Nye was born on November 27, 1955, in Washington, D.C., to Jacqueline Jenkins-Nye (nee Jenkins; 1921-2000), who was a codebreaker during World War II, and Edwin Darby "Ned" Nye (1917-1997), who also served in World War II and worked as a contractor building an airstrip on Wake Island. Ned was captured and spent four years in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp; living without electricity or watches, he learned how to tell time using the shadow of a shovel handle, spurring his passion for sundials. Jenkins-Nye was among a small elite group of young women known as "Goucher girls" whom the Navy had enlisted to help crack the codes that were used by the Japanese and German military.

Nye has several residences, living both in the Studio City neighborhood of Los Angeles and New York City. In addition, he owns a house on Mercer Island near Seattle.  Nye has solar photovoltaic panels on his California house and his electricity meter often runs in reverse, which he has shown off to visitors.  Nye and his neighbor, environmental activist/actor Ed Begley, Jr., have engaged in a friendly competition "to see who could have the lowest carbon footprint", according to Begley. Nye often appeared on Begley's HGTV/Planet Green reality show Living with Ed.  In July 2012, Nye supported President Barack Obama's reelection bid. Nye frequently consulted with Obama on science matters during his presidency, and famously took a selfie with him and Neil deGrasse Tyson at the White House. Nye attended the 2018 State of the Union Address after being invited by Oklahoma Congressman Jim Bridenstine. Nye's attendance drew scrutiny due to Bridestine's "history of expressing climate change skepticism," but Nye defended the move. "While the Congressman and I disagree on a great many issues -- we share a deep respect for NASA and its achievements and a strong interest in the future of space exploration. My attendance tomorrow should not be interpreted as an endorsement of this administration, or of Congressman Bridenstine's nomination, or seen as an acceptance of the recent attacks on science and the scientific community," Nye said.  Nye married musician Blair Tindall, on February 3, 2006, however, he annulled the relationship seven weeks later when the marriage license was declared invalid. In 2007, Nye obtained a protective order against Tindall after she broke into his house, stole several items, including his laptop which she used to send defamatory emails impersonating him and damaged his garden with herbicide. Tindall acknowledged killing his plants but denied being a threat to him. Subsequently, Nye sued Tindall for $57,000 in attorney's fees after she allegedly violated the protective order.

why did she kill his plants?
he annulled the relationship seven weeks later when the marriage