
Tyra Ferrell
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.
Known For

TV
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Bethany Taylor
1999

TV
Chicago P.D.
Mrs. Burton
2014

TV
ER
Sarah Langworthy
1994

TV
Quantum Leap
Delilah 'Lila' Berry
1989

TV
The Shield
Karen Mitchell
2002

TV
Full House
Miss Petrie
1987

TV
Hill Street Blues
1981

TV
The Twilight Zone
Maid (segment "Dead Woman's Shoes")
1985

TV
Moonlighting
Hooker
1985

TV
Early Edition
Dr. Marks
1996

TV
Empire
Roxanne Ford
2015

TV
Hunter
Marguerite Montero
1984

TV
thirtysomething
1987

TV
Soul Food
Frances Lester
2000

TV
The Bronx Zoo
1987

TV
The Corner
2000

Film
Boyz n the Hood
Mrs. Baker
1991

TV
The Cape
Mission Specialist Tamara St. James
1996

TV
The Trials of Rosie O'Neill
Loni Sanders
1990

Film
So Fine
Receptionist
1981
Filmography
2020FilmA New York Christmas Weddingas Alison Wilks2019FilmThe Bobby Debarge Storyas Etterlene DeBarge2015FilmBoxed inas Gayle2015TVEmpireas Roxanne Ford2014TVChicago P.D.as Mrs. Burton2004FilmThe Perfect Scoreas Desmond's Mother2002TVThe Shieldas Karen Mitchell2000TVSoul Foodas Frances Lester2000TVThe Corner1999TVLaw & Order: Special Victims Unitas Bethany Taylor1996TVEarly Editionas Dr. Marks1996TVThe Capeas Mission Specialist Tamara St. James1994TVERas Sarah Langworthy1993FilmPoetic Justiceas Jessie1993FilmBetter Off Dead.as Cutter Dubuque1993FilmUlterior Motivesas Receptionist1992FilmEquinoxas Sonya Kirk1992FilmWhite Men Can't Jumpas Rhonda Deane1992FilmYou Must Remember Thisas Ricki Sewell1991FilmBoyz n the Hoodas Mrs. Baker1991FilmJungle Feveras Orin Goode1990TVThe Trials of Rosie O'Neillas Loni Sanders1990FilmThe Exorcist IIIas Nurse Blaine1990TVCity1989FilmThe Neon Empireas Samantha1989TVThe Neon Empireas Samantha1989TVQuantum Leapas Delilah 'Lila' Berry1989FilmThe Mighty Quinnas Isola1988FilmSchool Dazeas Tasha1987FilmNutsas Cell Woman #21987TVthirtysomething1987TVFull Houseas Miss Petrie1987FilmLady Bewareas Nan1987TVThe Bronx Zoo1986FilmAre You My Mother?as Tracy1985TVThe Twilight Zoneas Maid (segment "Dead Woman's Shoes")1985TVMoonlightingas Hooker1984FilmGimme an 'F'as Rocket Rafferty1984TVHunteras Marguerite Montero1981FilmSo Fineas Receptionist1981TVHill Street Blues