Tamara Renee Tunie is an American actress. She is best known for her portrayal of attorney Jessica Griffin on the CBS

CBS

CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...

 soap opera

Soap opera

A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...

 As the World Turns

As the World Turns

As the World Turns is an American television soap opera that aired on CBS from April 2, 1956 to September 17, 2010. Irna Phillips created As the World Turns as a sister show to her other soap opera Guiding Light...

, and medical examiner Melinda Warner

Melinda Warner

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.-Character overview:As the...

 on the NBC

NBC

The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...

 police drama 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...

. From 2000 to 2007 (and again briefly in 2009 & 2010), she appeared on both series simultaneously.

Life and career

Tunie was born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania

McKeesport, Pennsylvania

McKeesport is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, in the United States; it is located at the confluence of the Monongahela and Youghiogheny rivers and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 19,731 at the 2010 census...

 and grew up in Homestead

Homestead, Pennsylvania

Homestead is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA, in the "Mon Valley," southeast of downtown Pittsburgh and directly across the river from the city limit line. The borough is known for the Homestead Strike of 1892, an important event in the history of labor relations in the United...

, the daughter of Evelyn (née Hawkins) and James W. Tunie.

Filmography

Year	Film	Role	Notes
1987	Sweet Lorraine	Julie
	Wall Street	Carolyn
1989	Bloodhounds of Broadway Bloodhounds of Broadway (1989 film) Bloodhounds of Broadway is a 1989 film based on four Damon Runyon stories. It was directed by Howard Brookner and starred Matt Dillon, Jennifer Grey, Anita Morris, Julie Hagerty, Rutger Hauer, Madonna, Esai Morales and Randy Quaid....	Cynthia Harris
1993	Rising Sun Rising Sun (film) Rising Sun is a [1993 film directed by Philip Kaufman, starring Sean Connery , Wesley Snipes, Harvey Keitel, and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa...	Lauren Smith
1996	Quentin Carr	Detective
	Rescuing Desire	Van
	City Hall City Hall (film) City Hall is a 1996 film directed by Harold Becker. Al Pacino and John Cusack star as the Mayor of New York and his idealistic deputy mayor....	Leslie Christos
	The Money Shot
1997	Spirit Lost	Anne
	Eve's Bayou Eve's Bayou Eve's Bayou is a 1997 American drama film written and directed by Kasi Lemmons, who made her directorial debut with this feature. Samuel L...	Narrator	Voice Voice acting Voice acting is the art of providing voices for animated characters and radio and audio dramas and comedy, as well as doing voice-overs in radio and television commercials, audio dramas, dubbed foreign language films, video games, puppet shows, and amusement rides.Performers are called...
	The Peacemaker	Jody
	The Devil's Advocate The Devil's Advocate (film) The Devil's Advocate is a 1997 American horror film directed by Taylor Hackford starring Keanu Reeves, Al Pacino and Charlize Theron, and based on a novel by Andrew Neiderman....	Mrs. Jackie Heath
1998	Snake Eyes Snake Eyes (film) Snake Eyes is a conspiracy thriller film directed by Brian De Palma, one featuring his trademark use of long tracking shots and split screens. It starred Nicolas Cage, Gary Sinise and Carla Gugino....	Anthea
2001	The Caveman's Valentine The Caveman's Valentine The Caveman's Valentine is a 2001 American mystery-drama film directed by Kasi Lemmons and starring Samuel L. Jackson based on George Dawes Green's novel of the same name. The film was released by Universal Focus, a subsidiary of Universal Studios and Focus Features.-Plot:A former family man and...	Sheila	Nominated - Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female Independent Spirit Awards The Independent Spirit Awards , founded in 1984, are awards dedicated to independent filmmakers. Winners were typically presented with acrylic glass pyramids containing suspended shoestrings representing the paltry budgets of independent films. In 1986, the event was renamed the Independent Spirit...
2007	AfterLife	Nicole

