Actor Wenne Alton Davis, known for a memorable appearance in the fifth season of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” died on Monday, Dec. 8, after being struck by a vehicle while crossing a busy intersection in Midtown Manhattan. Davis was 60 years old.
The collision occurred around 8:45 p.m. at the intersection of West 53rd Street and Broadway, one of the busiest areas in New York City. According to the New York Police Department, Davis was crossing the street when a black 2023 Cadillac XT6, driven by a 61-year-old man, made a left turn and struck the pedestrian. The impact caused severe trauma to Davis’ head and body.
Emergency medical services transported Davis to Mount Sinai West Hospital, where medical personnel pronounced the actor dead. The driver remained at the scene following the collision and was not injured. As of now, no arrests have been made, and the NYPD continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Davis, who was born with the name Wendy Davis, built a career appearing in various television shows and films over more than two decades. The actor’s most recognized role came in a 2023 episode of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” Amazon Prime’s Emmy-winning period comedy-drama, where Davis played a police officer.
Davis was a non-binary/gender non-conforming actor who used they/them pronouns, though some sources and friends used she/her.
Beyond “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” Davis accumulated an extensive list of television credits. The actor appeared in NBC’s medical drama “New Amsterdam,” the Peacock comedy “Girls5eva,” and the crime thriller “Blindspot.” Davis also had roles in HBO’s “The Normal Heart,” a film adaptation of Larry Kramer’s acclaimed play about the early days of the AIDS crisis, and appeared in the 2011 film “Shame” starring Michael Fassbender.
Those close to Davis remember the evening with particular poignancy. Earlier that day, the actor had experienced a successful audition and was heading to dinner to celebrate when the accident occurred. Edward Reynoso, Davis’ next-door neighbor, recalled their final conversation just hours before the collision. Davis had told him, “I love you, I appreciate you.”
Reynoso, 61, later reflected on that exchange with a sense of unease. The neighbor noted that Davis typically sent text messages when leaving or returning home, and he grew concerned when no such message arrived on the evening of Dec. 8.
Jamie Harris, Davis’ agent at Clear Talent Group, shared a statement honoring the actor’s memory. “I can only describe Wenne Davis as a bright light,” Harris said. “She had a huge love for New York, for acting, for her colleagues at JFK and, most of all, her family and her circle of friends (which was also huge).”
Davis lived in the Forest Hills neighborhood of Queens and maintained deep roots in New York City’s acting community. The actor moved to the city in the late 20s and initially pursued stand-up comedy before transitioning to on-screen work. While building an acting career, Davis worked in security at John F. Kennedy International Airport, a job the actor maintained even while booking television and film roles.
Davis was born on Oct. 18, 1965, in North Carolina before eventually making the journey north to pursue performance opportunities. The actor appeared in “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” season 5, along with work in “New Amsterdam,” “Girls5eva,” “Blindspot,” “The Normal Heart,” and the 2011 film “Shame,” showcasing versatility across various genres and formats.
Friends described Davis as someone looking forward to the future, with plans to return to stand-up comedy after focusing primarily on acting work in recent years. The successful audition on the day of the accident represented another step in what those close to the actor expected would be a continued evolution of Davis’ creative pursuits.
The intersection where the collision occurred serves as a major pedestrian crossing in Manhattan’s theater district, an area where Davis had spent considerable time over decades working in the city’s entertainment industry. The ongoing investigation will determine what factors contributed to the collision that claimed the actor’s life.