Tyler was born Beverly Jean Saul in Scranton, Pennsylvania, on July 5, 1927, the daughter of a secretary and factory employee, who secured piano and music lessons for their daughter at a young age. She was reared in adjacent Dunmore, Pennsylvania, attended Central High School, and she and her parents were devout Methodists who were active in the Dunmore Methodist Church where Beverly sang in the choir. When she was 14 years old, Tyler passed screen and voice tests and was informed, "you're a movie Actress."