Monica Raymund

Early life and education

Raymund was born in St. Petersburg, Florida, to Steve Raymund, the board chairman and retired CEO of Tech Data Corp., a Clearwater-based distributor of computer components and software, and Sonia (née Lara), a community volunteer and co-founder of the Soulful Arts Dance Academy in St. Petersburg. Her father is of English and Eastern European Jewish descent. Her mother is Dominican. Raymund was raised Jewish, celebrated a bat mitzvah, and attended a Reform Judaism temple. Her paternal grandfather was businessman and philanthropist Edward C. Raymund. Raymund's younger brother, Will, was a graduate of Berklee College of Music, and a sound and lighting engineer and music promoter. He died in August 2015.

In high school, she participated in the "Broadway Theater Project" in Tampa. In college, she was a founding member of The Performing Arts Project at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem."

Raymund graduated from Shorecrest Preparatory School in St. Petersburg, Florida, in 2004. She was later admitted to the Juilliard School in New York City, where she graduated in 2008.

Career

Reportedly, Raymund performed in Cymbeline directed by Richard Feldman, The Diviners (directed by Jonathan Bernstein), and Animal Farm (directed by Trazana Beverley), all at the Juilliard School.

Raymund appeared in her native St. Petersburg, Florida, in the LiveArts Peninsula Foundation's original production of Manhattan Casino (directed by Bob Devin Jones), where she originated the leading role of Althea Dunbar and Webb's City: The Musical (music & lyrics by Lee Ahlin, written and directed by William Leavengood)." Raymund "is a three-year alumna of Ann Reinking's Broadway Theater Project, where she has been a featured performer."

Raymund "worked with playwright José Rivera on Boleros for the Disenchanted at the Huntington Theatre Company in Boston" in 2008. In April 2008, she appeared in the NBC legal drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, in the season 9 episode 17 titled "Authority". She was in the opening scene as a strip search prank call victim.

From 2009 to 2011, she starred in the Fox crime drama Lie to Me, where she played Maria "Ria" Torres, a human lie detector. She is a "natural", meaning she has no formal training in detecting lies or the emotions of others.

From 2011 until 2012, Raymund had a recurring role in the third season of the CBS legal drama The Good Wife, where she played Dana Lodge, an assistant state's attorney.

In 2012, Raymund began starring in the NBC drama Chicago Fire. She played Gabriela Dawson, the paramedic in charge and a firefighter candidate. On May 15, 2018, Raymund confirmed that she was leaving the show after six seasons. She briefly appeared on the show in the seventh-season premiere "A Closer Eye". In November 2019, she returned to the show in the eighth-season episode "Best Friend Magic".

In 2020, Raymund began starring as Jackie Quiñones in the Starz crime drama Hightown, set in Provincetown, Massachusetts. The series ran for three seasons.

Raymund has also directed several episodes of television: an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, an episode of Dick Wolf's FBI, and an episode of Chicago Fire. She has directed multiple episodes of Dexter: Original Sin and its upcoming 2025 sequel series Dexter: Resurrection.

Personal life

On June 11, 2011, Raymund married writer Neil Patrick Stewart. They separated in early 2013 and divorced in 2014.

Raymund is an ardent supporter of LGBTQ rights. In February 2014, she came out publicly as bisexual for the first time via Twitter. On September 16, 2015, Raymund announced via Twitter that she had begun dating camerawoman, cinematographer, and producer Tari Segal.

Filmography

Film

Television

Director

References

References

1. Winchester, Donna. (May 23, 2004). "Bye, high school; hello, tomorrow".
2. Deggans, Eric. (January 25, 2009). "St. Petersburg native, 'Lie To Me' co-star Monica Raymund ready to put in the work".
3. Leal, Samantha. (October 9, 2012). "Introducing 'Chicago Fire' Star Monica Raymund". [[Latina (magazine).
4. [http://www.sptimes.com/2004/03/07/Neighborhoodtimes/Celebrating_75_years_.shtml "Celebrating 75 years of faith, progress"] {{Webarchive. link. (March 4, 2016 , ''[[St. Petersburg Times]]'', March 7, 2004.)
5. Park, Mary Jane. (January 11, 2009). "CATCH LOCAL ACTOR ON FOX STARTING SOON". St. Petersburg Times.
6. "Biography". littlemary.info.
7. Stephens, Janel. (February 23, 2003). "Striking similarities".
8. Park, Mary Jane. (January 11, 2009). "St. Petersburg actor has role in Fox's 'Lie to Me'".
9. Porter, Rick. (September 9, 2011). "'The Good Wife': 'Lie to Me's' Monica Raymund will catch Cary's eye".
10. Cordero, Rosy. (October 21, 2021). "'Chicago Fire': Jesse Spencer, Producer & Alum Monica Raymund On Tonight's Big Exit".
11. White, Peter. (April 1, 2020). "Monica Raymund On Directing 'FBI's 'Chicago P.D.' Crossover Episode Amid Pandemic That Made It Season Finale".
12. Heyman, Marshall. (June 11, 2011). "Dinner, with Drama". The Wall Street Journal.
13. Gilchrist, Tracy E.. (September 16, 2015). "Bisexual Chicago Fire Star Monica Raymund Introduces the World to Her Girlfriend Via Twitter".
14. Hallowell, Lucy. (February 10, 2014). ""Chicago Fire" star Monica Raymund comes out as bisexual on Twitter". [[AfterEllen]].