R.I.P. Theresa Saldana from 'The Commish'

By: H&I Staff     Posted: June 7, 2016, 4:15PM    Tags: News

Image: Everett Collection

Theresa Saldana, best known for playing the commissioner's wife on the '90s cop drama The Commish, died Monday at the age of 61. 

Saldana first came to prominence in 1980 after appearing in popular films like Raging Bull and Defiance. Throughout the decade, she continued to appear in movies and also guest-starred on television programs like T.J. Hooker and Cagney & Lacey.

In 1990, Saldana scored the role of Rachel Scali on The Commish. Her work received critical acclaim and scored her a Golden Globe nomination in 1994. 

After The Commish wrapped in 1996, Saldana continued to appear on television in various roles until she retired from acting in 2004. 

In addition to acting, Saldana was also known as the survivor of a celebrity-stalking incident that nearly killed her. In March 1982, an obsessed fan stabbed the actress 10 times after finding her address by hiring a private investigator and posing as Martin Scorsese's assistant. The wounds required four hours of surgery and a four-month stay in the hospital.

Saldana eventually bounced back after the hospitalization, becoming an advocate for survivors and founding the Victims for Victims organization. 

According to multiple reports, the actress passed away Monday after battling an unknown illness at a Los Angeles–area hospital.