Law and Order SVU exit: Why did Tamara Tunie leave as Melinda Warner?
Law and Order SVU's Melinda Warner proved popular with fans during her time in the drama but why did actress Tamara Tunie leave?
Bonus scene of Det. Muncy's Law and Order: SVU goodbye
WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Law and Order SVU.
Law and Order SVU has a revolving door when it comes to most of its cast, so what was the reason behind Melinda Warner star Tamara Tunie’s exit?
The feisty medical examiner first showed up in 2000 and it was clear from the get-go she wasn’t afraid to fight back and ruffle some feathers when needed.
She was a key part of the NBC legal drama for several years with some major storylines, including almost having Detective Elliot Stabler (played by Christopher Meloni) sent to prison on murder charges in season eight’s Dependent.
Melinda also got into trouble herself when she was shot by grieving mother Sophie Gerard inside the morgue but thankfully, she survived the attack.
Even when Melinda did take a step back, she continued to pop up in the show from time to time and was last seen in 2019.
Read more: The Fall of the House of Usher star Zach Gilford was in Law and Order SVU
Why did Tamara Tunie leave Law and Order SVU as Melinda Warner?
Law and Order SVU often sees characters make dramatic exits from the drama but this wasn’t the case for Melinda.
Actress Tunie was a regular from season seven to season 12 but she left the show as her character was demoted down to recurring in season 13.
She was no longer featured in every episode, instead showing up every now and again, which meant Tunie had more time to work on other projects.
She continued to help SVU until her final appearance in 2021, with the star having a whopping total of more than 200 credited episodes.
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Since her departure, Tunie has gone on to feature in a number of high-profile shows and films.
She first went on to appear in CBS’ Blue Bloods as attorney Monica Graham in seasons seven and eight before she was abruptly killed off.
Some of Tunie’s other on-screen appearances include Better Call Saul, Black Earth Rising, Emergence, Harlem and See with Jason Momoa.
Most recently, Tunie was behind Cissy Houston, Whitney Houston’s mum in the biopic I Wanna Dance with Somebody.
As of yet, Tunie doesn’t appear to have any more projects lined up, going by her IMDb profile.
In terms of Law and Order SVU, the show has already been given the green light for season 25.
However, the earliest it will return is early 2024 due to the writers' and actors’ strikes in the US.
Law and Order SVU is available to watch on NBC.