Television

Year	Film	Role	Notes
1986	Spenser: For Hire Spenser: For Hire Spenser: For Hire is a mystery television series based on Robert B. Parker's Spenser novels. The series, developed for TV by John Wilder, differs from the novels, mostly in its lesser degree of detail....	Nina	Episode: "Shadowsight"
1986–1995, 2000–2007, 2009, 2010	As the World Turns As the World Turns As the World Turns is an American television soap opera that aired on CBS from April 2, 1956 to September 17, 2010. Irna Phillips created As the World Turns as a sister show to her other soap opera Guiding Light...	Jessica Griffin	Nominated Image Awards - Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series (2003,2004) Nominated Soap Opera Digest Awards Soap Opera Digest Awards The Soap Opera Digest Awards were an awards show held by the daytime television magazine Soap Opera Digest. The awards were founded in 1984 to replace the less-lavish Soapy Award; those awards shows had run since 1977. The Soap Opera Digest Awards are meant to promote excellence in the soap opera...  - Outstanding Supporting Actress (1995,2003)
1989	Family Feud	Herself	Episode: "The Young & the Restless vs. As the World Turns"
1993	Tribeca TriBeCa (TV series) TriBeCa was a television drama anthology series created by David J. Burke and co-produced with Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal for TriBeCa Productions in 1993 that aired on the Fox Network...	Tori	Episode: "The Box" Episode: "Honor"
1994-97	NYPD Blue NYPD Blue NYPD Blue is an American television police drama set in New York City, exploring the internal and external struggles of the fictional 15th precinct of Manhattan...	Lillian Fancy	Episode: "Up on the Roof" ('94) Episode: "Good Time Charlie" ('94) Episode: "Caulksmanship NYPD Blue Episodes (Season 4) -Moby Greg:Original airdate: October 15, 1996*Directed by: Mark Tinker*Written by: Bill Clark, David Milch & Theresa RebeckLazy cops in a neighboring precinct think they've stuck the 15th's detectives with an impossible case, but some details lead to a suspect--who fires some shots at Andy... " ('96) Episode: "Taillight's Last Gleaming NYPD Blue Episodes (Season 4) -Moby Greg:Original airdate: October 15, 1996*Directed by: Mark Tinker*Written by: Bill Clark, David Milch & Theresa RebeckLazy cops in a neighboring precinct think they've stuck the 15th's detectives with an impossible case, but some details lead to a suspect--who fires some shots at Andy... " ('97) Episode: "I Love Lucy NYPD Blue Episodes (Season 4) -Moby Greg:Original airdate: October 15, 1996*Directed by: Mark Tinker*Written by: Bill Clark, David Milch & Theresa RebeckLazy cops in a neighboring precinct think they've stuck the 15th's detectives with an impossible case, but some details lead to a suspect--who fires some shots at Andy... " ('97)
1995	SeaQuest DSV SeaQuest DSV seaQuest DSV is an American science fiction television series created by Rockne S. O'Bannon. It originally aired on NBC between 1993 and 1996. In its final season, it was renamed seaQuest 2032. Set in "the near future", seaQuest mixes high drama with realistic scientific fiction...	Laura	Episode: "The Siamese Dream" Also known as SeaQuest 2032
1995-98	New York Undercover New York Undercover New York Undercover is an American police drama that aired on the FOX television network from 1994 to 1998. The series starred Malik Yoba as Detective J.C. Williams and Michael DeLorenzo as Detective Eddie Torres, two undercover detectives in New York City's 4th Precinct who were assigned to...	Janice/Lana Brooks	Episode: ""Bad Girls" ('95 as Janice) Episode: "Sign o' the Times" ('98 as Lana Brooks)
1996	Swift Justice Swift Justice Swift Justice is an American television series which aired on UPN from March 13, 1996 to July 31, 1996.The series starred James McCaffrey as a former NYPD detective and Navy SEAL, who after getting kicked off the force, handles cases the police can't by becoming a private eye.-Cast:* James...	Jessie McKenna	Episode: "Bad Medicine"
	Law & Order Law & Order Law & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, created by Dick Wolf and part of the Law & Order franchise. It aired on NBC, and in syndication on various cable networks. Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and completed its 20th and final season on May 24,...	Caroline Bennett	Episode: "Deadbeat"
	Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault	Miss Marcus	HBO TV film
1997	Prince Street		Episode: "Pilot"
	Feds Feds (TV series) Feds was a short-lived television series that aired on CBS from March 5, 1997 to April 9, 1997. It was created by Dick Wolf, the creator of Law & Order, and starred Blair Brown and Dylan Baker. Michael S. Chernuchin was also an executive producer for the project...	Martha Kershan	Episode: "Missing Pieces"
	Chicago Hope Chicago Hope Chicago Hope is an American medical drama series created by David E. Kelley that ran from September 18, 1994, to May 5, 2000. It takes place in a fictional private charity hospital.-Premise:The show stars Mandy Patinkin as Dr...	Lennie Gaghan	Episode: "Leggo My Ego"
1999	Sex and the City Sex and the City Sex and the City is an American television comedy-drama series created by Darren Star and produced by HBO. Broadcast from 1998 until 2004, the original run of the show had a total of ninety-four episodes...	Eileen	Episode: "The Cheating Curve"
2000	The American Experience	Self	Voice Voice acting Voice acting is the art of providing voices for animated characters and radio and audio dramas and comedy, as well as doing voice-overs in radio and television commercials, audio dramas, dubbed foreign language films, video games, puppet shows, and amusement rides.Performers are called...   Episode: "Jubilee Singers: Sacrifice and Glory"
2000–present	Law and Order: SVU	Dr. Melinda Warner Melinda Warner 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.-Character overview:As the...	Recurring 2000-2005, 2011-present, receives star billing as of 2005-2011
2001	A Day's Work, a Day's Pay	Narrator	Documentary Documentary A documentary is a creative work of non-fiction, including:* Documentary film, including television* Radio documentary* Documentary photographyRelated terms include:...
2002	24 24 (TV series) 24 is an American television series produced for the Fox Network and syndicated worldwide, starring Kiefer Sutherland as Counter Terrorist Unit agent Jack Bauer. Each 24-episode season covers 24 hours in the life of Bauer, using the real time method of narration...	Alberta Green	Episode: "9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m." Episode: "10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m." Episode: "11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m." Episode: "12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m." Episode: "1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m." Episode: "2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m."
2003	Nefertiti: Resurrected	Narrator	Documentary
2005	I Love the '90s: Part Deux I Love the '90s: Part Deux I Love the '90s: Part Deux is a miniseries on VH1 in which various music and TV personalities reminisce about 1990s culture. It premiered on January 17, 2005. This series is a sequel to I Love the '90s...	Herself	VH1 VH1 VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...  Documentary
	Party Planner with David Tutera	Herself	Episode: "Tamara Tunie's Fire & Ice Party"
	The Tony Danza Show The Tony Danza Show The Tony Danza Show was a daytime talk show hosted by Tony Danza, but was also a sitcom featuring the same actor ....	Herself	Episode: "#1.124"
	Law & Order: Trial by Jury Law & Order: Trial by Jury Law & Order: Trial by Jury is an American television drama about criminal trials set in New York City. It was the third spin-off from the long-running Law & Order. The show's almost exclusive focus was on the criminal trial of the accused, showing both the prosecution's and defense's preparation...	Dr. Melinda Warner Melinda Warner 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.-Character overview:As the...	Episode: "Day"
2006	Black Sorority Project: The Exodus	Spirit	Documentary/voice
2008	After Hours with Daniel Boulud	Herself	Reality TV  Episode: "Bayona"
2009	Miss Universe 2009	Herself	Judge
2010	Showing Up	Herself	Documentary

Producer

Year	Film	Role	Notes
2010	See You in September	Executive Producer Executive producer An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...  and Director Film director A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...

External links