would come with me when I was playing USTA junior tournaments in different cities,” Tyler stated. “Although he never played the sport himself, on my off days or before matches, he always made time to rally with me or feed me balls so I could practice and warm up.” 

Navigating College and Creativity 

After high school, Tyler was determined to stay active in both of his passions while pursuing a college education. Choosing to stay local, he enrolled at Georgia State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Spanish. Pushing himself to graduate early, he took courses year-round for two years, turning his schedule into a full-on juggling act.

“I was always rushing from one thing to the other and somehow made them all work. I still played tennis, though less competitively, worked in acting or in dance-related jobs, taught at different studios, and took acting classes off-campus all while in college,” commented Tyler. “In my last semester, I even took 25 credit hours including a five day a week internship. Balance was not a word that I understood or used at all.” 

By the time Tyler graduated in 2010, he had already built a solid reputation in the entertainment industry. Before turning 21, he’d landed several notable roles, including his first film, Family Curse, followed by Road Trip, Acting Class, and a national guest-starring role on Tyler Perry’s Meet The Browns.

Tyler’s acting career naturally intersected with his dance background, opening the door to roles in  music videos such as American Idol winner David Archuleta’s “Crush,” Young Jeezy’s “Crazy World,” and Tiffany Scott’s “It’s Not Me.” Recognizing the synergy between his skills, Tyler expanded into choreography. In addition to teaching at two of Atlanta’s top studios, Tyler broke into the professional choreography scene with Kat Graham’s “Cold Hearted Snake” music video, and went on to choreograph several of the Vampire Diaries star’s live performances—including a standout set at the VMAs.

A Leap to Los Angeles 

With a strong resume and bigger dreams, Tyler made the bold move to Los Angeles less than two weeks after graduating college, one of the most rewarding, yet riskiest, decisions of his life.

“I moved because I wanted to be a part of the entertainment industry and felt that Los Angeles was where I needed to be. I think that was probably one of the biggest risks I’ve taken and I’m so glad that I did,” Tyler added. “I just let go and stayed open to any and all possibilities that were in alignment with my goals.” 

Since then, Tyler has made Los Angeles home, thriving both in the performing arts and the local tennis community.

“Los Angeles has been extremely good to me. It has not been easy, nor has everything been great, but in the general sense, I have definitely been very fortunate to have achieved the things that I have done and have gotten to be a part of,” Tyler stated. “I feel like Los Angeles is really about surrounding yourself with like minded individuals and growing, or should I say, fumbling through life together. Here, tennis has helped me to create a community. I’m even a part of a weekly meetup group and we’re always adding and bringing in new players! Los Angeles is a challenging city, more challenging than one would expect because of the west-coast chill vibes. Setting goals, staying focused, having a support system—even if it’s just one good friend—and being disciplined has helped me get through.” 

Creating His Legacy 

Today, Tyler spends most of his tennis time coaching and playing casually with friends. Recently, he returned to competitive play, participating in adult tournaments and local events organized by the Los Angeles Tennis Association (LATA) and the Gay and Lesbian Tennis Alliance (GLTA). He also resumed private coaching, primarily through Erika Bond’s All Love Racquet Club, which often partners with USTA SoCal to host events. Here, Tyler supports the club’s mission to make tennis accessible in underserved communities, a vision he’s proud to help bring to life.

As for performing, relocating to Los Angeles proved to be one of the best career moves Tyler ever made. He booked his first television appearances on hit series like Glee and Shake It Up, followed by national commercials for brands including Nissan, Old Navy, and Range Rover. Early  in his Southern California journey, he also performed alongside Mary J. Blige at the Halo Awards and Kelly Clarkson at the 2012 American Music Awards.

Since then, his impressive credits have included Westworld, Dear White People, All American, and the critically praised film The Perfect Sacrifice, along with appearances in Hairspray LIVE!, NCIS, and The Goldbergs, to name a few. One of his most personal and meaningful projects was Indemnity: The Rabbit Hole, a web series he co-created and starred in.

