Vanessa Marquez facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Vanessa Marquez
Vanessa Marquez
Born	Vanessa Rosalia Marquez (1968-12-21)December 21, 1968 Los Angeles County, California, U.S.
Died	August 30, 2018(2018-08-30) (aged 49) South Pasadena, California, U.S.
Cause of death	Gunshot wounds by police officers
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1987–2017

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

Marquez appeared in a 1992 episode of Seinfeld called "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.

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. She had other serious mental health issues, including bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, 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's death occurred during an incident on August 30, 2018, at her home in South Pasadena, California, where a wellness check by local authorities led to an armed confrontation. 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 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

Television

Video

See also

In Spanish: Vanessa Marquez para niños