Wendy Davis — known professionally as Wenne Alton Davis — was both a longtime Customs and Border Protection officer and a part-time actress who appeared on “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” Her neighbors in Queens said she had been eagerly looking forward to retirement, making the news of her death all the more heartbreaking. Davis worked full-time at JFK Airport, even continuing through the recent federal shutdown without pay, while taking on occasional acting roles, including a bit part as a police officer on the hit Amazon series.
Police say Davis was crossing Broadway near West 53rd Street just before 9 p.m. Monday when a 61-year-old taxi driver struck her while making a left turn in a Cadillac. The 60-year-old suffered severe head and body injuries and was rushed to Mount Sinai West, where she died. Neighbors described her as energetic, active, and endlessly warm. One recalled seeing her in the early hours of the morning as she juggled long workdays and prepared for retirement, adding that she lived alone with her cherished cat, Roxie.
Friends and neighbors remembered her as a friendly, down-to-earth presence in their building. Many said they had no idea she was an actress, noting that she never sought special attention and simply wanted to be a good neighbor. Her IMDb page lists additional acting credits, including roles in the 2011 film “Shame” and the short film “Ladies Room.”
The JFK Customs Hockey Club posted a tribute on Instagram, calling Davis’ death a loss felt “deeply across our entire JFK Customs family.” Meanwhile, police say the taxi driver remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators. No charges had been filed as of Wednesday.