Vanessa Marquez, the actress who recurred as “Nurse Wendy Goldman” on early seasons of the 1990s hit medical drama ER and later accused co-star George Clooney of blacklisting her when she spoke out about alleged harassment on the show, died Thursday in an officer-involved shooting at her South Pasadena home. She was 49.
South Pasadena police officers were conducting a welfare check at Marquez’s home when she allegedly pulled out a “BB-type” replica gun, causing an officer to open fire in response, according to police.
Marquez was taken to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead.
At a press conference later Thursday, Lt. Joe Mendoza of the L.A. Sheriff’s homicide bureau described the incident, saying officers were called to the scene by a landlord who reported that the woman was in some kind of trouble. Police said they had been called to the woman’s residence in the past for help.
In addition to ER, Marquez’s other credits include playing Ana Delgado in the feature Stand and Deliver, a recurring role on Malcolm and Eddie and guest roles on Melrose Place and as the Cuban ambassador’s secretary in the 1992 Seinfeld episode “The Cheever Letters.” Her most recent TV credit was in 2001 TV movie Fire & Ice.
