Date Of Birth

December 19, 1970

Biography

Born on December 19, 1970 in Bronx, New York, Tyson Craig Beckford is the son of a Jamaican mother and a half Jamaican and half Chinese father, who raised him in Rochester, New York. He was educated at Pittsford Mendon High School and while there, he participated in the Urban-Suburban Program, which aimed to give educational opportunities to urban youth in the city.

Beckford began his career as a model after he was discovered by an editor from hip-hop magazine The Source in 1991. He then landed a job at a New York agency, which shortly placed him in a modeling job for photographers Herb Ritts and Bruce Weber. Weber then brought him to Ralph Lauren, who hired him for the company’s sport, fragrance and body line named Polo Sport.

In 1995, Beckford began appearing on a number of magazines such as paper and Essence. He also landed multiple-page spreads in Vogue, GQ, The New York Times and Details. In the same year, he was named by VH1 as Man of the Year, and was also included in People magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People in the World.

As an actor, Beckford worked on films Into the Blue, Zoolander and Biker Boyz. He also appeared in music videos “Toxic” by Britney Spears, “21 Questions” by 50 Cent, and “Unbreak my Heart” by Toni Braxton. He returned to television screens as the co-host of Niki Taylor in Bravo’s Make Me a Supermodel. He later dated one of the contestants, Shanina Shaik.

(Photos courtesy of Bravo)

Place of Birth

The Bronx, New York

Birth Name

Tyson Craig Beckford

Gender

Male

Fun Facts

– He has a son named Jordan with “Candy Girls” star and designer April Roomet.

Filmography

2011: Shady Creek
2011: Bowl of Dreams (documentary) – Himself
2010: Dream Street
2008-2010: Make Me a Supermodel (TV series) – Himself – Host
2008: Hotel California – Al
2008: Kings of the Evening – Homer Hobbs
2005: Wait (short) – Charles
2005: Video on Trial (TV series) – Motorcyclist
2005: Into the Blue – Primo
2005: Searching for Bobby D – Jerome
2004: Gas – Karl
2003: Half & Half (TV series) – Sexy Guy
2003: Biker Boyz – Donny
2002: My Wife and Kids (TV series) – Hunter
2002: Gully (short) – Man/Prisoner
2002: Pandora’s Box – Lance Racine
2000: Boricua’s Bond