Melinda Warner
Encyclopedia
Dr. Melinda Warner is a fictional character
on the show Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
, played by Tamara Tunie
. Tunie was originally a recurring cast member until she was added to the main credits in season 7. She became a recurring cast member again in season 13.
, Warner often works with Manhattan
's 16th Precinct (A.K.A. the Special Victims Unit
) by providing the detectives with forensic evidence to support their cases. She was a doctor in the United States Air Force
, and served two tours of duty during the Gulf War
before she began work as a medical examiner.
Warner has periodically taken on a more active role in the SVU team. For example, in one episode she performed impromptu life-saving surgery on a man who had been shot by his own son during a bank robbery and hostage standoff. Shortly afterward, the son shoots out through the front door, intent on committing suicide by cop
, but Warner shoots him in the leg with a weapon that Detective Stabler
gave her to stop him. He is quickly apprehended by the NYPD's ESU team.
In the season 11 finale, Warner nearly died in her own morgue when French anthropologist Dr. Sophie Gerard accidentally shot her as Gerard tried to shoot her ex-husband as retribution for their son's death. Warner was last seen in that episode being wheeled out of the morgue as she yelled out, "Back off, you vultures — I'm not dead yet."
Dr. Warner is married and has one daughter, who was mentioned twice on the show, and a dog.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
on the show Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is an American police procedural television drama series set in New York City, where it is also primarily produced...
, played by Tamara Tunie
Tamara Tunie
Tamara Renee Tunie is an American actress. She is best known for her portrayal of attorney Jessica Griffin on the CBS soap opera As the World Turns, and medical examiner Melinda Warner on the NBC police drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit...
. Tunie was originally a recurring cast member until she was added to the main credits in season 7. She became a recurring cast member again in season 13.
Character overview
As the medical examinerMedical examiner
A medical examiner is a medically qualified government officer whose duty is to investigate deaths and injuries that occur under unusual or suspicious circumstances, to perform post-mortem examinations, and in some jurisdictions to initiate inquests....
, Warner often works with Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
's 16th Precinct (A.K.A. the Special Victims Unit
Special Victims Unit
The Special Victims Unit is the name of a specialized division within some police departments. The detectives in this division typically investigate crimes involving sexual assault, the very young, or the very elderly, as well as any crime loosely connected with any of the three.-New York City...
) by providing the detectives with forensic evidence to support their cases. She was a doctor in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
, and served two tours of duty during the Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
before she began work as a medical examiner.
Warner has periodically taken on a more active role in the SVU team. For example, in one episode she performed impromptu life-saving surgery on a man who had been shot by his own son during a bank robbery and hostage standoff. Shortly afterward, the son shoots out through the front door, intent on committing suicide by cop
Suicide by cop
Suicide by cop is a suicide method in which a suicidal individual deliberately acts in a threatening way, with the goal of provoking a lethal response from a law enforcement officer or other armed individual, such as being shot to death....
, but Warner shoots him in the leg with a weapon that Detective Stabler
Elliot Stabler
Det. Elliot "El" Stabler is a fictional character on the TV crime drama series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, portrayed by Christopher Meloni. He was the partner of Olivia Benson before retiring, following a shooting.-Character overview:...
gave her to stop him. He is quickly apprehended by the NYPD's ESU team.
In the season 11 finale, Warner nearly died in her own morgue when French anthropologist Dr. Sophie Gerard accidentally shot her as Gerard tried to shoot her ex-husband as retribution for their son's death. Warner was last seen in that episode being wheeled out of the morgue as she yelled out, "Back off, you vultures — I'm not dead yet."
Dr. Warner is married and has one daughter, who was mentioned twice on the show, and a dog.