Lou Tamara Tunie was born on the 14th March 1959, in McKeesport, Pennsylvania USA, and is an actress best known for her role in the series “Law & Order: Special Victim Unit” (1999 – present) as the medical examiner Melinda Warner. She also participated in the series “NYPD Blue” (1994 – 1999), “Sex and the City” (1999) and “24” (2002). Tamara has also produced the play on Broadway – “Spring Awakening”. Tamara Tunie has been active in the entertainment industry since 1986.
How much is the net worth of Tamara Tunie? It has been estimated by authoritative sources that the total size of her wealth is as much as $8 million, as of the data presented in the middle of 2016. Films, television and stage productions are the sources of Tunie’s wealth.
Tamara Tunie Net Worth $8 Million
To begin with, Tamara grew up in Miami, a daughter of Evelyn and James W. Tunie. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Musical Theatre at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.
Talking about her professional career which has added huge sums to the outright size of Tamara Tunie net worth, she is best known for her role as attorney Jessica Griffin in the soap opera aired on CBS “As the World Turns” (1986 – 2010) and as the medical examiner Melinda Warner in the police drama broadcast on NBC “Law & Order: Special Victim Unit” (1999 – present). Tunie is also known for her role as Lillian Fancy in “NYPD Blue” spread over the five years 1994-1999, and as Alberta Green in “24” aired on Fox. Tunie has also been a guest star in many television series, including “Spenser: For Hire” (1986), “TriBeCa” (1993), “SeaQuest DSV” (1995), “New York Undercover” (1995 – 1998), “Swift Justice” (1996), “Chicago Hope” (1997), “Sex and the City” (1999) and “Law & Order: Trial by Jury” (2005). All added steadily to net worth.
Moreover, Tamara has landed a number of roles on the big screen. Tunie has worked with the popular actor Al Pacino in two feature films, playing his press secretary Leslie Christos in the film “City Hall” (1996), and Mrs. Jackie Heath in the drama thriller film “The Devil’s Advocate” (1997). Other film credits include “Wall Street” (1987) directed by Oliver Stone, “Bloodhounds of Broadway” (1989) co-written, co-produced and directed by Howard Brookner, “Rising Sun” (1993) co-written, co-produced and directed by Philip Kaufman, “Bayou of Eve” (1997) written and directed by Kasi Lemmons and “The Peacemaker” (1997) directed by Mimi Leder. In 2001, she was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for her role in the film “Caveman’s Valentine” (2001), based on the novel of the same name written by George Dawes Green. Her recent works on the big screen include the role of Felicity Gray in the film “Missed Connections” (2012), Margaret Thomason in the film “Flight” (2012) and Annika in “Fall to Rise” (2014).
Concerning her work as a producer, Tamara Tunie won a Tony Award and Drama Desk Award in 2007 for the musical production on Broadway of “Spring Awakening”, which assisted her wealth.
Finally, in the personal life of the actress, she has married twice, firstly to Greg Bouquett (1988 – 1991), and since 1995 she has been married to Gregory Generet. but have announced that they have separated, although neither has filed for divorce.
Tony Award for Best Musical (2007), Obie Award for Performance (2016)
Nominations
Soap Opera Digest Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress(1995, 2003), NAACP Image Award (2003, 2004), Independent Spirit Awards for Best Suppporting Female (2002), SLFCA Award (2012), Black Reel Awards for Best Supporting Actress (2013)
"The Devil's Advocate", “Law & Order: Special Victim Unit” (1999-present), “As the World Turns” (1986-2010), “NYPD Blue” (1994-1999), “Sex and the City” (1999), “24” (2002), “Spring Awakening”
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Trademark
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Curly hair
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Deep voice
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Quote
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I always watch the work I do.
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I have Native-American blood, I have European blood, I have African blood.
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When I first got to New York, all I did was musicals. After a few years I had to make a conscious choice to close the door on musicals, because I was getting pigeon-holed as a musical theater performer.
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Show business is fickle, and though I have been blessed with a healthy career, who knows how long that will last?
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Fact
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Her vocal range is mezzo soprano.
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Was the first African-American actress to play Maggie on "Cat on a hot tin roof" On stage.
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Was on the first all African-American production of Tennessee Williams's play "Cat on a hot tin roof" at the Virgínia State Theatre.
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Both her parents were morticians; the family lived above the funeral parlor.
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Made her Broadway debut alongside Lena Horne in Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music.
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Is a singer.
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Has a french bulldog named Spraga, with husband Gregory Generet.
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In 2005, performed in 3 shows simultaneously, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, As the World Turns and the stage play Julius Ceaser alongside Denzel Washington.
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On one occasion, worked on 3 shows in a 24h period. First did the play Julius Ceaser, from there she went to work on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, then went to work on the soap opera As the World Turns, after that did a matinée and night performance of Julius Ceaser. (The Mo'Nique Show).
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In 2002, performed in 3 shows simultaneously, As the World Turns, Law & Order Special Victims Unit and 24.
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Has Native American ancestry.
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Has 3 sisters and 1 brother.
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Parents: James W Tunie, Evelyn Hawkins Tunie.
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Her paternal great-grandmother was full blooded Indian.
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Was a contestant in the Miss Black Teenage Pageant in Pittsburgh in the early 1970s.
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Has worked with several charitable organizations and theater companies, including Hearts of Gold and Harlem Stage/The Gatehouse.
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Serves on the board of directors of Figure Skating in Harlem, Inc., a nonprofit organization that works with young girls in the community.
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Is a rabid Pittsburgh Steelers fan.
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In 2007, she received a Tony Award as co-producer for the musical "Spring Awakening". She was also a Tony Award nominee (Best Play) for co-producing August Wilson's Radio Golf.
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Her father still operates the family business, a funeral home, in a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
After five years of portraying Medical Examiner Melinda Warner on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999), she was finally given main cast billing in the seventh season. (2005)
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When she was portraying the character of 'Jessica Griffin' on the daytime drama As the World Turns (1956), one of her mentors, actress/director/drama coach Billie Allen, portrayed her character's mother 'Louise' (1994).
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Graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 1981 [1981]