Here's a name that we haven't heard about in years. Actress Theresa Saldana passed away today after a brief hospitalization at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, she was just 61 years old. The cause of death, if known was not released to the media. Theresa appeared in "Raging Bull" with Joe Pesci and Robert Dinero and she also had a recurring role on TV in "the Commish".But her biggest claim to fame was back in 1982 when a crazed stalker hunted her down and stabbed her multiple times trying to kill her just because she was a celebrity. This was one of the first major celebrity stalking cases to occur.(This attack happened 7 years prior to Rebecca Schaeffer's stalking murder.) Theresa survived that awful assault and went on to create the biggest victim's advocacy orgainzations, that she named Victims for Victims. Theresa later returned to acting and even portrayed herself in the TV movie Victims for Victims: The Theresa Saldana Story.
She first gained attention in Robert Zemeckis’s 1978 film I Wanna Hold Your Hand and, after her recovery, became a familiar presence on episodic TV. Saldana guested on a number of popular series including T.J. Hooker, Cagney & Lacey and Simon & Simonand continued to work in TV and film through the 1980s. Her big break came in 1991, when she was tapped to star opposite Michael Chiklis in ABC’s crime drama The Commish. She played the supportive wife of the title character, a tough-but-kind NYC police commissioner. Saldana earned a Golden Globe nom for her role on the series, which aired 90-plus episodes from 1991-96.
She also co-starred with Charles Bronson in the 1984 thriller The Evil That Men Do and continued to work in TV into the early 2000s, appearing on such series as Law & Order, Diagnosis Murder, Martial Law and most recently Bernie Mac.
Rest in peace Theresa.
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