Tyra Ferrell

Tyra Ferrell is an American actress. She is known for her roles in films Boyz n the Hood, 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. 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, 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, and The Exorcist III. On television, she guest-starred in Hill Street Blues, The Twilight Zone, and Quantum Leap. Ferrell's first major role on television was Roberta in drama The Bronx Zoo (1987−88). She had recurring roles on Square One Television and Thirtysomething. In 1990, Ferrell was a regular cast member on the short-lived CBS sitcom City starring Valerie Harper, portraying secretary Wanda Jenkins.

In 1991, Ferrell played supporting roles in two films. in Boyz n the Hood. A critic believed Ferrell gave a "fine edge" to the character of Mrs. Baker. Ferrell earned an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for her role in Boyz n the Hood. She portrayed Orin Goode, the love interest of John Torturro's character, in 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 as his wife Rhonda in the comedy film White Men Can't Jump. She later had supporting roles as Sonya, a janitor, in Equinox (1992) and a beauty salon owner named Jessie in Poetic Justice (1993).

Ferrell also played the leading role of prosecutor Cutter Dubuque alongside Mare Winningham in the 1993 Lifetime Television movie Better Off Dead. Ferrell received positive reviews for her performance in this film. One reviewer claimed she "breathed life" into her character. Another critic found Ferrell's portrayal "smooth," and a third opined Ferrell was "impressive." 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 as Tamara St. James.

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 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. 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. 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.

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"

Music video Year Title Role Notes 1985 New Edition passer-by My Secret (Didja Gitit Yet?)

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 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