Tyra Ferrell

Tyra Ferrell

Born 1962-03-29 (age 64) Houston, Texas, USA
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Biography

​From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tyra Ferrell (born March 29, 1962) is an American actress.

Ferrell was born in Houston, Texas. 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. 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.

In 1991, Ferrell played supporting roles in the films Boyz n the Hood and Jungle Fever. In the same year, she was listed as one of twelve "Promising New Actors of 1991" in John A. Willis' Screen World. 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. 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. She returned to acting ten years later with the leading role in Tasha Smith's directorial debut, Boxed In. In 2015, Ferrell was cast in a recurring role on the second season of Fox's prime-time soap opera Empire.

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Known For

Boyz n the Hood
Boyz n the Hood

1991

as Mrs. Baker

Poetic Justice
Poetic Justice

1993

as Jessie

The Exorcist III
The Exorcist III

1990

as Nurse Blaine

White Men Can't Jump
White Men Can't Jump

1992

as Rhonda Deane

Jungle Fever
Jungle Fever

1991

as Orin Goode

School Daze
School Daze

1988

as Tasha

Lady Beware
Lady Beware

1987

as Nan

The Perfect Score
The Perfect Score

2004

as Desmond's Mother

Nuts
Nuts

1987

as Cell Woman #2

The Mighty Quinn
The Mighty Quinn

1989

as Isola

So Fine
So Fine

1981

as Receptionist

Equinox
Equinox

1992

as Sonya Kirk

The Neon Empire
The Neon Empire

1989

as Samantha

You Must Remember This
You Must Remember This

1992

as Ricki Sewell

A New York Christmas Wedding
A New York Christmas Wedding

2020

as Alison Wilks

Gimme an 'F'
Gimme an 'F'

1984

as Rocket Rafferty

The Bobby Debarge Story
The Bobby Debarge Story

2019

as Etterlene DeBarge

Ulterior Motives
Ulterior Motives

1993

as Receptionist

Better Off Dead.
Better Off Dead.

1993

as Cutter Dubuque

Are You My Mother?
Are You My Mother?

1986

as Tracy