Marvelous Mrs Maisel star Wenne Alton Davis dies after being hit by car

Wenne Alton Davis, who appeared in The Marvelous Mrs Maisel and Girls5eva, has died aged 60 after being hit by a car in New York City.

Davis, whose real name is Wendy Davis but performed under the stage name Wenne Alton, was fatally hit by the vehicle on West 53rd Street and Broadway in Midtown Manhattan on Monday (8 December).

The black 2023 Cadillac XT6 was being driven by a 61-year-old man who was making a left-hand turn when he struck Davis.

According to a police statement, Davis “sustained severe trauma to the head and body” and was transported to Mount Sinai West by emergency services, where they were pronounced dead.

“The operator of 2023 Cadillac XT6 remained on scene and was not injured as a result of the collision,” a spokesperson for the force said.

“There are no arrests at this time, and the investigation remains ongoing by the NYPD Highway District’s Collision Investigation Squad.”

Davis was was born on October 18, 1965, in Durham, North Carolina and moved to New York City in their 20s to pursue a career in comedy before transitioning to acting. At the time of their death they lived in the Forest Hills area of Queens with their cat, Roxie.

To support themselves alongside their acting work, Davis was employed as a member of security staff at John F Kennedy International Airport.

“They had much more do in their career”

Davis had they/them pronouns listed on their Instagram account but family and friends have since spoken of them using she/her pronouns.

Jamie Harris, Davis’s agent at Clear Talent Group, shared a statement with the permission of the actor’s family.

“I can only describe Wenne Davis as a bright light. [They] had a huge love for New York, for acting, for [their] colleagues at JFK and, most of all, [their] family and [their] circle of friends (which was also huge),” Harris said.

“[They were] someone for whom friendliness and kindness were not what [they] did but more who [they were] as a person. I’ve talked to many of [their] friends in the past few days and all of them speak of [their] generous spirit and love of life.

“We all agree that [they] had much more to do in [their] career as an actor and [their] life. Literally, no one I’ve spoken to can believe that [they’re] no longer with us. [They] will be greatly missed by everyone here at CTG and all who knew and loved [them].”

Speaking to New York Daily News shortly after Davis’ death, Edward Reynoso – one of their neighbours, revealed their last interaction had been earlier that day.

He recalled Davis telling him: “I love you, I appreciate you.”

“It was so weird to me, because I felt like [they were] saying goodbye,” Reynoso said, adding Davis was “very driven, compassionate, giving” and he will miss their “smile, laugh and joie de vivre”.

Alongside a bit part as a cop in The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, Davis’ other credits include Girls5eva, The Normal Heart, New Amsterdam, Blind Spot, American Odyssey, and Rescue Me.