“There’s too many to count, but I would say the web series Indemnity: The Rabbit Hole is one of my favorite pieces I’ve done. It was a complete passion project through the height of Covid and I got to work with some of my closest friends and most creative people that I know,” Tyler added. “The series premiered at a huge festival, has been screened all over the world, and has won many awards. I would also have to say that my small stint on All American was a highlight of my career as it was the first time, on a network show, I was able to play the same character on multiple episodes through different seasons. It’s always so cool to be able to live with a character much longer than one scene or one episode. I also loved getting the opportunity to have a role in Westworld, Dear White People, and am also extremely proud of a film that I did in 2012 where I got to play Emmett Till.  The director, producer, and writer of that project, Tiffany Littlejohn, is now both my creative partner and chosen family.”

In addition to his extensive acting credits, Tyler developed and launched “The Triple Threat” — also known as The Workshop — at The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute in West Hollywood. Designed to empower actors, the course helped build confidence and fluency in the three core performance disciplines: movement, voice, and acting, particularly for film projects with musical elements.

LGBTQ+ Representation 

For Tyler, being visible as a queer person in entertainment and sports carries a quiet yet powerful responsibility. While he’s hesitant to call himself a “representative,” he acknowledges the importance of showing up authentically in every space he occupies.

“To be honest, I don’t necessarily see myself as a “representative” — that’s such a tall order to fill,” Tyler says with a laugh. “I will say that being a part of a community that continues to take action for representation, is a great way to continue being inspired and to show up confidently and unapologetically as who I am in all spaces.” 

That authenticity fuels his desire to challenge industry norms and stereotypes, especially in Hollywood.

“I truly hope to show and/or inspire the people who have influence to bring us into the room — whether that’s casting, producers, or even networks,” Tyler emphasized. “Often, we (in the community) get pigeonholed into one type of gay role or stereotype, and personally, I don’t fit the never-ending version that Hollywood totes as the only LGBTQ+ experience. Because of that, I think I’ve had the opportunity to play love interests to female characters. So, I’d like to inspire the folks at the top — the decision-makers — to realize that having an acronym or being part of a specific community doesn’t dictate or define who someone is, what they can do, or what roles they can play. I think having access to better stories about the vast range of queer experiences will help — and I believe those stories are out there. I’d love for studios to take the risk on those stories to truly represent the community. To the studios: We will watch. We promise!”

When it comes to tennis, Tyler has the same vision of increased visibility and inclusion. 

“There are many LGBTQ+ tennis players, as I know and have met hundreds of people in the community, and I think it would be really cool to see more activations being represented on the main stage in the big tournaments and slams throughout the year, not just during Pride month. I also hope those in the LGBTQ+ community who have the goal of playing the slams and on tour have access to it. 

Personal Interests and Goals

Outside of the spotlight and the court, Tyler finds joy in connection, especially through travel and family.

“I do love to travel. Being able to travel and see the world, see different people, different cultures and experience the world larger than yourself and your own mindset is such a great thing,” Tyler explained. “I don’t get to travel as often as I’d like to, but I do love to, even if it’s just getting away to go see my goddaughter. That is so much fun for me.” 

Looking ahead, Tyler’s goals center on growth. Whether it’s tennis or acting, he’s focused on learning and evolving. 

“One of my main goals in tennis is to continue to compete. I’d like to play more local USTA tournaments as well as playing tournaments in different cities and maybe even internationally,” Tyler shared. “In my career, my next goal would be to lead a television show or a blockbuster film. Regardless of what I do, the ultimate goal is to always be willing to learn, and strive to be a better and more continuously evolving version of myself.” 

Pride and Purpose

Reflecting on Pride Month, Tyler sees it not just as a celebration, but a long-standing legacy that continues to be shaped today.

“For me, it’s a reminder to honor and give thanks to the black and brown people who, against the many factors trying to suppress them, risked it all to stand up for not only themselves but future generations of LGBTQ+ people,” said Tyler. “Pride month is a visual representation of being who you are, loving yourself, and knowing that you belong here – in this time, for a reason, with a purpose.”