AISHA TYLER

Aisha Tyler has been tapped to co-star opposite Jennifer Love Hewitt in CBS' untitled John Gray drama pilot. The untitled Gray project, from Touchstone TV, centers on a young newlywed (Hewitt) who communicates with the dead. Tyler will play the woman's best friend.

Tyler, recurring on CBS' "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" and Fox's "24" this season, is under a talent deal with CBS. She is repped by Endeavor, manager Will Ward of ROAR and attorney Craig Jacobson.

Born on September 18, 1970 in San Francisco, CA, Aisha Tyler's parents were divorced when she was 10 and was raised by her father, Jim Tyler. Aisha got her acting start at the J. Eugene McAteer School of the Arts in San Francisco, when, bored with the regular coursework, she started cutting Chemistry to sneak into theater classes. Eventually the teachers got tired of wondering who the tall girl with the bizarre sense of humor was and asked her to stay.

Aisha went on to study Government at Dartmouth College, where she continued performing sketch and improv, became fluent in French, Russian and Swahili, traveled to Africa and taught snowboarding (she still shreds).

After graduation Aisha devoted herself to comedy full time, performing all over the country before finally settling in Los Angeles. She quickly became a favorite on Bill Maher’s political roundtable Politically Incorrect before being chosen to take over as the first female host of E!’s Emmy-winning pop culture crucible "Talk Soup", a TV program Jennifer Love Hewitt did a guest host stint on the weekend back in 2000.

Aisha then returned to her acting roots, with dazzling success. She enjoyed a two-season arc on NBC’s powerhouse hit Friends, and appeared in the comedic films Showtime and The Santa Clause 2. With her stellar performance as a physically and psychologically scarred Somali woman on FX’s Golden Globe-winning plastic surgery drama Nip/Tuck, Aisha made the transition to dramatic fare. She is currently appearing on not one, but two of television’s hottest dramas, CBS’ CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Fox’s 24. She also appeared in the crime drama film Never Die Alone, and is currently voicing a character in Disney’s upcoming digital animated film The Wild.

The critical acclaim has been effusive. Esquire called Aisha “sweetly wicked,” designating her one of its “Women We Love.” Maxim made her one of its vaunted “Hot 100.” Vibe crowned her “the next Queen of Comedy.” US Magazine has called her work “terrific” and “swiss-watch perfect.” Daily Variety calls her a”multi-genre threat.” And Tongue gushes, “[she’s] that impossible combination of hot-as-the-day-is-long and so cool… the most unlikely crossover since Charlie Pride.”

In addition to her acting work, Aisha recently saw her first book, entitled Swerve: Reckless Observations of a Postmodern Girl, published by Dutton Books. A collection of original comedic essays and pop-culture commentaries, the book was released in paperback in January 2005. As a writer, she has also contributed articles to Glamour, Oprah, Jane and Movieline magazines, and to the recently published This Day in the Life of American Women.

Aisha has made multiple appearances on The Today Show, The Tonight Show, The Late Show with David Letterman, The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Live with Regis and Kelly, Dennis Miller, CNN Live and Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn.

The 6 feet tall Mrs. Jeff Tietjens (married in 1992) makes her home in the Los Angeles area with Mr. Tietjens.

Story: © 2005 The Hollywood Reporter, AishaTyler.com in association with Love Spell Entertainment (UnOfficial). All Rights Reserved.
Image: © 2001 Dennis Maxim Inc. All Rights Reserved.