DCI/DI Sam Tyler is a fictional character in BBC One's science fiction/police procedural drama, Life on Mars.

In the original British version of Life on Mars, Tyler is played by John Simm and in the American version he is played by Jason O'Mara.

The character of Sam Tyler is the main protagonist within the programme. During the first episode, Tyler is hit by a car in 2006 and wakes up in 1973, finding himself working in the same police station and location as he did in 2006, albeit as a DI (Detective Inspector) rather than his 2006 rank of DCI (Detective Chief Inspector).

Throughout both series, it remains unclear to both the audience and character whether he is mad or in a coma or has actually travelled back in time.

Upon waking in 1973, Tyler finds himself working at the same station he is based at in 2006, under a "rough-around-the-edges" boss, DCI Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister). During the two series, Tyler frequently clashes with Hunt regarding their different policing methods. Tyler, being a 21st century detective is forensically aware and procedurally correct, whereas Hunt values violence, corruption and gut instinct in order to catch criminals. However, eventually the two develop a love-hate relationship and respect each others input.

Tyler Gregory Okonma (born March 6, 1991), better known by his stage name Tyler, The Creator, is an American rapper, record producer, actor and fashion designer from Los Angeles. He is best known as the leader and co-founder of the alternative hip hop collective Odd Future, and has rapped on and produced songs for nearly every Odd Future release. Okonma also creates all the artwork for the group's releases and said in an interview with DJ Semtex that he designs all the group's clothing and other merchandise as well. He is currently signed to English independent record label XL Recordings, and his own record label, Odd Future Records.

Tyler Okonma was born in Los Angeles, California to a Nigerian father and a mother of African-American and white Canadian descent. He claims that he had never met his father, and spent his early life living in the communities of Ladera Heights and Hawthorne in southwest Los Angeles County. At the age of seven, he would take the cover out of an album's case and create covers for his own imaginary albums including a tracklist with song times before he could even make music. At the age of 14, Okonma taught himself how to play piano. In his twelve years of schooling, he had attended twelve different schools, in Los Angeles and Sacramento areas.

Dominique Marquis Cole (born March 9, 1991), better known by his stage name Domo Genesis, is an American rapper from Los Angeles, currently signed to Odd Future Records. He is a member of the alternative hip hop collective OFWGKTA. He briefly attended Arizona State University before leaving his studies to focus on a career in rapping.

Domo joined Odd Future because he was very good friends with Tyler, the Creator. His debut album Rolling Papers was released on August 30, 2010. The album is primarily a "weed rap" album. Production was done almost entirely by Tyler, the Creator. It was met with generally positive reviews, with one reviewer saying "he shows lyrical skills throughout with interesting punchlines and weed-obsessed lyrics."

His mixtape Under The Influence was released on September 20, 2011. Much like his first release, Under the Influence is mostly about his love for smoking marijuana, as well as style. Many saw this second album as a vast improvement over his first, citing "it's focused and rarely lacking in style — or yeah, SWAG."

Tyler Ray Ward (born March 12, 1989), is a singer/songwriter and producer known for his covers of hit songs by artists including Adele, Maroon 5, Justin Bieber, and Katy Perry. Tyler is also well known for his original songs such as Everything, The Hardest Thing, The Rescue, Paper Heart and Our Story's Told. Although Ward often sings and produces his own music, he also works with his backing band on many projects and on tour, members include his instrumental band whom he met during a small gig in 2007 along with rapper Eppic, singer/songwriter Alex G and rapper and brother Derek Ward... He has also worked and produced music for many people across Youtube including Boyce Avenue, Megan Nicole and Katy McAllister..

Tyler Ward is best known for his cover with fellow YouTubers, Megan Nicole and Eppic of Eminem's "Love the Way You Lie" which has had more than 17 million views as of July 1, 2012. His first video was a mix of the current top 40 songs of 2008 which has 600 thousand views to date. Since then, Ward has amassed over 900,000 subscribers and more than 250 million views on his channel.

DCI Gene Hunt is a fictional character in BBC One's science fiction/police procedural drama Life on Mars and its sequel, Ashes to Ashes. The character is portrayed by Philip Glenister in both Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes, whereas in the American version he is portrayed by Harvey Keitel.

The character is portrayed as politically incorrect, brutal and corrupt. Hunt is often displayed to maintain a love–hate relationship with both Sam Tyler (John Simm) and Alex Drake (Keeley Hawes), the leading protagonists of Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes, respectively.

The character received critical and public acclaim for his role in Life on Mars, being dubbed a "national hero", an unlikely sex symbol and a "top cop". A third and final series of Ashes to Ashes was said to "reveal all about Gene Hunt and what his alternative world really means in a stunning finale" and that the "truth [would] out". The character is ultimately revealed to be an integral part of the strange world that both Sam Tyler and Alex Drake inhabit.