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Robin Tunney

Film Actress / Television Actress | * 06/19/1972 (51) | Chicago, Illinois (United States of America (USA))
5,950
Robin Tunney (born June 19, 1972) is an American actress. Tunney made her film debut in the comedy Encino Man (1992) and rose to prominence with leading roles in the cult films Empire Records (1995) and The Craft (1996). Her performance in Niagara, Niagara (1997) won her acclaim and the Volpi Cup for Best Actress. She had leading roles in the films End of Days (1999), Supernova and Vertical Limit (both 2000). Tunney earned critical acclaim for playing Veronica Donovan on Prison Break (2005–2006) and Teresa Lisbon on the television series The Mentalist (2008–2015). Tunney was pra... ()
Photo of Robin Tunney

Robin Jessica Tunney (born June 19, 1972, height 5' 4" (1,63 m)) is an American actress. She is known for her role as Teresa Lisbon in the television series The Mentalist (2008–present), as well as previous roles in the films Encino Man (1992), Empire Records (1995), The Craft (1996), End of Days (1999), and Vertical Limit (2000), and the 2005–06 series Prison Break.Early life:Tunney was born in Chicago, Illinois to a car salesman father, and a bartender mother. Tunney is Irish American; her father was born in Straide, County Mayo, Ireland, while her maternal grandparents were from Clare Island. Tunney grew up in Orland Park, a southwest suburb of Chicago. She was raised Roman Catholic, attended Carl Sandburg High School in Orland Park and the Chicago Academy for the Arts in Chicago, and resided in Palos Heights, also in the Chicago area. She is a cousin of Chicago Alderman Tom Tunney.Career:At the age of 19, Tunney moved to Los Angeles, California and obtained several recurring television roles on Class of '96, Law & Order, Dream On, and Life Goes On. She gave her breakthrough performance as a suicidal teenager in Empire Records and attracted further attention by playing a witch in The Craft.In 1997, Tunney starred in her husband at the time Bob Gosse's Niagara, Niagara with Henry Thomas in a performance which garnered her the Best Actress award Volpi Cup at the 1997 Venice International Film Festival. Tunney also was featured opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1999 supernatural action film End of Days.She starred in the pilot episode of House as a kindergarten teacher who collapses before her class and descends into aphasia; she was credited as a "special guest star". She portrayed Veronica Donovan on the first season of Prison Break, credited third after two main characters, and left the show after the premiere episode of the second season. She had a minor role in the film August released on July 11, 2008. Tunney is currently starring opposite Simon Baker in the CBS drama series The Mentalist, playing Teresa Lisbon.Personal life:Tunney married producer and director Bob Gosse on October 4, 1997; they divorced in 2006. In 2009, Tunney was engaged to Australian writer and director Andrew Dominik but they called off their engagement by August 2010. Tunney became engaged to interior designer Nicky Marmet on December 25, 2012 while on vacation in Rio de Janeiro.On June 28, 2006, Tunney won the fifth table of Bravo's Celebrity Poker Showdown's eighth season, finishing ahead of Christopher Meloni, Macy Gray, Joy Behar, and Andy Dick, moving on to the final cut. The finale aired on July 5, 2006, where she competed against Jason Alexander, Michael Ian Black, Ida Siconolfi, and Keegan-Michael Key. Tunney came in second, behind Alexander. She played for The Children's Health Fund, which received $200,000 for her efforts. In August 2006, Tunney played in the World Series of Poker after having her entrance fee covered by the online cardroom PokerRoom.com.

Most frequent genres for this person: Drama | Comedies | Thriller

Known for these Movies & Shows

Awards & Nominations for Robin Tunney

Volpi Cup for Best Actress
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Movies with Robin Tunney as Actress(36)

as Agatha Kaine2020 Horse Girl
as Maggie2018 Looking Glass
as Roxanne Dawson2018 Monster Party
as Gloria Steinmark2015 My All American
as Emmie2012 See Girl Run
as Theresa2009 Passenger Side
as Nancy Keeshin2008 The Two Mr. Kissels
as Laura2008 The Burning Plain
as Melanie Hanson2008 August
as Izzy2006 Open Window
as Leonore Lemmon2006 Hollywoodland
as Carly2005 Runaway
as Laura Parish2005 The Zodiac
as Abby Laramie2004 Paparazzi
as Wynn French2004 Shadow of Fear
as Angela Harris2003 The In-Laws
as herself2003 Abby Singer
as Zoe2002 Cherish
as Zoey2002 Intimate Affairs
as Annie Garrett2000 Vertical Limit
as Danika Lund2000 Supernova
as Christine York1999 End of Days
as Melvina 'Malka' Csizmadia1998 Rescuers: Stories of Courage: Two Families
as Marcy1998 Niagara, Niagara
as Kitty1998 Montana
as Sarah1997 Julian Po
as Elizabeth 'Bess' Erne1996 Riders of the Purple Sage
as Sarah Bailey1996 The Craft
as Debra1995 Empire Records
as Ella1992 Encino Man
as Hannah1991 Frogs!

TV Shows/Series with Robin Tunney as Actress(14)

as Maya Travis2019 The Fix
as Brandylynn Huggens2018 Insatiable
as herself2009 Live from Studio Five
as Teresa Lisbon2008 The Mentalist
as Veronica Donovan2005 Prison Break
as Rebecca Adler2004 House
as Edie Durant2002 The Twilight Zone
as Deborah Hart1993 Cutters
as Kathleen 'Kick' Kennedy1993 JFK: Reckless Youth
as Jill Templeton1990 Law & Order

Additional Information

Official websites:
Full Name: Robin Tunney
Born: Monday, 06/19 1972 (June) in Chicago, Illinois (United States of America (USA)) (current age: 51 years + 284 days)
Zodiac sign: Gemini (Chinese zodiac sign: Rat)
Languages: English (EN)
Educated at: St. Ignatius College Prep, Carl Sandburg High School
Spouses (current/former): Bob Gosse
Robin Tunney frequently works together with these people:
Edward D. Murphy (11x, Actor)
Mark Casella (9x, Actor)
David Shore (8x, Crew)
David Fonteno (8x, Actor)
Joe Pentangelo (8x, Actor)
Adam LeFevre (7x, Actor)
Jim Moody (7x, Actor)
Socorro Santiago (7x, Actress)
George T. Odom (7x, Actor)
Bruce MacVittie (7x, Actor)
William H. Burns (7x, Actor)
Ryan R. Williams (6x, Crew)
WatchPlayStream ID: PEOPLE:722, Added: 03/23/2018, Last updated: 03/22/2024