Troy Byer Explained

Troy Byer
Other Names:Troy Beyer
Birth Place:New York City, U.S.
Occupation:Psychologist, Author, Actress, Director, Screenwriter
Years Active:1984–present
Spouse:Mark Burg (1994–2000)

Troy Byer is an American psychologist, author, director, screenwriter, and actress. For most of her acting career she was credited as Troy Beyer.

Early life and education

Born in New York City to an African-American mother and 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), Robert Altman's The Gingerbread Man (1998), and John Q (2002).

In 1997, Byer made her screenwriting debut with B*A*P*S. In 1998 she made her directing debut with her next screenplay, Let's Talk About Sex (1998) which she as well starred in; the film was picked up by Fine Line Features. In 2002 Byer wrote and directed Love Don't Cost a Thing based on the 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
1987Uncle Tom's CabinEmmelineTV movie
DisorderliesCarla
1989RooftopsElena
1990The White GirlKim
1991The Five HeartbeatsBaby Doll
1993Weekend at Bernie's IIClaudia
19943 Chains o' Gold-Video
1996The Little DeathDefense Attorney
EddieBeth Hastings
Alien Avengers-TV movie
1997B.A.P.S.Tracy Shaw
1998The Gingerbread ManKonnie Dugan
Let's Talk About SexJasmine 'Jazz' Hampton
2001Good AdviceNancy
Surviving Gilligan's IslandDiner
2002John Q.Miriam Smith
A Light in the DarknessKira Hansen
MalevolentKelly
2003Recipe for DisasterWelfare OfficerTV movie
2012Mommy's Little MonsterKira Hansen
2015Ex-FreeTanya

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1969Sesame StreetherselfRecurring, seasons 1-6
1985Knots LandingWhitneyRecurring cast: season 7
1986–87DynastyJackie DeverauxRecurring cast: Season 7
198721 Jump StreetPatty BlatcherEpisode: "The Worst Night of Your Life"
A Different WorldMonica WaltersEpisode: "The Gift of the Magi"
1988Sonny SpoonGwendolynEpisode: "Semper Fi"
1989A Man Called HawkAnna GeorgeEpisode: "Vendetta"
1991The Cosby ShowEllenEpisode: "No More Mr. Nice Guy"
1993TriBeCaDebraEpisode: "The Box"
Walker, Texas RangerCatherine 'Cat' PratherEpisode: "End Run"
1994Brianna JonesEpisode: "Standing Eight Count"
1995Red Shoe DiariesAngelEpisode: "Billy Bar"
1996–97Murder OneCarla LatrellRecurring cast: season 2

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mixed Actors and Actresses Page 2. Mixed Folks. December 13, 2006. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20061109053818/http://www.mixedfolks.com/actors2.htm. November 9, 2006. mdy-all.
  2. Web site: Black Jews You Should Know, Part 3 . . 2023-04-30.
  3. Web site: Troy Byer biography and filmography | Troy Byer movies . Tribute.ca . 1964-11-07 . 2015-03-11.