Anecdotes

Both her parents were morticians; the family lived above the funeral parlor.

After five years of portraying Medical Examiner Melinda Warner on New York - Unité spéciale (1999), she was finally given main cast billing in the seventh season. (2005)

Her father still operates the family business, a funeral home, in a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Performed in three shows simultaneously, As the World Turns, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and 24. (2002)

Serves on the board of directors of Figure Skating in Harlem, Inc., a nonprofit organization that works with young girls in the community.

Made her Broadway debut alongside Lena Horne in Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music.

Is a singer; her range is mezzo-soprano.

Was the first African-American actress to play Maggie on "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" on stage.

Her paternal great-grandmother was full-blooded Indian.

Was a contestant in the Miss Black Teenage Pageant in Pittsburgh in the early 1970s.

On one occasion, she worked on three shows in a 24-hour period: First the play Julius Caesar with Denzel Washington, then to work on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, then to work on the soap opera As the World Turns. After that, she performed in the matinee and evening performances of Julius Caesar. (The Mo'Nique Show).

Graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 1981. (1981)

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". (2007)

Has three sisters and one brother.

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)

Was in the first all African-American production of Tennessee Williams's play "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," produced at the Virgínia State Theatre.

Has worked with several charitable organizations and theater companies, including Hearts of Gold and Harlem Stage/The Gatehouse.

Is a rabid Pittsburgh Steelers fan.

Parents: James W Tunie, Evelyn Hawkins Tunie.

Has a french bulldog, named Spraga, with husband Gregory Generet.

Shares a birthday with Michael Caine, Mercedes McNab, Kylie Tyndall, Keaton Tyndall, Quincy Jones, Chris Klein, and Jamie Bell.