Tyla Abercrumbie

Tyla Abercrumbie is an American actress, director and playwright. She is best known for playing Nina Williams in the drama series The Chi and Officer Mary Jo Hayes in the crime series NCIS: Origins.

Early life Abercrumbie was born in Chicago, Illinois. She described growing up in the Austin neighborhood as joyful despite the city lacking resources and residents struggled. Her older sister encouraged her to express herself through the arts such as writing poetry,

Career Early in her career Abercrumbie took roles in Chicago’s local theater circuit before working in theater and television nationally. She made guest appearances in the police drama series Detroit 1-8-7 and the crime drama series The Chicago Code. She also had a main role in the crime series NCIS: Origins playing Officer Mary Jo Hayes.

Abercrumbie has participated in theatre productions throughout her career as not only an actress but also a director and playwright. She joined the TimeLine Theatre Playwrights Collective, which nutured her when writing and developing her play Relentless, which debuted at the Goodman Theater in 2022. It was originally planned to open in 2020 but was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Asylum (aka Life) is a one woman show written by and starring Abercrombie early in her career (2003) which portrays the conflicting pressures that a modern woman experiences.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1998 Fitting Descriptions Bridge Woman Short 1998 Placebo Effect Suit 1999 Time Served Brenda's Cellmate 2008 The Porter Woman Short 2008 The Poker House Janette 2008 (Mis)Leading Man Danielle Holland Short 2015 Unexpected Ms. Bryant 2017 My Prom Mom Tiffany Short 2018 Animator Roz 2020 Dreaming Grand Avenue Carol 2023 We Grown Now Christine

Television Year Title Role Notes 2000 Bette Carol Episode; Two Days at a Time 2004 The Tracy Morgan Show Ms.Busby Episode; Super Boy 2009 The Beast Agent Sarah Brenner Episode; Bitsy Big-Boy 2011 Detroit 1-8-7 Jeanelle Stilton Episode; Road to Nowhere 2011 The Chicago Code Sara Galivaris 2 episodes 2012–2013 The Mob Doctor Transplant Coordinator 2 episodes 2013 Low Winter Sun Regina Cook 2 episodes 2016 The Girlfriend Experience Esthetician Episode; Separation 2016 Empire Nurse Episode; Light in Darkness 2016 Easy Shelby Episode; The F**King Study 2017 Shrink Julia 6 episodes 2018 Chicago Med Luke's Mother Episode; Born This Way 2019 Proven Innocent Tamara Folsom Episode; The Burden of Truth 2020 Utopia Patty Episode; Tuesday's Child 2021 The Big Leap Debra Sadler Episode; Revenge Plot 2022 Somebody Somewhere Kim Episode; Knick-Knacks and Doodads 2022 South Side Ms. Langford Episode; College 2023 Chicago P.D. Marlene Bagley Episode; Trapped 2018–2026 The Chi Nina Williams 50 episodes 2024–present NCIS: Origins Mary Jo Main Role

Theater Year Title Theatre role Notes Ref 2003 Asylum (aka Life) Writer and star of one-woman show Penn Theater (Pittsburgh) 2007, 2009 The Piano Lesson Actress (Berniece) Portland Stage Company, Court Theatre 2015 Good People Actress (Kate) Asolo Repertory Theatre 2017 Paradise Blue Actress (Silver) TimeLine Theatre Company 2017 East Texas Hot Links Actress (Charlesetta) Writers Theatre 2021 The Last Pair of Earlies Director Raven Theatre (Chicago) 2022 Relentless Playwright TimeLine Theatre Company (premiere), Goodman Theater