Tyler Christopher

Birth Name: Tyler Christopher Baker

Date of Birth: November 11, 1972

Place of Birth: Joliet, Illinois, U.S.

Date of Death: October 31, 2023

Place of Death: San Diego, California, U.S.

Ethnicity: Scottish, Irish, English, German, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, distant Swedish and Welsh

Tyler Christopher was an American actor. His roles included the mini-series Into the West, the soap operas General Hospital and Days of Our Lives, the series The Lying Game, and the film Catfish in Black Bean Sauce. He was also credited as Tyler Baker.

Tyler was the son of Jimi-Ann (Stewart), a college secretary, who was born in Camden, Arkansas, and James W. “Jim” Baker, an engineer, from Ohio. He was raised in Delaware, Ohio. He had two children with his former wife, auto racing reporter Brienne Pedigo.

Tyler’s documented ancestry was Scottish, Irish, English, German, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, and distant Swedish and Welsh.

In 2004, Tyler said:

Both. Both my mom and dad are part Native American… I’ve been recognized within the Native American community in terms of entertainment. There’s not a lot of us out there, not tons of competition. We are definitely a minority amongst a minority, but we’re out there. Not everyone’s Italian or Latin that has dark hair and dark eyes.

His Native ancestry was sometimes said to be Choctaw and/or Seneca.

In 2018, Tyler said (at 29:09) that a DNA test taken by his sister stated that her genetic ancestry is, approximately:

*40% Irish/British Isles
*35-40% German
*1% Asian

Tyler stated that the test did not detect any Native American ancestry. Nor did a DNA test of Tyler’s father.

All of Tyler’s grandparents and great-grandparents and at least most of his great-great-grandparents were listed as “White” on U.S. Censuses.

Tyler added in the 2018 interview, podcast That’s Awesome with Steve Burton:

So… my entire life… I’ve been told that I’m Native American… I can’t escape it, it’s been passed down to me… this is what you are… I’m certified… I got the card…

He was surprised at the DNA result.

Tyler’s paternal grandfather was Wilson Woodrow Baker (the son of Chester Arthur Baker and Margaret Lucretia Forgerson). Wilson was born in Ohio. Chester was the son of Henry Baker and Elizabeth/Eliza/Elisabeth Hawk. Margaret was the daughter of Willard Lane Forgerson and Anna/Anne/Ann Eliza Jack.

Tyler’s paternal grandmother was Phyllis Virginia King (the daughter of Frederick/Fred King and Oda Milinda/Malinda Smith). Phyllis was born in Ohio. Frederick was the son of Charles King. Frederick’s mother was German, possibly Swiss-German. Oda was the daughter of Wilson Edward/Edwin Smith and Margaret/Maggie Luella Cunningham, who was Canadian.

Tyler’s maternal grandfather was James Henry Stewart (the son of William Schuyler Stuart and Nancy/Nan W. Watts). James was born in Arkansas. William was the son of William Rossylva Stuart and Elizabeth Jane Kissee.

Tyler’s maternal grandmother was Anne/Annie/Anna/Ann Bell Gilchrist (the daughter of Walter Gilchrist and Effie May/S. Dorris). Anne was born in Arkansas. Walter was the son of James Thomas Gilchrist, who was born in Illinois, to Scottish parents, his father from Aberdeen and his mother from Galashiels, and of Addie C. Tuberville/Tubberville. Effie was the daughter of William Edward Dorris and Nancy/Annie I./E. Parnell.

Tyler was a third cousin, once removed, of actor Brad Pitt. Tyler’s maternal great-great-great-grandparents, George W. Dorris/Doris and Nancy Rosalee/Rosalene Smith, were also Brad’s paternal great-great-grandparents. Through his maternal grandmother, Tyler was related to actors Derk Cheetwood and Drew Cheetwood.

Sources: http://people.com

Genealogy of Tyler Christopher – https://www.geni.com

Tyler’s paternal grandfather, Wilson Woodrow Baker, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Wilson Woodrow Baker on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Tyler’s paternal great-grandparents, Chester Arthur Baker and Margaret Lucretia Forgerson, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Tyler’s paternal great-grandfather, Chester Arthur Baker, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Tyler’s paternal great-great-grandparents, Willard Lane Forgerson and Anna/Anne/Ann Eliza Jack, on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Tyler’s paternal grandmother, Phyllis Virginia King, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Tyler’s paternal great-grandparents, Frederick/Fred King and Oda Milinda/Malinda Smith, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Tyler’s paternal great-grandmother, Oda Milinda/Malinda Smith, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Oda Milinda/Malinda Smith on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Genealogy of Tyler’s mother (focusing on her mother’s side) – https://www.findagrave.com

Obituary of Tyler’s mother – http://www.legacy.com

Marriage record of Tyler’s maternal grandparents, James Henry Stewart and Anne/Annie/Anna/Ann Bell Gilchrist – https://familysearch.org

Tyler’s maternal grandfather, James Henry Stewart, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Tyler’s maternal grandmother, Anne/Annie/Anna/Ann Bell Gilchrist, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Marriage record of Tyler’s maternal great-grandparents, Walter Gilchrist and Effie May/S. Dorris – https://familysearch.org

Tyler’s maternal great-grandfather, Walter Gilchrist, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Tyler’s maternal great-grandmother, Effie May/S. Dorris, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Genealogy of Tyler’s maternal great-great-great-grandparents, George W. Dorris/Doris and Nancy Rosalee/Rosalene Smith – https://www.geni.com