Troy Byer

Troy Byer (born November 7, 1964) is an American psychologist, author, director, screenwriter, and actress.

Troy Byer
Born (1964-11-07) November 7, 1964
New York City, U.S.
Other namesTroy Beyer
Occupation(s)Psychologist, Author, Director, Screenwriter
Years active1984–present
SpouseMark Burg (1994–2000)

Early life and education

Born in New York City to an African-American mother and white Jewish father,[1][2] Byer spent the first part of her career working in the entertainment industry. She began her acting career with a role on the children's program Sesame Street when she was four years old. She later studied acting and psychobiology at City University of New York and went on to earn a master's degree from Pacifica Graduate Institute in eco, liberation and community psychology. Byer holds a doctorate in clinical psychology from California Southern University with certification in Industrial Organizational Psychology.

Career

After landing a bit part in Francis Ford Coppola's The Cotton Club (1984), Byer moved to Los Angeles, and became a regular on the ABC prime-time soap opera Dynasty in 1986, playing Jackie Deveraux, the daughter of Diahann Carroll's character Dominique Deveraux. Byer went on to earn ShoWest's Newcomer of the Year award for her leading role in the feature Rooftops (1989).

Since then, Byer acted in features such as Disorderlies (1987), The Five Heartbeats (1991) as Baby Doll, Weekend at Bernie's II (1993), Eddie (1996) starring Whoopi Goldberg, Robert Altman's The Gingerbread Man (1998) starring Kenneth Branagh and Robert Downey Jr., and John Q (2002) starring Denzel Washington.

In 1997, Byer made her screenwriting debut with B*A*P*S, starring Halle Berry, as she was unhappy with how her script was changed during the course of filming. In 1998 she decided to direct her next screenplay, Let's Talk About Sex (1998) herself, while also playing a starring role. Byer made a trailer and took it to the Sundance Film Festival, where she gave it to film executives. The film was quickly picked up by Fine Line Features. Byer wrote and directed Love Don't Cost a Thing (2003) for Warner Brothers, based on the hit 1987 movie Can't Buy Me Love.[3]

Byer is an active member of Agape International Spiritual Center and an advocate for the foster care system—a system to which she herself once belonged.

Byer is also the author of two self-help books -- How To Be Ex-Free: 9 Keys To Happiness After Heartbreak, and How To Be A Responsibly Powerful Bitch.

Personal life

Byer has one son, Jordan Burg, with her ex-husband Mark Burg.

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1987 Uncle Tom's Cabin Emmeline TV movie
Disorderlies Carla
1989 Rooftops Elena
1990 The White Girl Kim
1991 The Five Heartbeats Baby Doll
1993 Weekend at Bernie's II Claudie
1994 3 Chains o' Gold - Video
1996 The Little Death Defense Attorney
Eddie Beth Hastings
Alien Avengers - TV movie
1997 B.A.P.S. Tracy Shaw
1998 The Gingerbread Man Konnie Dugan
Let's Talk About Sex Jasmine 'Jazz' Hampton
2001 Good Advice Nancy
Surviving Gilligan's Island Diner
2002 John Q. Miriam Smith
A Light in the Darkness Kira Hansen
Malevolent Kelly
2003 Recipe for Disaster Welfare Officer TV movie
2012 Mommy's Little Monster Kira Hansen
2015 Ex-Free Tanya

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1969 Sesame Street herself Recurring, seasons 1-6
1985 Knots Landing Whitney Recurring cast: season 7
1986–87 Dynasty Jackie Deveraux Recurring cast: Season 7
1987 21 Jump Street Patty Blatcher Episode: "The Worst Night of Your Life"
A Different World Monica Walters Episode: "The Gift of the Magi"
1988 Sonny Spoon Gwendolyn Episode: "Semper Fi"
1989 A Man Called Hawk Anna George Episode: "Vendetta"
1991 The Cosby Show Ellen Episode: "No More Mr. Nice Guy"
1993 TriBeCa Debra Episode: "The Box"
Walker, Texas Ranger Catherine 'Cat' Prather Episode: "End Run"
1994 Diagnosis: Murder Brianna Jones Episode: "Standing Eight Count"
1995 Red Shoe Diaries Angel Episode: "Billy Bar"
1996–97 Murder One Carla Latrell Recurring cast: season 2

References
  1. "Mixed Actors and Actresses Page 2". Mixed Folks. Archived from the original on November 9, 2006. Retrieved December 13, 2006.
  2. "Black Jews You Should Know, Part 3". Tablet Magazine. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  3. "Troy Byer biography and filmography | Troy Byer movies". Tribute.ca. November 7, 1964. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
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