‘ER’ Actor Eriq La Salle Speaks Out After Vanessa Marquez’s Death

This undated self-portrait posted on Instagram shows actress Vanessa Marquez. Vanessa Marquez via AP

Eriq La Salle, an actor who appeared in hit TV series “ER,” is speaking out about the death of former co-star Vanessa Marquez.

“We tragically lost a member of our ER family yesterday. Vanessa Marquez played a nurse when the show first aired,” La Salle, 56, wrote in a Tweet on Aug. 31. “Sending out condolences to her family and friends. May she rest in eternal peace.”

South Pasadena city officials said that people should not be quick to make judgments in the fatal shooting of “ER” actress Vanessa Marquez.

“We believe our officers acted appropriately under a tragic set of circumstances,” South Pasadena City Manager Stephanie DeWolfe said in a press release obtained by Variety magazine. “We are asking the public to respect the investigative process and allow the Sheriff’s Department and D.A.’s office to gather and release the facts.”

According to reports, police went to Marquez’s home on Aug. 30. There, they spoke with her for an hour before she got agitated and brandished a BB gun that looked like a handgun. Police then fatally shot her.

Variety reported that Marquez, 49, had complained about suffering from seizures. Her landlord called the police to check on her wellbeing.

“We look forward to hearing the results of the investigation,” DeWolfe said. “In the meantime, we are asking the public to be patient and wait until the facts of the case are confirmed before making judgements about the incident.”

DeWolfe added: “We support our officers and stand by them during this investigation. We believe the facts will show that our officers, along with a mental health professional, made every attempt to resolve this situation peacefully before the use of a deadly force became necessary.”

Sheriff’s Lt. Joe Mendoza said that the actress appeared to be having “mental problems” and appeared to be “gravely disabled.” He didn’t elaborate.

“While speaking to her, officers became aware she was possibly suffering from mental health issues, became uncooperative, and appeared to be unable to care for herself,” a police statement said, USA Today reported.

“They continued to speak to her for over an hour and a half in an attempt to offer her medical care. She then armed herself with a handgun and pointed it at the officers, at which time an officer-involved shooting occurred.”

Other than “ER,” she appeared in “Melrose Place,” movie “Stand and Deliver,” and other TV shows and films.

Allegations of Harassment

Marquez had played nurse Wendy Goldman in the first several seasons of the NBC hit medical drama series “ER.” She also appeared in the 1988 drama “Stand and Deliver.”

The former actress in 2017 claimed that she was blacklisted by former “ER” co-star George Clooney after she complained of being sexually harassed by crew members and La Salle. She also claimed on Twitter that Anthony Edwards, Noah Wyle, and Julianna Margulies made racist comments about her Mexican heritage.

Clooney, in a statement at the time, denied the allegations. “I had no idea Vanessa was blacklisted,” Clooney told TheWrap. “I take her at her word. I was not a writer or a producer, or a director on that show. I had nothing to do with casting. I was an actor and only an actor.”

“If she was told I was involved in any decision about her career, then she was lied to,” he added. “The fact that I couldn’t affect her career is only surpassed by the fact that I wouldn’t.”