Tyler Kyte
Tyler Kyte (born Jonathan Tyler Kyte; July 24, 1984) is a Canadian actor and musician from Lindsay, Ontario.[1] He began his career in the entertainment industry as a child, appearing in commercials and the musical Tommy in Toronto, and later gaining recognition as a correspondent on the educational TV series Popular Mechanics for Kids (1998–2000).[2] Kyte's acting portfolio includes notable film roles such as Philip in Interstate 60 (2002), a supporting part in the comedy Easy A (2010), and early work in D2: The Mighty Ducks (1994).[1] On television, he portrayed recurring characters like Vincent "Spider" Spiederman in the drama series Instant Star (2004–2008) and appeared in episodes of Goosebumps (1997), Due South (1997), and Degrassi Takes Manhattan (2010). His television movie credits include The Defenders: Payback (1997) and Prom Queen: The Marc Hall Story (2004).[3] In music, Kyte started playing guitar at age 12 and has released solo works, including the EP Let's Talk (2006) and the album Talking Pictures (2008), with his song "What You Need" featured in Easy A.[4][5] He performs on drums for the indie rock band Sweet Thing, including the song and single "Change of Seasons" from their album Sweet Thing (2009), and plays guitar, mandolin, and piano while providing backing vocals for groups like Blue Fox and The Ryan O'Reilly Band.[6][7] As of 2025, Kyte continues to maintain a presence in music through collaborations into the 2020s, such as featuring on Ryan O'Reilly's 2024 single "Little Kings," though his most recent high-profile acting projects date to the early 2010s.[8][9]Early life and education
Childhood in Ontario
Kyte was born and raised in Lindsay, Ontario. He grew up in the nearby community of Downeyville and had his first performing experiences on stage at the Academy Theatre in Lindsay.[10][11]Formal education and early training
Kyte attended I.E. Weldon Secondary School in Lindsay.[11][12]Acting career
Early roles and commercials
Tyler Kyte entered the professional acting world as a child, beginning with appearances in television commercials in the mid-1990s.[13] These early spots provided his initial exposure in the industry, showcasing his on-camera presence before transitioning to more structured roles.[14] In 1997, he appeared as Young Raymond in the Due South episode "Eclipse".[15] That same year, he played the role of Hockey Kid in the television movie The Defenders: Payback.[16] His first credited stage performance came in 1997, when he portrayed the young Tommy in a Toronto production of The Who's rock opera Tommy at the Elgin Theatre.[17] At age 13, Kyte took on the challenging role of the deaf, dumb, and blind protagonist in this musical, marking a significant step in his theatrical debut.[18] Kyte's minor television roles in the late 1990s further honed his skills in scripted work. In 1997, he appeared as Matt Amsterdam in the Goosebumps episode "Don't Go to Sleep," playing a boy who experiences bizarre reality shifts after wishing for a better life.[19] Two years later, in 1999, he guest-starred as Allan Price in the Are You Afraid of the Dark? episode "The Tale of the Wisdom Glass," portraying a teenager pulled into a virtual reality game world.[20] These episodic parts highlighted his versatility in family-oriented horror anthology series popular among young audiences. From 1998 to 2000, Kyte served as a correspondent on the educational children's program Popular Mechanics for Kids, where he hosted hands-on segments exploring science and technology.[4] His contributions included traveling to locations such as Universal Studios in Florida for theme park mechanics demonstrations and participating in interactive experiments like testing motor oil effects in the "Dirty Work" episode.[21] These experiences, involving on-location reporting and co-hosting with peers like Elisha Cuthbert, helped build his profile and paved the way for more prominent scripted opportunities in the early 2000s.[22]Television appearances
