Tyra Ferrell
Tyra Ferrell | |
---|---|
Born | Houston, Texas , U.S. | March 29, 1962
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1980–present |
Spouse |
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).
On television, she had starring roles in short-lived series The Bronx Zoo (1987−88) and City (1990), and recurred on Thirtysomething (1989−90), ER (1994) and Empire (2015). Ferrell has been nominated for two NAACP Image Awards.
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), as part of the Cotton Club chorus,[2] and Ain't Misbehavin on Broadway.[3]
She made her screen debut in a small role in the 1981 comedy film
In 1991, Ferrell played supporting roles in two films.
Ferrell also played the leading role of prosecutor Cutter Dubuque alongside Mare Winningham in the 1993 Lifetime Television movie Better Off Dead.[22] Ferrell received positive reviews for her performance in this film. One reviewer claimed she "breathed life" into her character.[23] Another critic found Ferrell's portrayal "smooth,"[24] and a third opined Ferrell was "impressive."[25] In 1994, she had the recurring role as Dr. Sarah Langworthy during the first season of the NBC medical drama ER,[26] and from 1996 to 1997 she co-starred alongside Corbin Bernsen on the syndicated science fiction series The Cape as Tamara St. James.[27]
In 2000, Ferrell co-starred alongside Khandi Alexander in the HBO miniseries The Corner.[28] She later guest-starred on Soul Food, The Shield and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. In 2005, she was nominated for her second NAACP Image Award, in the category of Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Miniseries or Dramatic Special for her role in the ABC television film NTSB: The Crash of Flight 323.[29] After 2004, Ferrell took a break from acting.
She returned to acting ten years later with the leading role in Tasha Smith's directorial debut, Boxed In.[30] In 2015, Ferrell was cast in a recurring role on the second season of Fox's prime-time soap opera Empire as Roxanne Ford, an attorney.[31][32]
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" | |
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 cast: season 1 | |
1987-88 | The Bronx Zoo | Roberta Hughes | Main cast: season 1, recurring cast: season 2 |
1988 | Mr. Belvedere | Cashier #1 | Episode: "Hooky" |
1989 | Quantum Leap | Delilah 'Lila' Berry | Episode: "So Help Me God - July 29, 1957" |
1989-90 | Thirtysomething
|
Ricky Bianca | Recurring cast: season 3 |
1990 | Full House | Miss Petrie | Episode: "Bye, Bye Birdie" |
City | Wanda Jenkins | Main cast | |
The Trials of Rosie O'Neill | Loni Sanders | Episode: "An Act of Love" | |
1994 | ER | Dr. Sarah Langworthy | Recurring cast: season 1 |
1996-97 | The Cape | Mission Specialist Tamara St. James | Main cast |
1997 | Early Edition | Dr. Marks | Episode: "Faith" |
2000 | The Corner | Ella Thompson | Main cast |
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 cast: season 2 |
2017 | Tales | Courier | Episode: "99 Problems" |
2018 | Chicago PD | Mrs. Burton | Episode: "Breaking Point" |
Awards and nominations
Year | Awards | Category | Recipient | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|---|
1992 | NAACP Image Award
|
NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture | Boyz n the Hood | Nominated |
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
- ^ a b Tyra Ferrell
- ^ "Lena Horne hits her stride on Broadway". Boca Raton News. May 13, 1981. p. 10B.
- ^ "Tyra Ferrell". Hollywood.com. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
- ^ Nowlan, Robert A.; Wright Nowlan, Gwendolyn (1991). The Films of the Eighties. McFarland & Company. p. 313.
- ^ a b Arar, Yardena (July 21, 1991). "Tyra Ferrell reaches the big time". Lawrence Journal-World. p. 2D.
- ^ "Black Stars Shine In Murder Mystery 'The Mighty Quinn'". Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. February 20, 1989. p. 48.
- ^ Lentz, Harris M. (1994). Science Fiction, Horror & Fantasy Film and Television Credits. McFarland & Company. p. 431.
- ISBN 9780786400416.
- The Boca Raton News. June 26, 1990. p. 7C.
- ^ Terrace, Vincent (2009). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 Through 2007: A-E. McFarland & Company. p. 207.
- ISBN 9781476670775.
- Routledge Publishing. p. 158.
- Eugene Register-Guard. pp. 1D, 6D.
- Toledo Blade. p. P-1.
- The Associated Press. October 16, 1991. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
- The Boca Raton News. p. 6E.
- ^ "Biography for Tyra Ferrell". IMDB.com.
- ^ Fetters, Robert (April 5, 1992). "'White Men' offers slam-dunk laughs". The Spokesman-Review. p. B6.
- Gainesville Sun. p. 3.
- Beaver County Times. p. 3.
- Gainesville Sun. p. 2.
- ^ "Mal de Mare". Lawrence Journal-World. January 9, 1993.
- ^ "'Jack's Place' is back in business tonight at 10". The Item. January 12, 1993. p. 4B.
- The Vindicator. p. B10.
- ^ "On the move, Gloria Steinem makes movie". The Daily Reporter. January 15, 1993.
- ^ "Highlights". The Spokesman-Review. October 20, 1994. p. D2.
- The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows
- ^ "Obscure Black C-Listers: Tyra Ferrell - What Would Thembi Do?". Retrieved 27 June 2015.
- National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. 2005.
- ^ "Tasha Smith Makes Directorial Debut with 'Boxed In' at 2015 ABFF (WATCH)". EURweb. 23 June 2015. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
- ^ Denise Petski (26 June 2015). "Tyra Ferrell Cast In Fox's 'Empire' - Deadline". Deadline. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
- ^ Stanhope, Kate (October 14, 2015). "'Empire's' Andre Royo on Thirsty's Loyalty, 'Godfather' Influences and 'Wire' Comparisons". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
External links
- Tyra Ferrell at IMDb