Tyra Ferrell

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Tyra Ferrell
Born (1962-03-29) March 29, 1962 (age 59)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1980–present
Spouse(s)
​
(m. 1992)​

Tyra Ferrell (born March 29, 1962) is an American actress. She is known for her roles in films Boyz n the Hood (1991), Jungle Fever (1991), White Men Can't Jump (1992), and Poetic Justice (1993).

Life and career[]

Ferrell was born in Houston, Texas.[1] She moved from Houston to New York after high school and began her career on stage including roles on Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music (1981) and Ain't Misbehavin on Broadway.[2] She made her screen debut in a small role in the 1981 comedy film So Fine, and later appeared in Lady Beware, School Daze, The Mighty Quinn, and The Exorcist III. On television, she guest-starred in Hill Street Blues, The Twilight Zone, and Quantum Leap, and had recurring roles on Square One Television, The Bronx Zoo, and Thirtysomething. In 1990, Ferrell was regular cast member on the short-lived CBS sitcom City starring Valerie Harper.[3]

In 1991, Ferrell played supporting roles in the films Boyz n the Hood and Jungle Fever.[1] In the same year, she was listed as one of twelve "Promising New Actors of 1991" in John A. Willis' Screen World.[4] The following year, she starred alongside Wesley Snipes in the comedy film White Men Can't Jump, and later had supporting roles in Equinox, Poetic Justice and The Perfect Score. Ferrell also played the leading role alongside Mare Winningham in the 1993 Lifetime Television movie Better Off Dead. In 1994, she had the recurring role as Dr. Sarah Langworthy during the first season of the NBC medical drama ER, and from 1996 to 1997 she co-starred alongside Corbin Bernsen on the syndicated science fiction series The Cape.

In 2000, Ferrell co-starred alongside Khandi Alexander in the HBO miniseries The Corner.[5] She later guest-starred on Soul Food, The Shield and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. In 2004, she was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special for her role in the ABC television film NTSB: The Crash of Flight 323.[6] She returned to acting ten years later with the leading role in Tasha Smith's directorial debut, Boxed In.[7] In 2015, Ferrell was cast in a recurring role on the second season of Fox's prime-time soap opera Empire.[8]

Filmography[]

Film[]

Year Title Role Notes
1981 So Fine Receptionist
1984 Gimme an 'F' Rocket Rafferty
1987 Lady Beware Nan
Nuts Cell Woman #2
1988 Tapeheads Flygirl
School Daze Tasha
Side by Side Rita Gold TV Movie
1989 The Mighty Quinn Isola
The Neon Empire Samantha TV Movie
1990 The Exorcist III Nurse Blaine
1991 Jungle Fever Orin Goode
Boyz n the Hood Brenda Baker
1992 White Men Can't Jump Rhonda Deane
Equinox Sonya Kirk
Ulterior Motives Receptionist
You Must Remember This Ricki Sewell TV Movie
1993 Better Off Dead Cutter Dubuque TV Movie
Poetic Justice Jessie
2004 The Perfect Score Mrs. Rhodes
NTSB: The Crash of Flight 323 Jessamyn TV Movie
Coochie Olivia Potter Short
2015 Boxed in Gayle Short
2019 The Bobby DeBarge Story Etterlene DeBarge TV Movie
2020 A New York Christmas Wedding Alison Wilks

Television[]

Year Title Role Notes
1985 Hill Street Blues Jonelle Robinson Episode: "Somewhere Over the Rambo"
Moonlighting Hooker Episode: "Knowing Her"
The Twilight Zone Maid Episode: "Dead Woman's Shoes/Wong's Lost and Found Emporium"
1986 ABC Afterschool Special Tracy Episode: "Are You My Mother?"
Hunter Marguerite Montero Episode: "Love, Hate, and Sporty James"
1987 Mathnet Ginnie Carlson Episode: "The Problem of the Missing Baseball"
Square One Television Ginnie Carlson Recurring role, 3 episodes
1987-1988 The Bronx Zoo Roberta Hughes Recurring role, 11 episodes
1988 Mr. Belvedere Cashier Episode: "Hooky"
1989 Quantum Leap Delilah 'Lila' Berry Episode: "So Help Me God - July 29, 1957"
1989-1990 Thirtysomething Ricky Bianca Recurring role, 4 episodes
1990 Full House Miss Petrie Episode: "Bye, Bye Birdie"
City Wanda Jenkins Series regular, 13 episodes
The Trials of Rosie O'Neill Loni Sanders Episode: "An Act of Love"
1994 ER Dr. Sarah Langworthy Recurring role, 6 episodes
1996-1997 The Cape Mission Specialist Tamara St. James Series regular, 17 episodes
1997 Early Edition Dr. Marks Episode: "Faith"
2000 The Corner Ella Thompson TV Mini Series, 5 episodes
Soul Food Frances Lester Episode: "Truth Be Told"
2002 The Shield Karen Mitchell Episode: "Two Days of Blood"
2003 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Bethany Taylor Episode: "Futility"
2015 Empire Roxanne Ford Recurring role
2017 Tales Courier Episode: "99 Problems"
2018 Chicago PD Mrs. Burton Episode: "Breaking Point"

Awards and nominations[]

Year Awards Category Recipient Outcome
2005 NAACP Image Award NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special "NTSB: The Crash of Flight 323" Nominated

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Tyra Ferrell
  2. ^ "Tyra Ferrell". Hollywood.com. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  3. ^ Brooks, Tim and Marsh, Earle, The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows
  4. ^ "Biography for Tyra Ferrell". IMDB.com.
  5. ^ "Obscure Black C-Listers: Tyra Ferrell - What Would Thembi Do?". Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  6. ^ "NTSB: The Crash of Flight 323 (2004)(TV)". IMDB.com.
  7. ^ "Tasha Smith Makes Directorial Debut with 'Boxed In' at 2015 ABFF (WATCH)". EURweb. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  8. ^ Denise Petski. "Tyra Ferrell Cast In Fox's 'Empire' - Deadline". Deadline. Retrieved June 27, 2015.

External links[]

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