Theresa Saldana obit

Theresa Saldana, ‘Raging Bull’ and ‘The Commish’ Star, Dies at 61

 She was not in the list.

Theresa Saldana, who starred on “The Commish” and in “Raging Bull” alongside Joe Pesci, died Monday in Los Angeles. She had been hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai but no cause of death has been given.  She was 61.

Saldana was best known for having survived a knifing attack by a stalker in 1982. She later went on to do victim advocacy work after her near-death attack. She founded the Victims for Victims organization that fought for anti-stalking laws, then played herself in the 1984 TV movie “Victims for Victims: The Teresa Saldana Story.” Her death was first reported by TMZ.

Saldana starred in multiple films in the ’70s but gained traction when she starred in Robert Zemeckis’ 1978 film “I Wanna Hold your Hand.” She then appeared in “Raging Bull” as the wife of Joey LaMotta, played by Joe Pesci.

Saldana also appeared in TV shows including “T.J. Hooker,” “Cagney & Lacey” and “Simon & Simon.” However, her first major role was as Rachel Scali in the 1991 TV show “The Commish,” alongside Michael Chiklis.

Chiklis, who played her husband  on the show, tweeted, “Painful to hear the news of Theresa’s passing. My family and I extend our love, condolences & support to her family in their time of grieving.”

She continued her work on TV with guest spots on “Law & Order,” “Diagnosis Murder,” “Martial Law,” “All My Children” and “The Bernie Mac Show.”

She is survived by her husband, Phil Peters, and a daughter.

Filmography

Film

Year     Title            Role            Notes

1978    I Wanna Hold Your Hand            Grace Corrigan          

1978    Nunzio            Maryann         

1980    Home Movies Judy    

1980            Defiance          Marsha

1980    Raging Bull      Lenora LaMotta          

1984    The Evil That Men Do       Rhiana Hidalgo / Nancy 

1988    The Night Before            Rhonda           

1988    Double Revenge            Angie Corello

1989    Of Men and Angels            Maria  

1990    Angel Town   Maria Ordonez          

1999    Carlo's Wake   Theresa Brock  

2004    Gang Warz            Carmela Cruz 

2004    Illusion Infinity  Maria            (only appearance with her husband Phil Peters; final film role)

 

Television

Year     Title            Role            Notes

1979    240-Robert  Rosie            Episode: "The Applicant"

1980    Sophia Loren: Her Own Story            Maria Scicolone            TV film

1981    Nurse            Rita            Episode: "The Gifts"

1983    Seven Brides for Seven Brothers            Angelina            Episode: "Promised Land"

1983    T. J. Hooker            Maria Santini            Episode: "Too Late for Love"

1983            American Playhouse            Pregnant Again            Episode: "Miss Lonelyhearts"

1984    Victims for Victims: The Theresa Saldana Story            Herself            TV film

1985    The Twilight Zone            Inez            Episode: "Dead Woman's Shoes"

1985    Cagney & Lacey            Dr. Strathmore            Episode: "Old Ghosts"

1986    Simon & Simon            Mrs. Karnofsky            Episode: "Full Moon Blues"

1986            Matlock          Sonia Cardenas            Episode: "The Affair"

1986    Tales from the Darkside            Audrey Webster            Episode: "Black Widows"

1987    Hunter            Jennifer Hartman            Episode: "Any Second Now"

1987    Santa Barbara            Carlotta Quivar            Episodes 689 and 691

1987    CBS Schoolbreak Special Laura Chacon            Episode: "Juvi"

1987    The Highwayman            Angela Brown  TV film

1987-88            Werewolf        Rosa            Episode: "World of Difference Part 1-2"

1988    Buck James   Marta Ortiz            Episode: "Lives in the Balance"

1988    Falcon Crest    Pretty Woman            Episode: "False Faces"

1990            MacGyver       Maria            Episode: "The Treasure of Manco"

1990    New Kids on the Block   Rosa (voice)  Regular role (15 episodes)

1991–1996            The Commish            Rachel Scali     Regular role (92 episodes)

1991            Confessions of Crime            Herself            Series host (13 episodes)

1993            Shameful Secrets            Rachel Morales            TV film

1994    Captain Planet and the Planeteers            Mame Slaughter (voice)            Episodes: "Orangu-Tangle", "Horns a'Plenty"

1995    Law & Order   Juror            Episode: "House Counsel"

1995    Jonny Quest vs. The Cyber Insects            Dr. Eve Belage (voice)            TV film

1996    She Woke Up Pregnant            Doris Cantore            TV film

1996–1997            The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest            Estella Velasquez (voice)            Episodes: "The Mummies of Malengue," "The Robot Spies"

1997            Diagnosis: Murder            Kirsten Foxx            Episode: "In Defense of Murder"

1997    Nothing Sacred Paula            Episodes: "Parents and Children", "Roman Catholic Holiday"

1997    All My Children            Christina Vargas            TV series

1998    Martial Law     Maria Hamilton            Episode: "Bad Seed"

1999    Thrill Seekers            Cortez            TV film

2000    Ready to Run  Sonja Ortiz     TV film

2001    Batman Beyond            Mother (voice)            Episode: "Unmasked"

2003    The Bernie Mac Show   Lydia            Episode: "Maid Man"