

Cast & creator
Best known for Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Chicago P.D., ER
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.
21
film credits
21
television credits
42
1981–2020 · acting roles
6.8
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Across film & television
Showing 42 of 42 credits

Bethany Taylor
1999
Mrs. Burton
2014
Sarah Langworthy
1994
Delilah 'Lila' Berry
1989

Roxanne Ford
2015
Karen Mitchell
2002
Miss Petrie
1987
Maid (segment "Dead Woman's Shoes")
1985
Dr. Marks
1996
Hooker
1985
Marguerite Montero
1984

Mrs. Baker
1991

Nurse Blaine
1990
Frances Lester
2000

Ella Thompson
2000
Orin Goode
1991
Loni Sanders
1990
Mission Specialist Tamara St. James
1996
Desmond's Mother
2004
Rhonda Deane
1992
Jessie
1993
Isola
1989
Nan
1987
Tasha
1988
Samantha
1989
Receptionist
1981
Cell Woman #2
1987
Alison Wilks
2020
Samantha
1989
Ricki Sewell
1992
Tracy
1986
Sonya Kirk
1992
Etterlene DeBarge
2019
Receptionist
1993
Cutter Dubuque
1993
Rocket Rafferty
1984Gayle
2015