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Tamara
Tunie
as Dr. Melinda Warner |
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Enormously talented and passionate, Tamara Tunie has a character trait that distinguishes her from the competition: perseverance. In fact, it is the quality that makes her one of the most sought after actresses in the business. Who else would choose to star in not one -- but two -- television series simultaneously, sometimes commuting to both on the same day! Tamara currently stars as Medical Examiner, Dr. Melinda Warner on the hit drama series “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and portrays the character of Jessica Griffin on the daytime drama “As the World Turns.”
In fact, she has portrayed some other memorable roles on television such as the recurring character of Alberta Green in season one of the hit series “24” which brought her to commute between New York and Los Angeles weekly to do all three series simultaneously. You can also catch her in re-runs of the original “Law and Order,” “Sex and the City,” and “NYPD Blue” among others.
Tunie has been able to parlay her success on daytime drama into film. She has worked with some of the most respected film directors, including Kasi Lemmons, Emily Baer, Brian De Palma, Mimi Leder, Harold Becker and Oliver Stone. She had the unique opportunity to have scenes with the legendary Al Pacino when she portrayed the possessed wife of a partner in his law firm, in the hit film “The Devil’s Advocate” and as his press secretary in “City Hall.” She also worked with famed director Kasi Lemmons and star, Samuel L. Jackson, on both “Eve’s Bayou” and “Caveman’s Valentine.” Other film credits include “The Peacemaker” with George Clooney, “Rising Sun” with Sean Connery, and “Wall Street” with Michael Douglas.
Tamara got her start in the theater and Broadway has beckoned a number of times. She has shared the stage with Lena Horne in the Broadway musical “Lena Horne: The Lady and her Music” and starred in David Merrick’s revival of “Oh Kay!.” Tamara has toured Europe with “Bubblin’ Brown Sugar” and portrayed Helen of Troy in the New York Shakespeare Festival’s production of “Troilus and Cressida” in Central Park. In addition, Tunie portrayed Maggie the Cat in the first all African American production of Tennessee Williams’ “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”at Theatre Virginia in Richmond. Following September 11th, Tunie co-starred with some of the veterans of the theater such as Audra Mc Donald in the benefit concert of “Dreamgirls.”
Tunie received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Carnegie-Mellon University and serves as Vice-Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Figure Skating in Harlem, Inc, a non-profit organization that teaches education and life skills to young girls in the Harlem community through the art of figure skating. She currently resides in Harlem with her husband, jazz vocalist/post editor Gregory Genere.
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