His journey to fame and fortune definitely wasn’t a straight line, though. Honestly, when you hear where he started from, it’s hard to believe how far he’s come.

A rocky start: Tyrus’s childhood struggles
Born George Murdoch on February 21, 1973, in Boston, Massachusetts, Tyrus’s journey to fame is nothing short of remarkable.

But life didn’t offer Tyrus a smooth start. Born to teen parents — his father was 19 and his mother only 15 — he grew up in a turbulent household in Los Angeles. The situation took a devastating turn when his abusive father injured him as a child, leaving him with a damaged eye. This incident led Tyrus’s mother to flee, taking him and his brother along.

But Tyrus and his brother weren’t welcome at their grandparents’ home due to their mixed-race background, forcing the siblings into foster care. The rejection was painful, and young Tyrus became “obsessed” with changing his skin color, believing it would reunite him with his family.

Eventually, Tyrus and his brother rejoined their mother, who worked tirelessly —often up to 80 hours a week — to provide for them. Stability was a fleeting concept, as the family moved every six months to follow her work.

Things worsened when a stepfather entered the picture. Unwilling to accept this new parental figure, 15-year-old Tyrus left home. Homeless and proud, he refused to ask for help. He spent several nights hiding in his school’s locker room.

Salvation through sports
Amid the chaos, Tyrus found salvation in sports — particularly football.

“Football saved my life. No question. I’d be in jail or dead if it wasn’t for football,” he later revealed to the Lexington Clipper-Herald.

Through football, Tyrus gained male role models, was held accountable, and formed friendships. But even more important? He found something to fight for, a goal to strive for in the distance.

Coaches and teammates became his lifeline, offering him not only a place to crash but also a sense of direction. His talent for football also opened the door to higher education.

The giant, offensive lineman caught the attention of recruiters, earning him a spot at Antelope Valley College and later the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK).
At UNK, Tyrus flourished as part of the Lopers football team, where he was known for his size and skill. The Lopers offensive line averaged over 300 pounds per player — not exactly a team anyone wanted to face.

The athletics went well, but even more importantly, Tyrus grew as a person during his time at UNK. He became a man, learning the value of structure, discipline, and keeping his word.

Still, financial struggles followed him. Despite earning a bachelor’s degree in physical education in 1998, Tyrus couldn’t afford a cap and gown to attend his graduation ceremony. True to form, he refused to ask for help, a decision he later admitted was rooted in pride.

From bar brawl to wrestling star
Many might not know this, but Tyrus actually had a few tryouts with the NFL. Unfortunately, they didn’t pan out, and later a ruptured appendix shattered any dreams of a career on football’s biggest stage.

After those devastating news, Tyrus began working as a substitute teacher by day and a nightclub bouncer by night.

The story of how Tyrus found his way into the wrestling world is a rather entertaining one.

One evening in the early 2000s, Tyrus was working as a nightclub bouncer when a fight broke out between two unruly patrons. The scuffle quickly escalated, and Tyrus stepped in to diffuse the situation. As he puts it, he ”clunked their little heads together and carried them out like a suitcase” — all while cracking jokes.

This caught the attention of professional wrestler Tommy Dreamer, who couldn’t help but think Tyrus’s natural charisma and physical presence would look great on TV.

And so, in 2006, Tyrus made his pro wrestling debut under the name Brodus Clay, later earning fame as The Funkasaurus. By 2014, he joined Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), where most fans came to know him simply as Tyrus.

How did Tyrus end up on Gutfeld! and Fox
Tyrus’s larger-than-life personality didn’t just resonate in the ring—it also caught the attention of TV producers

It’s actually a pretty funny story. It all started when Tyrus playfully called out host Greg Gutfeld on social media, sparking a lighthearted back-and-forth between the two. Amused by their banter, Gutfeld invited Tyrus to appear on the show, a late-night blend of politics and satire.

Since 2016, Tyrus has been a regular presence on Fox News, appearing on shows like Fox & Friends and The Daily Briefing. Known for being a talkative guy even back in his football days, his outspoken nature proved to be a perfect fit for television.
Tyrus has gained a reputation for speaking his mind without holding back.

But that’s not all — Tyrus has also dabbled in acting. He’s appeared in TV series like The Purge, MacGyver, and Syn, as well as in the horror film No One Lives.

In addition to co-hosting the podcast Tyrus & The Wise Men, this multi-talented personality has written two books. His 2022 autobiography, Just Tyrus: A Memoir, became a New York Times bestseller. He followed it up with Nuff Said, released in 2023.

Who is Tyrus wife?
Tyrus married his longtime partner, Ingrid Rinck Herbert, on January 7, 2024.