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Vanessa Marquez

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American actress (1968–2018)
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Vanessa Marquez
BornVanessa Rosalia Marquez
(1968-12-21)December 21, 1968
Los Angeles County, California, U.S.
DiedAugust 30, 2018(2018-08-30) (aged 49)
South Pasadena, California, U.S.
Cause of deathSuicide by cop
OccupationActress
Years active1987–2017

Vanessa Rosalia Marquez (December 21, 1968 – August 30, 2018) was an American actress. She was primarily known for her recurring role in the first three seasons of ER as nurse Wendy Goldman, as well as her role as Ana Delgado in the 1988 biographical drama film, Stand and Deliver.

Career

In 1992 Marquez appeared in the Seinfeld fourth season episode "The Cheever Letters", portraying a secretary in the Cuban Permanent Mission (the US and Cuba did not have mutual embassies from 1961 to 2015). Her success with Stand and Deliver led to a career in film and television, with roles in the crime drama Blood In Blood Out (1993), and the independent film Twenty Bucks (1993). Her television work included guest spots on popular programs, including Melrose Place in 1994 and Malcolm & Eddie in 1999, and recurring roles on ER from 1994 to 1997. In addition to her acting credentials, Marquez appeared as a singer in the 2000 thriller film Under Suspicion.

Personal life

Vanessa Rosalia Marquez was born in Los Angeles County, California. She was the daughter of John Marquez, who died during the Vietnam War when she was one and half years old; and Delia. She grew up in Montebello, where she attended Schurr High School.

Prior to her death, Marquez made headlines related to the #MeToo movement, alleging that she endured harassment while on the set of ER. In October 2017, she accused series star George Clooney of helping to "blacklist" her after she complained to executives about the harassment. Clooney denied the allegations.

Mental illness and health problems

Marquez appeared in an early episode of the A&E Network reality television series Intervention, as she tried to manage her shopping addiction. Marquez was given an "intervention" by friends (including Stand and Deliver co-star Karla Montana) to get her to go to treatment; she later said that her treatment was not successful. She had several mental health conditions, including bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anorexia nervosa, and agoraphobia, that ended her career as an actress and left her almost entirely homebound. She also had celiac disease, fibromyalgia, and depression at the time of her death, and had regular seizures.

Death

Marquez died on August 30, 2018, at her home in South Pasadena, California, where a wellness check by local authorities led to an armed confrontation between her and the South Pasadena Police Department. Her home was found in a state of disarray and she claimed to be experiencing a seizure, for which paramedics and a mental health expert were called to evaluate her. Marquez was shot several times by police after she pointed what appeared to be a firearm and advanced toward the officers, who had retreated down the stairs after initially seeing the "firearm." She was taken to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead at 2:36 p.m. local time. The "firearm" was later determined to be a replica. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office has ruled that the police officers had acted in lawful self-defense in the shooting.

In February 2019, attorneys representing her mother filed a wrongful death claim against the City of South Pasadena. The claim alleges battery, negligence, unlawful entry, false arrest and imprisonment, wrongful death, negligent training, conspiracy, seizure of property, failure to summon prompt medical care and violation of the Bane Act. In March 2020, the South Pasadena Police Department released bodycam footage from the incident, showing Marquez pleading to the officers to kill her, as well as pointing the replica gun at them. The LA County District Attorney's Office released its report on February 25 the same year. On February 23, 2021, the City of South Pasadena settled the wrongful death suit with Marquez's mother in the amount of $450,000.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1988 Stand and Deliver Ana Delgado
1989 Night Children Runt
1992 Maniac Cop III: Badge of Silence Terry
1993 Twenty Bucks Melanie
Blood In Blood Out Montana's daughter
Father Hood Delores
2000 Under Suspicion Singer Voice

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1990 To My Daughter Student #1 Television film
Wiseguy Consuelo Burns Episodes: "Point of No Return" and "Changing Houses"
Sweet 15 Lupe Television film
1991 Locked Up: A Mother's Rage Yo-Yo Television film
1992 Tequila and Bonetti Lupe Episode: "Brooklyn and the Beast"
Seinfeld Receptionist Episode: "The Cheever Letters"
1994 State of Emergency Violetta Television film
Nurses Angelica Episode: "The One After the Earthquake"
Melrose Place Linda Cortez Episode: "The Doctor Who Rocks the Cradle"
1994–1997 ER Nurse Wendy Goldman Recurring role, 27 episodes
1997 All Lies End in Murder Yvonne Valesquez Television film
1999 Malcolm & Eddie Janice Ramos Episodes: "The Fool Monty", "As You Strike It" and "Worst Impressions"
2001 Fire & Ice Wanda Hernandez Television film

Video

Year Title Role Notes
2006 Return of Pink Five Pink Squadron Pilot Short

References

  1. ^ Towles Canote, Terence (August 31, 2018). "My Beloved Vanessa Marquez". A Shroud of Thoughts. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  2. "IMDB "Vanessa Marquez"". IMDb.
  3. "Seinfeld Season 4 Episodes". TV Guide. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  4. ^ Ormseth, Matthew (February 20, 2019). "Mother of Vanessa Marquez files claim against South Pasadena over actress' shooting". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  5. Towles Canote, Terence (December 21, 2018). "The 50th Birthday of My Dearest Vanessa Marquez". A Shroud of Thoughts. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  6. Vasquez, Daniel (August 31, 2018). "Actress Vanessa Marquez Killed in South Pasadena Officer-Involved Shooting". The South Pasadenan News. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  7. Vasquez, Daniel (September 2, 2018). "Death of Actress Vanessa Marquez Saddens, Frustrates South Pasadena". The South Pasadenan News. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  8. Fry, Hannah (March 2, 2020). "In fatal Vanessa Marquez shooting, officers will face no criminal charges". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  9. Towles Canote, Terence (July 30, 2020). "Justice for Vanessa Marquez". A Shroud of Thoughts. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  10. ^ Marantos, Jeanette (September 9, 2018). "Vanessa Rosalia Marquez, 49". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  11. Vasquez, Daniel (September 6, 2018). "NEW INFORMATION: Witnesses, Police Provide Details into the Shooting Death of Actress Vanessa Marquez". The South Pasadenan News.
  12. Tufayal, Ahmed (March 3, 2020). "'ER' Actress Vanessa Marquez Was Shot Dead by Police in 'Lawful Self-Defense,' Says DA, As Bodycam Footage Released". Newsweek. New York City. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  13. "Judge Approves Settlement Of Wrongful Death Claim In Shooting Of Ex-'ER' Actress Vanessa Marquez – Update". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. February 22, 2021. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  14. South Pasadena Police Department (March 3, 2020). "South Pasadena Police Department Community Briefing March 2, 2020". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-19. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  15. Lacey, Jackie (February 25, 2020). "Fatal Officer-Involved Shooting of Vanessa Marquez" (PDF).
  16. Lacey, Jackie (February 25, 2020). "Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office Report".
  17. Wigglesworth, Alex (February 22, 2021). Written at Inglewood. "South Pasadena settles wrongful death lawsuit filed by mother of actress Vanessa Marquez". Los Angeles Times. El Segundo. Retrieved April 13, 2021.

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