Tyra Ferrell facts for kids

Tyra Ferrell is an American actress known for her roles in popular films and TV shows. She has appeared in movies like Boyz n the Hood (1991), Jungle Fever (1991), White Men Can't Jump (1992), and Poetic Justice (1993). On television, she had important roles in series such as The Bronx Zoo (1987−88), City (1990), Thirtysomething (1989−90), ER (1994), and Empire (2015). Tyra Ferrell has been nominated for two NAACP Image Awards for her acting.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Tyra Ferrell was born in Houston, Texas. After finishing high school, she moved from Houston to New York. In New York, she started her acting career on stage. She performed in famous Broadway shows like Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music (1981) and Ain't Misbehavin.

First Roles in Film and TV

Tyra Ferrell made her first appearance on screen in 1981 in the comedy film So Fine. She then took on small roles in other movies such as Lady Beware, School Daze, The Mighty Quinn, and The Exorcist III. On television, she was a guest star in popular shows like Hill Street Blues, The Twilight Zone, and Quantum Leap. Her first big TV role was playing Roberta in the drama series The Bronx Zoo from 1987 to 1988. She also had recurring roles in Square One Television and Thirtysomething. In 1990, she became a regular cast member on the CBS sitcom City, where she played a secretary named Wanda Jenkins.

Breakthrough Film Roles

The early 1990s were a very busy time for Tyra Ferrell. She appeared in several important films.

Notable Film Performances

In 1991, Tyra Ferrell had supporting roles in two major movies. She played Brenda Baker, a strong mother, in the film Boyz n the Hood. Her performance in this movie earned her an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture. In the same year, she also played Orin Goode in Jungle Fever, where she was the love interest of John Torturro's character. Because of these roles, she was named one of the "Promising New Actors of 1991" by Screen World.

The next year, in 1992, she starred alongside Wesley Snipes in the comedy film White Men Can't Jump. She played Rhonda, the wife of Wesley Snipes' character. She also had supporting roles as Sonya, a janitor, in Equinox (1992) and as Jessie, a beauty salon owner, in Poetic Justice (1993).

Television Success and Later Career

Tyra Ferrell continued to have a strong presence on television throughout the 1990s and 2000s.

Key TV Roles

In 1993, Tyra Ferrell played the main role of prosecutor Cutter Dubuque in the Lifetime Television movie Better Off Dead. Critics praised her performance in this film. In 1994, she had a recurring role as Dr. Sarah Langworthy in the first season of the NBC medical drama ER. From 1996 to 1997, she co-starred with Corbin Bernsen in the science fiction series The Cape, playing Mission Specialist Tamara St. James.

In 2000, Ferrell co-starred in The Corner, an HBO miniseries. She also made guest appearances on shows like Soul Food, The Shield, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. In 2005, she received her second NAACP Image Award nomination for her role in the ABC television film NTSB: The Crash of Flight 323. After 2004, Tyra Ferrell took a break from acting.

She returned to acting ten years later, taking a leading role in Boxed In, a short film directed by Tasha Smith. In 2015, Tyra Ferrell was cast in a recurring role on the second season of Fox's TV show Empire. She played Roxanne Ford, an attorney.

Awards and Recognition

Tyra Ferrell has been recognized for her acting talent with nominations for the NAACP Image Award.

• 1992: Nominated for NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for her role in Boyz n the Hood.
• 2005: Nominated for NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special for her role in NTSB: The Crash of Flight 323.