Robin Tunney


Robin Tunney is an American actress. She is known for her role as Teresa Lisbon on the television series The Mentalist and the portrayal of Veronica Donovan on Prison Break.
Tunney made her film debut in the 1992 comedy Encino Man. She came to prominence with leading roles in the cult films Empire Records and The Craft. She received the Volpi Cup for Best Actress, as well as Gotham and Independent Spirit nominations for her performance in Niagara, Niagara. She had leading roles in the action-thriller films End of Days, Supernova and Vertical Limit. In 2006, she earned critical acclaim for her portrayal of a victim of sexual assault in the independent drama Open Window. Her other notable film appearances include Cherish, The Secret Lives of Dentists, The In-Laws, Hollywoodland, August, The Burning Plain, Passenger Side, and Looking Glass.

Early life

Tunney was born in Chicago, Illinois, to a car salesman father, Patrick, and a bartender mother, Cathy. 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 Catholic, attended Saint Ignatius College Prep in Chicago and the Chicago Academy for the Arts in Chicago, and resided in Palos Heights, also in the Chicago area.

Career

Robin Tunney moved to Los Angeles, California, and portrayed characters in the Class of '96, Law & Order, Dream On, and Life Goes On amongst other works. She realized subsequent success in the wake of her role as Sarah Bailey in The Craft.
Robin later accepted a role in Niagara, Niagara. For this role she claimed the 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 was later cast in a guest-star role in the pilot episode of the TV series House as a kindergarten instructor who collapses in the midst of a lesson, resulting in an aphasic condition. She also portrays Veronica Donovan on the first season of Prison Break. Among Tunney's further accomplishments were roles in The Mentalist, Closing the Ring, as well as The Fix.

Personal life

Tunney married producer and director Bob Gosse on October 4, 1995, they divorced in 2006. Tunney was engaged to Australian writer and director Andrew Dominik from 2009 to 2010.
Tunney became engaged to interior designer Nicky Marmet on December 25, 2012, while on vacation in Rio de Janeiro. On June 23, 2016, she gave birth to their son Oscar Holly Marmet. On January 8, 2020, she gave birth to their daughter Colette Kathleen Marmet.
On June 28, 2006, Tunney won her table in the eighth tournament series of Bravo's Celebrity Poker Showdown, moving on to the final table. The finale aired on July 5, 2006, where she finished second to Jason Alexander, earning $200,000 for her charity of choice, The Children's Health Fund. In August 2006, Tunney played in the World Series of Poker after having her entrance fee covered by the online cardroom PokerRoom.com.
She is a cousin of Chicago Alderman Tom Tunney.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations

YearAssociationCategoryNominated workResult
1997MTV Movie AwardsBest Fight The Craft
1997Volpi CupBest ActressNiagara, Niagara
1999Independent Spirit AwardsBest Female LeadNiagara, Niagara
2001Blockbuster Entertainment AwardsFavorite Actress – ActionVertical Limit
2006Boston Film FestivalFestival PrizeOpen Window
2009People's Choice AwardsBest New Series The Mentalist
2015People's Choice AwardsFavorite Crime Drama TV The Mentalist
2015People's Choice AwardsFavorite TV Crime Drama ActressThe Mentalist