Tanya Roberts was born in 1949 in Manhattan, New York, as the second daughter of Oscar Blum, a manufacturing executive, and his wife Dorothy. Growing up in the affluent suburbs of Westchester County, specifically Scarsdale and Greenburgh, Tanya's early life was marked by a sense of privilege.
However, Tanya's journey took a dramatic turn when she reportedly dropped out of high school, got married, and embarked on a hitchhiking adventure across the country. Her marriage was eventually annulled by her mother-in-law. It was during this period that Tanya met Barry Roberts, a psychology student, while waiting in line to see a movie. A few months later, she proposed to him in a subway station, and they were married.
Tanya's interest in acting led her to study under renowned instructors Lee Strasberg and Uta Hagen. To support herself in her early years in New York, she worked as an Arthur Murray dance instructor and modeled for various brands. She also appeared in off-Broadway productions of "Picnic" and "Antigone", as well as television commercials for Ultra Brite, Clairol, and Cool Ray sunglasses.
In 1977, Tanya and her husband, who had become a scriptwriter, made the move to Hollywood. She began landing roles in made-for-TV films, including Pleasure Cove (1979),Zuma Beach (1978),and Waikiki (1980). Her film debut was in The Last Victim (1976). After appearing in several minor films, Tanya's big break came when she was selected as the last Angel on the final season of Charlie's Angels (1976). This role earned her a spot on the cover of People magazine in 1981.
The attention she received from her Charlie's Angels role helped secure her most significant film roles, including The Beastmaster (1982),the title role in Sheena (1984),and as a Bond girl in A View to a Kill (1985). Tanya continued to appear in films, mainly direct-to-video and direct-to-cable features. She also had a recurring lead role in the television series That '70s Show (1998).
Tanya Roberts passed away in 2021 due to complications from a urinary tract infection and sepsis, leaving behind a legacy as a talented actress who had appeared in a wide range of film and television roles throughout her career.
