Tamara Tunie Inspires Future Leaders at President’s Lecture Series

Actor, producer and director Tamara Tunie(opens in new window) returned to her Pittsburgh roots and Carnegie Mellon University as a distinguished guest for the President’s Lecture Series(opens in new window), delivering a powerful message of resilience and underscoring the value of storytelling, which has enabled her to touch and inspire countless lives.

Tunie, who grew up in a close-knit community in nearby Homestead, credits the strong work ethic instilled in her by hardworking parents and the rigorous education she received at CMU for fueling her journey from a little girl who loved to act, dance and sing to becoming a celebrated figure in the entertainment industry.

Best known for portraying medical examiner Dr. Melinda Warner for 23 seasons of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” Tunie has appeared on television, on Broadway and on stages around the world. Daytime drama fans remember her as the longstanding character Jessica Griffin on the CBS soap opera “As The World Turns,” for which she received two NAACP Image Award nominations and two Soap Opera Digest award nominations. She is a Tony Award winning producer and has appeared in films alongside such acting legends as Denzel Washington, Samuel L. Jackson and Al Pacino. 

She emphasized the importance of being prepared and resilient in the face of rejection on what was ultimately her journey to self-acceptance. She said she learned to focus on her unique qualities rather than trying to fit others' expectations, which liberated her as an artist.

“It took me many years to understand that what I bring into the room is uniquely mine and to stop trying to figure out what they want, because more often than not, they don't know what they want until you show it to them,” she said. “But all actors will tell you that rejection is alive and well and always lurking just around the corner. We have to have thick skin and a strong belief in ourselves and our abilities to regularly be told you're not enough and keep pushing forward.”

One of her most memorable experiences as a New York actor was juggling three jobs in 24 hours: starring as Calpurnia in the Broadway revival of "Julius Caesar" with Denzel Washington, filming "Law and Order: SVU" overnight, and then shooting "As the World Turns" the next morning.

“It was challenging and exhilarating and only in New York City was it even possible. But this would never have worked if I had not done my part, been where I was supposed to be. Prepared and on point. Ready to deliver. And I always was,” she said.

Tunie was on track to becoming a doctor before she chose to play one on TV instead. Sharing the highs and lows of navigating life’s challenges and triumphs, she expressed her pride in choosing to inspire others through storytelling rather than trying to please others, whether it was a casting director or a member of her own family.

“I’ve had so many Black women tell me they, or their daughter, or their sister, were studying forensic medicine because of my role on SVU,” she said. “My uncle wanted me to be a doctor and was quite angry with my parents for allowing me to go into theater, but I have been thrilled to play a doctor on television and impact the lives, goals and dreams of multitudes of women everywhere — and I became my uncle’s biggest brag.”

Feb. 24 marks her return to television in the premier of the new CBS daytime drama “Beyond the Gates," in which she plays Anita Dupree, the matriarch of an affluent Black family. 

Tunie said she’s enjoyed plenty of “pinch myself” moments throughout her career, moments like sharing the Broadway stage with the iconic Lena Horne when she was in awe of where life had taken her and she cried out “I can’t believe this is my life!” But there were also heartbreaking moments when she found herself uttering those same words in disbelief.

“If I have learned nothing else on this journey, I've learned to keep it moving,” she said.

Tunie graduated with a BFA in musical theater from the School of Drama(opens in new window) in CMU’s College of Fine Arts(opens in new window). She currently serves on the university’s Board of Trustees. She is a founding member of Black Theater United and serves on the board of directors at Harlem Stage. Both are nonprofits that are devoted to supporting the performing arts in New York City.