Named after his father Ricky Neal Beard, Neal Tanner Beard was born on September 16th 1984 in a Big Spring Hospital just outside his hometown of Snyder, Texas. Is of: Irish, Scottish, English, French, Cherokee and Choctaw descent mostly from his mother Janice's side. Snyder, being such a small Texas town offered very little in the "Arts" for its youth. Tanner got his first taste of the lime light when at the age of 6 appeared on Snyder's KSNY morning radio show. It was on. Unfortunately for Tanner there were not many outlets for a 6 year old in the media markets of Snyder. In a town with nothing more to do than watch movies, he played organized sports growing up until at the age of fifteen premiered a one hour spoof TV show at his home town movie theatre. A school project turned self made film, opened doors to future independent film projects and self made acting opportunities.

Throughout the years continued to make and study film, established a TV news program at his high school, and received recognition in many Student Film Festivals including: "Best Student Film -1st Place Prize" at the Jay Sanders Film Festival at Auburn University. Late in high school Tanner came to find out the Snyder Drama Department had more wins in UIL State One Act Play than any other school in Texas. Quitting school sports and taking up two acting courses, Tanner became serious about studying the craft and was lucky enough to be able to study film and theater in London, England amongst other parts of Europe, in accordance with NYU acting professor Dr. Brad Vincent. Finding his niche, Tanner received a string of acting awards including 5 Best Actor Awards and 4 Supporting Actor Awards, State Recognition in the 2002 and 2003 UIL State One Act Play in Austin, Texas. Tanner got a front row seat in the makings of a feature film with the Texas film "Grand Champion" (2002) starring Joey Lauren Adams and Emma Roberts. Tanner moved to Los Angeles in 2003 to attend film school at the New York Film Academy, he finished his education in 2004 and began his career as an actor, director, writer and producer.

Since then has been able to start his own production company Silver Sail Entertainment, which has produced several projects including: a travel show, award winning short films, commercials, music videos, two season's of a web-based television series and the feature film "The Legend of Hell's Gate" which Beard wrote, co-stars, directed and produced. Beard is working and residing in Los Angeles and Texas.