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Richard Tyler is a fictional character on the series The 4400 played by Mahershalalhashbaz Ali. He was born on September 18, 1922. He was abducted on May 11, 1951 from Sinanju, Korea where he was a pilot in the Korean War. On July 11, 2004, Richard was among 4400 people abducted over the last 60 years to be returned to Highland Beach near Seattle, Washington no older than the day they were abducted.
Spoiler Warning: Plot details and/or information about the ending follow. If you wish to enjoy the work first, stop reading here and return at another time.
History
Richard has experienced many difficulties in his life. He fell in love with a white woman, Lily Bonham during the 1920s when such a relationship was not just a taboo but against the law in some states. When a picture of Lily he carried with him was discovered by the white pilots he worked with in Korea, they attacked him. Shortly after, he was abducted in a flash of bright light.
For Richard, those events were yesterday but when he reappeared in Seattle in 2004, he entered a whole new world where most of what he knew was gone. While in quarantine, he met Lily Moore, the granddaughter of the woman he once loved. The two formed an immediate bond and became friends.
Richard returned to the home he knew before the Korean War but found it completely changed. There was nothing there for him so he returned to Seattle where he found Lily who was estranged from the family she'd once had and distraught about a restraining order taken out by her former husband to prevent her from seeing her daughter. Lily soon realized she was pregnant with a child conceived in the future. Richard and Lily moved in together planning to raise the baby together.
Richard took a job as a security guard at Jordan Collier's Arcadia Estates and he and Lily moved to the compound. They were both overwhelmed by Jordan's kindness but Richard soon realized Jordan's motives were not pure. Jordan gained access to Lily's prenatal tests which revealed Richard was the baby's father. Jordan took an interest in Lily and her baby and Richard came to believe he planned to kidnap them.
Richard and Lily determined they needed to leave the compound but Jordan attempted to stop them. He touched Lily's belly and was overcome with paralyzing pain. Richard and Lily went on the run, hiding from Collier and NTAC.
Season 2
Lily gave birth to baby Isabelle and the couple married. They lived in a remote cabin on the outskirts of a small town where Richard took a job as a mechanic. When Isabelle revealed her terrifying powers, the family was stalked by murderous religious zealots who thought them evil. Richard did his best to protect his family using the skills he'd learned in the military but it was Isabelle who protected her parents, by forcing their stalkers to kill themselves.
Richard worried that baby Isabelle was directing their family and choices. Her ability to communicate with her mother left him out of the loop. When Richard made it a point to take control of his family however, Isabelle used her powers against him causing him pain and making it clear that she would have things her way.
When Lily was arrested, Collier arranged for her release. He convinced the couple he had changed and they moved into The 4400 Center. Not long after, 4,400's all around the world began to grow ill. Richard took control of the center when Shawn became ill and went into quarantine. He moved the 4,400 who were not ill to a safe house.
It was eventually revealed that Dennis Ryland, of NTAC was responsible for the illness of the 4,400 and deaths of several of them after he ordered that they all be dosed with a promicin inhibitor. After the disease was cured with a sample of promicin from Isabelle’s blood, Richard returned to the center and set up safe houses around the world for 4,400.
Season 3
Once off the promicin Inhibitor, Richard began to develop telekinetic powers. He found his new powers difficult to control however. He eventually turned to a 4,400 school teacher, Heather Tobey for help and she helped him control and finesse his ability.
Not long after Richard and Lily's return to the center, Richard's life changed over night. Shawn introduced him to a beautiful young woman, his daughter, Isabelle who'd grown up overnight. Richard also discovered Lily had aged as well and was now an elderly woman. For one to survive, the other would have to die and Richard could make that choice. Lily would not exchange her daughter’s life for her own either and despite Shawn's attempt to heal her, she soon realized there was nothing anyone could do. Richard took Lily to the cabin where they'd once lived and they spent their last days together before Lily passed away.
Richard soon found himself in a unique situation for which he was understandably unprepared. His grown-up daughter was already thinking about sex and had picked Shawn to be her partner in the endeavor. Richard advised her she was too young and subtly warned Shawn against it. Despite his fatherly warnings, Richard soon discovers that Shawn and Isabelle were in a relationship. He demanded that Shawn end it with Isabelle but Isabelle was determined to have things her way. Angry with her father, she used her powers against him, causing him pain.
When Shawn revealed that he had funded the NOVA group Richard and Matthew Ross discuss his ability to run the center. Ultimately they decided it would be best if Shawn received assistance from Richard. Shawn was reluctant, but ultimately agreed.
Richard later received a phone call from the leader of the NOVA group, Daniel Armand. Armand demanded a meeting with Richard, but after some thought, Richard refused. Not long after, Shawn begins to act strangely and is diagnosed with disorganized schizophrenia. Richard suspects the sudden onset of the disease was an attack by a member of the NOVA group. He has Shawn hospitalized but Isabelle breaks him out of the facility and hunts down the members of the NOVA group, killing each one until she found Daniel Armand. Richard manages to convince her to turn Armand in without killing him. Isabelle turned Armand's power against him, and he became schizophrenic.
Richard soon realized that he had little power over his daughter when she asked him to persuade Shawn to stay with her despite his desire to dissolve their relationship. Having seen her terrifying power, and discovering that she may be impervious to harm, Richard became worried about what she would do if she didn't get what she wanted.
Isabelle determined that she and Shawn must marry even after Shawn tried to kill her. She believed their marriage may prevent her from doing bad things in the future. Shawn confided in Richard that maybe marrying her would be best for everyone. Shawn had seen two visions of the future. In one of them he married Isabel but murdered Richard. In the future where he did not marry Isabel however, things were far worse for everyone.
When Collier returned from the dead he banished Isabel from the Center. Richard was disappointed to learn that Isabelle had joined with Dennis Ryland in his attempt to create soldiers with 4,400 abilities. Collier decided to break the NOVA group out of NTAC and attack Ryland's army. Shawn was stunned to discover that Richard agreed with Collier's decisions. Richard helped Collier steal Haspel Corp's store of promicin.
Memorable Quotes
Diana Skouris: Mister Tyler, I know you're trying to protect your family. But you have to realize that by staying here, you could be putting yourself in serious danger.
Richard Tyler: Maybe. But you know, I was born in 1922 - in Missouri. And my skin was black then as it is now. So I've had to worry about fire bombings, and lynchings and beatings my entire life. If there's anything I've learned, it's this. Eventually a man's gotta take a stand. I'm making mine right here.
Richard Tyler: (to Lily) I'd give up another 53 years if it meant finding you again.
Richard: The Secretary of State is colored?
Shawn: Black. I'll take your word for it.
Richard: And the National Security Advisor, too. Lord, the world sure has changed, since we've been gone.
"Look, you want to help me? Help me find a job. Tell me what to say when they ask me how old l am? Or about my work experience or how to explain the 50 year gap in my résumé? Everyone says the world has changed for the better, that people don't judge you by your skin. Well let me tell you something, I'm still being judged. You're asking me about my relationship with my parents?"
(Regarding Isabelle) "When she was a baby, even younger. When she was in her mother's womb. I knew she was dangerous."
Related Articles
External Links
USA Network Profile - Richard Tyler
The 4400 Wiki - Richard Tyler
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