5 hours ago
Queer Actor Wenne Alton Davis Remembered After Fatal Midtown Collision
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Queer actor Wenne Alton Davis, whose screen work included appearances in "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel", "The Normal Heart", and "Rescue Me", died after being struck by a vehicle in Midtown Manhattan, according to police and multiple media reports.
New York City police said Davis, 60, was crossing Broadway at West 53rd Street shortly after 21:00 when they were hit by a Cadillac SUV making a left turn from West 53rd Street onto Broadway. The collision caused severe head injuries, and Davis was transported to Mount Sinai West, where they were pronounced dead. The driver, identified only as a 61-year-old man, remained at the scene, and police said there were no immediate charges as the investigation continues.
Davis used the professional name Wenne Alton Davis and was also known as Wendy Davis in some reports and public records. Their Instagram profile, which listed they/them pronouns, reflected a career rooted in New York’s film and television industry and a strong identification with the city’s creative and queer communities.
Davis’s acting credits spanned two decades and included roles in both prestige television and independent projects. Their filmography, as listed on IMDb , includes work beginning in the early 2000s, with roles in series such as "New Amsterdam" and "Blindspot", and a part in the 2011 feature film "Shame" alongside Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan.
In 2023, Davis appeared as a police officer in an episode of the Emmy-winning series "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel", continuing a pattern of law-enforcement characters they had portrayed in earlier projects. They also played Gloria in HBO’s adaptation of Larry Kramer’s "The Normal Heart", a drama centered on the early years of the HIV and AIDS crisis. Additional television credits included roles in "Girls5eva", "American Odyssey", "Rescue Me", and other series filmed in New York City. Short films such as "Bare Knuckle" and "Ladies Room" further showcased Davis’s on-screen work in independent and festival-oriented projects.
When not acting, Davis worked in security at John F. Kennedy International Airport, balancing shift work with auditions and filming schedules.
Davis was born in North Carolina and had family ties in Iowa, according to reporting that cited friends and relatives. They lived in the Forest Hills neighborhood of Queens, an area that offers relatively quick transit access to both Midtown Manhattan and JFK Airport.
A next-door neighbor, Edward Reynoso, told the New York Daily News that he became concerned when Davis did not respond to messages after going out to dinner and a movie with friends on the night of the crash. Reynoso recalled one of their last conversations, saying Davis had told him, “I love you. I appreciate you,” which he now interprets as a poignant farewell.
Friends and colleagues interviewed in coverage described Davis as deeply connected to New York City and to their circle of friends, many of whom are part of the LGBTQ+ and performing arts communities.
Jamie Harris, an agent with Clear Talent Group, paid tribute to Davis in a statement shared with The Advocate , calling them “a bright light” with a profound love for New York, acting, and their large extended circle of friends and family. Harris said kindness and friendliness were central to who Davis was, adding that many people who knew them believed they still had much more to accomplish in their career.
Coverage in LGBTQ+ media outlets has emphasized Davis’s identity as a queer actor and the importance of recognizing their pronouns and chosen professional name. Publications such as Out Magazine and The Advocate have framed Davis’s death within the context of New York’s queer creative community, highlighting how work in series like The Normal Heart linked them to stories central to LGBTQ+ history.
While authorities continue to investigate the collision, Davis’s colleagues, neighbors, and friends are publicly remembering their artistry and presence on and off screen. Social media tributes on platforms including Instagram have reflected a sense of loss within overlapping networks of actors, casting professionals, and LGBTQ+ community members who knew Davis personally or through their work.
