Tyra Ferrell

Acting

Tyra Ferrell

Born March 29, 1962Houston, Texas, USA41 credits

​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.

Known For

Filmography

The Bobby Debarge Story
2019The Bobby Debarge Story
as Etterlene DeBargeMovie
B
2015Boxed in
as GayleMovie
Empire
2015Empire
as Roxanne FordTV
Chicago P.D.
2014Chicago P.D.
as Mrs. BurtonTV
The Perfect Score
2004The Perfect Score
as Desmond's MotherMovie
The Shield
2002The Shield
as Karen MitchellTV
Soul Food
2000Soul Food
as Frances LesterTV
Early Edition
1996Early Edition
as Dr. MarksTV
The Cape
1996The Cape
as Mission Specialist Tamara St. JamesTV
ER
1994ER
as Sarah LangworthyTV
Poetic Justice
1993Poetic Justice
as JessieMovie
Better Off Dead.
1993Better Off Dead.
as Cutter DubuqueMovie
Ulterior Motives
1993Ulterior Motives
as ReceptionistMovie
Equinox
1992Equinox
as Sonya KirkMovie
White Men Can't Jump
1992White Men Can't Jump
as Rhonda DeaneMovie
You Must Remember This
1992You Must Remember This
as Ricki SewellMovie
Boyz n the Hood
1991Boyz n the Hood
as Mrs. BakerMovie
Jungle Fever
1991Jungle Fever
as Orin GoodeMovie
The Exorcist III
1990The Exorcist III
as Nurse BlaineMovie
The Neon Empire
1989The Neon Empire
as SamanthaMovie
The Neon Empire
1989The Neon Empire
as SamanthaTV
Quantum Leap
1989Quantum Leap
as Delilah 'Lila' BerryTV
School Daze
1988School Daze
as TashaMovie
Nuts
1987Nuts
as Cell Woman #2Movie
Full House
1987Full House
as Miss PetrieTV
Lady Beware
1987Lady Beware
as NanMovie
The Twilight Zone
1985The Twilight Zone
as Maid (segment "Dead Woman's Shoes")TV
Moonlighting
1985Moonlighting
as HookerTV
Gimme an 'F'
1984Gimme an 'F'
as Rocket RaffertyMovie
Hunter
1984Hunter
as Marguerite MonteroTV
So Fine
1981So Fine
as ReceptionistMovie