Theresa Saldana. Photo credit: Jim Accordino.
Actress, author and victim advocate, Theresa Saldana, died on June 6, 2016, at the age of 61. Saldana was perhaps best known for playing Rachel Scali, wife of police commissioner Tony Scali (Michael Chiklis), on The Commish TV show, which ran from 1991 to 1996 before being cancelled by ABC.
After The Commish ended, Saldana played Christina Vargas (aka Diana Martinez) on ABC’s now-cancelled soap opera, All My Children. A decade prior to that, she played Carlotta Quivar on NBC‘s cancelled daytime drama series, Santa Barbara. She also voiced the character, Rosa, in the 1990 animated New Kids on the Block TV series, which was cancelled by ABC after one season of 16 episodes.
Saldana also did voice work on Batman Beyond (2001), The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest (1996-97), and Captain Planet and the Planeteers (1994).
Saldana’s last TV series appearance was a guest spot on The Bernie Mac Show in 2003. She guested on other TV series including Martial Law (1998), Nothing Sacred (1997), Diagnosis Murder (1997), MacGyver (1990), Falcon Crest (1988), Werewolf (1987), Matlock (1986), Simon & Simon (1986), Cagney & Lacey (1985), and The Twilight Zone (1985).
Saldana’s movie roles include Grace Corrigan in I Wanna Hold Your Hand (1978), Marsha in Defiance (1980), and Lenore in Raging Bull (1980). The last professional credit listed on her IMDb profile is for the character of Maria, in the 2004 bio-pic Illusion Infinity, starring Dee Wallace and Mickey Rooney.
Saldana was born on August 20, 1954, in Brooklyn, New York to Divina and Tony Saldana. Here is more, from Deadline:
Theresa Saldana, who co-starred on The Commish and in Raging Bull but whose most lasting legacy might be the victims’ advocacy work she undertook following a near-fatal stalking incident in 1982, has died. She was 61. Two friends confirmed her death in Facebook posts Monday. She had been hospitalized in Los Angeles, but no cause of death was given. A memorial service is anticipated, but details have not been set.
Brooklyn native Saldana had appeared in a number of films in the late 1970s and early ’80s, including as the wife of Joey La Motta (Joe Pesci) in Best Picture Oscar nominee Raging Bull, when she was the victim of a horrific assault. In March 1982, she was stabbed several times outside her West Hollywood home by a mentally disturbed fan who had stalked her. She barely survived the attack — which took place two years after the assassination of John Lennon and seven years before the murder of My Sister Sam actress Rebecca Schaeffer — but went on to resume her acting career and provide both a face and a voice to the then-new issue of celebrity stalking.
Saldana became a devoted victims’ advocate, founding the Victims for Victims organization that fought for the establishment of anti-stalking laws and playing herself in the 1984 TV movie Victims for Victims: The Theresa Saldana Story, directed by Karen Arthur. Her memoir, Beyond Survival, was published in 1987.
Former Commish co-star Michael Chiklis tweeted on June 6th, saying, “Can anyone confirm news of Theresa Saldana’s condition? I have heard very distressing news but can’t be sure it’s true. Please let me know!”
Can anyone confirm news of Theresa Saldana's condition? I have heard very distressing news but can't be sure it's true. Please let me know!
— Michael Chiklis (@MichaelChiklis) June 7, 2016
After her death had been confirmed, Chiklis tweeted, “Painful to hear the news of Theresa’s passing. My family & I extend our love, condolences & support to her family in their time of grieving.”
Painful to hear the news of Theresa's passing. My family & I extend our love, condolences & support to her family in their time of grieving.
— Michael Chiklis (@MichaelChiklis) June 7, 2016
According to Variety, Ms. Saldana is survived by her husband, Phil Peters, and a daughter. We invite you to share your memories of Ms. Saldana and her work, below.
