Tamara Tunie facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tamara Tunie
Tunie at EssenceFest 2025 in July.
Born	(1959-03-14) March 14, 1959 (age 66) McKeesport, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Other names	Tamara Tunie Boquett
Education	Carnegie Mellon University (BFA)
Occupation	Actress director producer
Years active	1981–present
Spouse(s)	Greg Bouquett ​ ​ (m. 1988; div. 1991)​ Gregory Generet ​ ​ (m. 1995; div. 2018)​

Tamara Tunie (born March 14, 1959) is an American actress, director, and producer. She is famous for her roles on TV. She played attorney Jessica Griffin on the soap opera As the World Turns. She was also medical examiner Melinda Warner on the police drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Tamara Tunie has also acted in many movies.

Early Life and Education

Tamara Tunie grew up in Homestead, Pennsylvania. She was one of six children. Her family ran a funeral home. When she was young, she sang in her church choir. She also played in the high school band and took dance lessons.

In 1981, she earned a special degree. It was a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theater. She got this degree from Carnegie Mellon University. In 2020, she was chosen to be on the university's Board of Trustees.

Acting Career

Tamara Tunie started her acting career on Broadway. This was in 1981, with the show Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music.

Television Roles

From 1987 to 1995, she starred in the TV show As the World Turns. She played a lawyer named Jessica Griffin. She returned to the show from 1999 to 2007. For this role, she was nominated for NAACP Image Awards.

In the 1990s, Tamara Tunie appeared in many other TV shows. These included Law & Order, Chicago Hope, and New York Undercover. She also had a regular role on NYPD Blue from 1994 to 1997.

In 2000, Tunie joined the cast of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. She played Dr. Melinda Warner, a medical examiner. She started as a recurring character. By Season 7, she became a main cast member. She also played Dr. Warner in Law & Order: Trial by Jury and Chicago Fire. She continued to appear on SVU until 2021. In 2024, she returned to play Dr. Warner in Law & Order: Organized Crime.

In 2002, she was in the thriller series 24. She played Alberta Green. From 2014 to 2015, she was a main cast member in The Red Road. More recently, she had roles in Blue Bloods (2016-2018) and Better Call Saul (2017-2018). In 2018, she was a main character in Dietland and Black Earth Rising. In Black Earth Rising, she played Eunice Clayton.

In 2021, she appeared in the TV series See and Cowboy Bebop. In 2025, she is set to star in the new show Beyond the Gates.

Movie Roles

Tamara Tunie has also had many roles in movies. Her first film was Sweet Lorraine in 1987. She also appeared in Wall Street that same year.

She worked with actor Al Pacino twice. She was his press secretary in City Hall. She also played a character in his law firm in The Devil's Advocate. Other movies she appeared in include Rising Sun and Eve's Bayou. In 2001, she was nominated for an Independent Spirit Awards for her role in The Caveman's Valentine.

In 2012, she played Margaret Thomason in the movie Flight. This film starred Denzel Washington. In 2018, she played Gugu Mbatha-Raw's mother in Irreplaceable You. In 2022, she played Cissy Houston in the movie Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody. This movie was about the singer Whitney Houston.

Directing and Stage Work

In 2010, Tamara Tunie directed her first movie. It was a romantic comedy called See You in September.

She has also won awards for her work on stage. In 2007, she won a Tony Award for producing the musical Spring Awakening. She also won an Obie Award in 2016 for her acting in the play Familiar. In 2022, she played Kamala Harris in a play called The 47th in London.

Personal Life

Tamara Tunie was married to Greg Bouquett from 1988 to 1991. Later, she was married to jazz musician Gregory Generet from 1995 to 2018.

She also helps many charities. She supports programs like Figure Skating in Harlem and God's Love We Deliver. In 2005, the mayor of New York City gave her an award. It was called the "Made in New York Award." This was for her support of film, television, and theater in Manhattan.

Filmography

Film

Television

As a Director

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Tamara Tunie para niños