Robin Tunney began her career as a child performer in local commercials in her native Chicago, IL. She worked as a model while studying acting at the Chicago Academy of Performing Arts and the Second City Players Workshop. After numerous appearances in local theater, including roles in "The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds" and "Bus Stop", the young performer moved to L.A. Almost immediately, she landed roles on the CBS Schoolbreak Special "But He Loves Me" and an episode of the ABC drama "Life Goes On" (both 1991). Tunney went on to play a recurring role on the short-lived FOX drama "Class of '96" (1993) and portrayed a manicurist on the equally short-lived CBS sitcom "Cutters" (1993). She also won praise for her performances as Kathleen Kennedy in "JFK: Reckless Youth" (ABC, 1993) and as a frontier woman in "Riders of the Purple Sage" (TNT, 1996).On the big screen, Tunney appeared as a popular high school girl attracted to Brendan Fraser's caveman in the pallid comedy "Encino Man" (1994). She also garnered notice for her turn as a suicidal youth in Allen Moyle's ensemble drama "Empire Records" (1995). Andrew Fleming's supernatural "The Craft" (1996) marked her first leading role, as a newcomer to a Catholic school who bonds with three other outcasts. She went on to win accolades and critical bouquets for her performance as a woman with Tourette's syndrome in "Niagara, Niagara" (1997)--her performance earned her the Best Actress-Cuppa Volpe at the 1997 Venice Film Festival, as well as a 1999 Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Female Lead--but her profile increased when she was tapped to star alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in the apocalyptic feature "End of Days" (1999), the visually arresting action flick, "Veritical Limit" (2000) and the limp sci-fi thriller "Supernova" (2000).
Ditching big payday roles in middling movies for more challenging fare, Tunney next appeared opposite Nick Nolte in director Alan Rudolph's period piece "Investigating Sex" (2001), playing one of a pair of stenographers employed to engage in frank sexual discussions with a group of 1920s bohemians and their mentor (Nolte). She also gave a tour de force performance as a romantically confused woman placed under house arrest in the challenging but uneven comic thriller "Cherish" (2002) before returning to the mainstream in the 2003 remake of the comedy classic "The In-Laws" playing CIA agent Michael Douglas' tough-as-nails partner.
Profession(s):
Actor, model
Sometimes Credited As:
MTV Movie Award Best Fight "The Craft" 1997
Venice Film Festival Volpi Cup Award Best Actress "Niagara, Niagara" 1997
2006 Co-starred with Justin Chambers in the thriller, "Zodiac"
2006 Played actor George Reeves' fiancie and aspiring starlet, Leonore Lemmon in "Hollywoodland"
2005 Cast as Michael Scofield's attorney in the FOX drama "Prison Break"
2004 Cast in "Paparazzi" about a celebrity who turns the tables on a persistent photographer; produced by Mel Gibson
2003 Had memorable role in the comedy "The In-Laws"
2003 Was seen in the comedy feature "The Secret Lives of Dentists"
2002 Earned rave reviews for her work in "Cherish"; screened at Sundance
2000 Starred as a mountain climber who becomes trapped in an ice cave in "Vertical Limit"
1999 Played a virgin pursued by Satan in the Arnold Schwarzenegger vehicle "End of Days"
1997 Breakthrough screen role in "Niagara, Niagara"
1996 First feature lead, "The Craft"
1994 Feature film debut "Encino Man"
1993 Played recurring role on short-lived FOX series "Class of '96"
1993 TV series debut as regular on short-lived CBS sitcom "Cutters"
1993 TV miniseries debut as Kathleen Kennedy in "JFK: Reckless Youth"
1992 TV-movie debut, "Perry Mason: The Case of the Reckless Romeo"
1991 Moved to L.A. (date approximate)
1991 TV debut in the CBS Schoolbreak Special "But He Loves Me"
Appeared as a child performer in commercials
Appeared in stage productions in Chicago
