When Tamara Tunie signed on as the matriarch of CBS’s upcoming soap opera Beyond the Gates, there was a celebration and a sigh of relief from TV fans. This is because she’s a known and respected name in daytime and primetime. Her stellar reputation comes from her years playing attorney Jessica Griffin on the late great soap opera As the World Turns. Then there’s her 20-plus years of primetime success starring as Dr. Melinda Warner on Law & Order: Tunie is a multitalented performer who can pretty much do anything—television, film, theater, in front of the camera, and behind the scenes.

The Early Days

The Pittsburgh native graduated from Carnegie-Mellon University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre. Her alma mater presented her with an Alumni Achievement Award in 2022. “As a student, I had only hoped that I would be able to support myself as an actor,...