Tanya Roberts was born in the The Bronx, New York City of Irish and Jewish descent.[citation needed] Her father sold ink pens.[1] At age 15, she abandoned her studies to get married and lived for a while hitch-hiking across the United States until her mother-in-law annulled the union.[citation needed] Tanya lived with her mother in Toronto for several years where she started formulating a photo portfolio and laying plans for a career.[citation needed] She moved to New York City and became a highly sought after fashion and cover model.[citation needed]
After meeting psychology student Barry Roberts while waiting in line for a movie, she soon married again, having proposed to him in a subway station. While Barry started a career as a screenwriter, Tanya began to study at the Actors Studio with Lee Strasberg and Uta Hagen.
