Tyra Ferrell (born March 29, 1955) 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.

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 So Fine, and later appeared in Lady Beware,^[4] School Daze,^[5] The Mighty Quinn,^[6] and The Exorcist III.^[7] On television, she guest-starred in Hill Street Blues,^[5] The Twilight Zone,^[8] and Quantum Leap.^[9] Ferrell's first major role on television was Roberta in drama The Bronx Zoo (1987−88).^[10] 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.^[11]

In 1991, Ferrell played supporting roles in two films.^[1] She appeared as matriarch Brenda Baker^[12] in Boyz n the Hood.^[13] A critic believed Ferrell gave a "fine edge" to the character of Mrs. Baker.^[14] Ferrell earned an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for her role in Boyz n the Hood.^[15] She portrayed Orin Goode, the love interest of John Torturro's character, in Jungle Fever.^[16] In the same year, she was listed as one of twelve "Promising New Actors of 1991" in John A. Willis' Screen World.^[17] The following year, she starred alongside Wesley Snipes as his wife Rhonda in the comedy film White Men Can't Jump.^[18] She later had supporting roles as Sonya, a janitor, in Equinox (1992)^[19] and a beauty salon owner named Jessie^[20] in Poetic Justice (1993).^[21]

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]

• Tyra Ferrell at IMDb