1.
Friends
TV-14
Starring:
Directed By:
Aisha Nilaja Tyler started her entertainment career with stand-up comedy, followed by TV-series ‘Nash Bridges’ (1996) and ‘The Pretender’ (1999). Her first movie appearance came in ‘Dancing in September’ (2000), followed by ‘Moose Mating’ (2001), which fetched her a ‘NAACP Award.’
Tyler then hosted the Emmy Award-winning show ‘Talk Soup’ (2001-2002), followed by syndicated dating-show ‘The Fifth Wheel’ (2001-2002). Next, she featured in the family-comedy ‘Santa Clause-2’ (2002) as ‘Mother Nature’ and ‘Showtime’ (2003).
Tyler was the first African-American in a recurring role (as ‘paleontologist Charlie Wheeler,’ love-interest of Ross and Joey) in the hugely popular ‘Friends’ (2003), which fetched her a ‘Teen Choice Award’ nomination. After a comic turn in the sitcom ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ (2001), she gave a moving performance in the series ‘Nip/Tuck’ (2004) and made a guest-appearance in ‘CSI: Miami’ (2003).
Tyler’s recurring role as ‘Mia’ in ‘CSI: Crime Scene Investigation’ (2004-2005) was followed by portrayal as ‘Marianne Taylor’ in the action-drama series ‘24’ (2005), earning ‘NAACP Award’ nomination. She appeared as a series-regular ‘Andrea Marino’ in ‘Ghost Whisperer’ (2005-2006).
Tyler’s subsequent films include ‘The Santa Clause-3: The Escape Clause’ (2006) and ‘Balls of Fury’ (2007). Following a voice-role in the animated sitcom ‘The Boondocks’ (2007), she voiced ‘super-spy Lana Kane’ in the secret-agent parody ‘Archer’ (2009-present) winning accolades.
Tyler was co-host of the chat-show ‘The Talk’ (2011-2017) from season 2-7, earning ‘Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Entertainment Talk-Show Host.’ After a pivotal supporting-role in the action-thriller ‘XIII: The Series’ (2011-2012), she began hosting the improvisational comedy-show ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway’ (2013-present). Tyler’s recurring role as ‘Dr. Tara Lewis’ in the procedural-series ‘Criminal Minds’ (2015-2020) was later turned into the main role.
Tyler raised funds through ‘Kickstarter’ campaign for her directorial debut-film ‘Axis’ (2017), which fetched nominations at various fests. Presently, she appears in the horror-series ‘Fear the Walking Dead’ (2021-present).