Kyte's breakthrough television role was as Vincent "Spiederman" Spiederman in the Canadian teen drama series Instant Star, where he portrayed the eccentric guitarist and lead vocalist of the band Spiederman Mind Explosion across 41 episodes spanning four seasons from 2004 to 2008.[23] Introduced in the first season as an auditioning musician who becomes the backing band for aspiring singer Jude Harrison, Spiederman's character arc evolves through a tumultuous on-again, off-again romance with Jude, marked by jealousy, creative tensions, and personal growth amid the music industry pressures.[23] In subsequent seasons, he navigates band conflicts, a short-lived relationship with drummer Karma, and a pivot to solo pursuits, including a viral hit single, while contributing original songs that integrated with the series' soundtracks and overlapped with Kyte's music career. Prior to this, Kyte appeared in supporting roles in made-for-television movies. In 2003, he played Charles Smart, the younger brother of kidnapping victim Elizabeth Smart, in The Elizabeth Smart Story, a dramatization of the real-life abduction case based on family accounts.[24] The following year, in 2004's Prom Queen: The Marc Hall Story, he portrayed Murray, a friend navigating the challenges of high school alongside the protagonist's fight for the right to bring his boyfriend to prom. Kyte continued with supporting and guest appearances in various series. He recurred as Luke Jacobs, a key figure in a multi-episode investigation arc, across four episodes of the crime comedy Republic of Doyle in 2014.[25] Guest spots included Clyde Dunbar, a suspect in a paleontology-themed mystery, in the 2009 episode "Dinosaur Fever" of Murdoch Mysteries,[26] the street performer Busker in the 2011 episode "Anger Management" of the sci-fi series Alphas,[27] and a busker (playing himself) in the 2010 TV movie Degrassi Takes Manhattan.[28] In more recent work, Kyte guest-starred as DJ Luka Cent, a mentor figure in the electronic dance music scene, in the 2021 Disney Channel television movie Spin, which follows a teenage girl's journey to become a DJ.[29]Film roles
Kyte's feature film debut came in the 2002 independent road movie Interstate 60: Episodes from the Road, where he portrayed the supporting character Philip Ross, a young hitchhiker encountered by the protagonist during his surreal journey across an imaginary American highway.[30] Directed and written by Bob Gale in his directorial debut, the film follows aspiring artist Neal Oliver (James Marsden) on a quest to discover his true desires, guided by a mysterious lawyer (Gary Oldman) and intersecting with eccentric figures played by co-stars including Amy Smart, Christopher Lloyd, Kurt Russell, and Chris Cooper.[31] Produced by Golden Mean Productions with a modest budget, principal photography took place in Ontario, Canada, and various U.S. locations to capture the film's allegorical exploration of self-discovery and morality.[32] Kyte's performance as Philip contributed to the film's ensemble of quirky supporting characters, appearing in a brief but memorable scene that underscores themes of youthful wanderlust and fleeting connections.[30] The movie premiered at the 2002 Toronto International Film Festival and received a limited theatrical release, earning praise for its imaginative script and star-studded cameos while drawing mixed critical responses for its uneven pacing—Variety noted its "charming, offbeat fantasy" but critiqued some narrative indulgences, and it holds an 86% audience score on [Rotten Tomatoes](/page/Rotten Tomatoes) based on viewer appreciation for its whimsical tone.[32][31] This role provided Kyte with exposure alongside established Hollywood talent, complementing his burgeoning television career in Canadian youth-oriented series.[31]Music career
Solo recordings
Tyler Kyte released his debut EP, Let's Talk, in 2006 through UMI Entertainment and Lefthook Entertainment in Canada.[33] The five-track project featured original songs primarily written by Kyte, showcasing his early songwriting style influenced by personal experiences and rock-pop sensibilities, with recording handled at Canterbury Music Co. and additional sessions at Rumblecone.[33] The EP's tracklist includes:- "Let's Talk" (written by J. Labelle and T. Kyte) – 4:14
- "What You Need" (written by D. Thomson and T. Kyte) – 3:49
- "Sarah" (written by T. Kyte) – 4:50
- "Some Things Are Better Left Alone" (written by D. Thomson and T. Kyte) – 4:07
- "Soft Spoken" (written by T. Kyte) – 4:24[33]
- "What You Need"
- "Some Things Are Better Left Alone"
- "Talking Pictures"
- "Happiness"
- "Say It's Not Over"
- "Sarah"
- "One Day Closer"
- "Meet You In The Middle"
- "Let's Talk"
- "Sunlight"[34]