Venessa Verdugo(I)

A descendant of the founding Verdugo Family of Los Angeles and relative of actress Elena Verdugo and Governor Pio Pico, Venessa was born in Los Angeles and raised on the OC. As a child she competed in gymnastics and made the State Finals in the Junior Division.Elementary school years were spent at Bethany Baptist in Whittier; she later graduated Rosary High School in Fullerton.Unsatisfied with the Theatre Arts program at CSUF,actor Benicio del Toro suggested she study acting at the Stella Adler Conservatory West.She followed his advice and finally felt she was home!In 1995 director Michael Mann allowed her to work as an intern on the movie HEAT then later hired her to work as an assistant to casting director Bonnie Timmermann.The knowledge and skills learned were immeasurable! As the daughter of a LASD homicide detective,she grew up reading his murder reports and sometimes accompanied him to work.This developed her deep interest in character study and empathy with victims of crime.In 2010 she wrote and performed her solo show Heiress,'69 at the Elephant Stages Theatre.It is based on the life of Manson murder victim and coffee heiress Abigail Folger as she returns from beyond to speak at her killers' parole hearing. The film version is in the works. She also worked as a writer for Metro LA and can be seen as silent screen actress Barbara LaMarr in a bio short she wrote on her life.Her acting can be seen in various films and entertainment mediums. On her free time, Venessa volunteers at the National Cat Protection Society, a no kill shelter in Newport Beach,California.