Tyra Ferrell

Tyra Ferrell

​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

Filmography

2020

A New York Christmas Wedding
A New York Christmas Wedding
as Alison Wilks
Movie - Released: 8/21/2020

2019

The Bobby Debarge Story
The Bobby Debarge Story
as Etterlene DeBarge
Movie - Released: 6/29/2019

2015

Movie
Boxed in
as Gayle
Movie - Released: 6/1/2015

2014

Chicago P.D.
Chicago P.D.
as Mrs. Burton
TV - Released: 1/8/2014

2004

The Perfect Score
The Perfect Score
as Desmond's Mother
Movie - Released: 1/30/2004

2002

The Shield
The Shield
as Karen Mitchell
TV - Released: 3/12/2002

2000

Soul Food
Soul Food
as Frances Lester
TV - Released: 6/28/2000
The Corner
The Corner
TV - Released: 4/16/2000

1999

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
as Bethany Taylor
TV - Released: 9/20/1999

1996

Early Edition
Early Edition
TV - Released: 9/28/1996
The Cape
The Cape
as Mission Specialist Tamara St. James
TV - Released: 9/9/1996

1994

ER
ER
as Sarah Langworthy
TV - Released: 9/19/1994

1993

Poetic Justice
Poetic Justice
as Jessie
Movie - Released: 7/23/1993
Better Off Dead.
Better Off Dead.
as Cutter Dubuque
Movie - Released: 1/12/1993
Ulterior Motives
Ulterior Motives
as Receptionist
Movie - Released: 1/6/1993

1992

White Men Can't Jump
White Men Can't Jump
as Rhonda Deane
Movie - Released: 3/27/1992
Equinox
Equinox
as Sonya Kirk
Movie - Released: 9/18/1992

1991

Boyz n the Hood
Boyz n the Hood
as Mrs. Baker
Movie - Released: 7/12/1991
Jungle Fever
Jungle Fever
as Orin Goode
Movie - Released: 6/7/1991

1990

The Exorcist III
The Exorcist III
as Nurse Blaine
Movie - Released: 8/17/1990
TV
City
TV - Released: 1/29/1990
The Trials of Rosie O'Neill
The Trials of Rosie O'Neill
as Loni Sanders
TV - Released: 9/17/1990

1989

The Neon Empire
The Neon Empire
as Samantha
Movie - Released: 12/3/1989
The Mighty Quinn
The Mighty Quinn
as Isola
Movie - Released: 2/17/1989
Quantum Leap
Quantum Leap
as Delilah 'Lila' Berry
TV - Released: 3/26/1989
The Neon Empire
The Neon Empire
as Samantha
TV - Released: 12/3/1989

1988

School Daze
School Daze
as Tasha
Movie - Released: 2/12/1988

1987

Lady Beware
Lady Beware
as Nan
Movie - Released: 8/14/1987
Nuts
Nuts
as Cell Woman #2
Movie - Released: 11/20/1987
thirtysomething
thirtysomething
TV - Released: 9/29/1987
Full House
Full House
as Miss Petrie
TV - Released: 9/22/1987
The Bronx Zoo
The Bronx Zoo
TV - Released: 3/19/1987

1986

Are You My Mother?
Are You My Mother?
as Tracy
Movie - Released: 3/5/1986

1985

The Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zone
as Maid (segment "Dead Woman's Shoes")
TV - Released: 9/27/1985
Moonlighting
Moonlighting
as Hooker
TV - Released: 3/3/1985

1984

Hunter
Hunter
as Marguerite Montero
TV - Released: 9/18/1984

1981

So Fine
So Fine
as Receptionist
Movie - Released: 9/25/1981
Hill Street Blues
Hill Street Blues
TV - Released: 1/15/1981