Sam Tyler

Sam Tyler
Life on Mars character
John Simm as Sam Tyler in Life on Mars
First appearance	Life on Mars: Episode 1, series 1
Last appearance	Life on Mars: Episode 8, series 2
Portrayed by	John Simm (UK version) Jason O'Mara (US version)
Information
Occupation	Police Officer Greater Manchester Police (2006) Manchester and Salford Police (1973)
Title	Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) (2006) Detective Inspector (DI) (1973)
Spouse(s)	Annie Cartwright (married after series events)
Nationality	British

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. In the end, the two develop a love-hate relationship and respect each other's input.

Throughout the series, Tyler frequently hears and sees things from his life in 2006. While in 1973, Tyler often sees images from the present day on his television, hears loved ones and medical staff talk about him and to him through phones and portable radios, along with being stalked by Test Card Girl (Rafaella Hutchinson & Harriet Rogers) and experiencing recurring hallucinations.