Elizabeth Peña
Born
September 23, 1959
Died
October 14, 2014 (55 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA
Elizabeth Maria Peña (September 23, 1959 – October 14, 2014) was an American actress, and the daughter of a theater-company co-founder, who has also compiled experience as a television director in her own right. Peña was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, daughter of Estella Margarita (née Toirac), an arts administrator and producer, and Mario Peña, the Cuban-born actor, writer, and director who jointly founded the Latin American Theatre Ensemble. It is unknown whether Peña was named after the town of her birth. Peña graduated from New York's High School of Performing Arts in 1977. Her classmates included Ving Rhames, alongside whom she would later co-star in Jacob's Ladder, and Esai Morales, alongside whom she would later co-star in La Bamba. She is also a founding member of the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors.
In 1979, Peña appeared in her first film, El Super, "an exceptionally moving and melancholy comedy about a family of lower-middle-class Cuban refugees attempting to adjust to life in Spanish Harlem.", New York City. Peña worked once again with film director, Leon Ichaso in his next feature Crossover Dreams opposite Ruben Blades.
Peña has appeared in movies such as La Bamba, Down and Out in Beverly Hills, Lone Star, Vibes, and Rush Hour. In 2002, she starred in Showtime's Resurrection Blvd. as Tia Bibi Corrades in the episode "Justicia," which she also directed. During the next year, 2003, she appeared in and directed "It Was Fun While It Lasted," an episode of The Brothers Garcia. She also provided the voice of the character Mirage in Pixar's animated film The Incredibles. She guest starred in the 18th episode of Numb3rs, Season Two, as Sonya Benavides. Although the actress does speak Spanish, she does not dub her own voice for Spanish releases.
Peña is also noted for having starred in I Married Dora, a sitcom that lasted only 13 episodes in 1987, as Dora Calderon, the "Dora" of the show's title. In the final show, the cast broke the "fourth wall" of suspended disbelief by announcing their cancellation on-camera and taking a curtain call.
Writer-director John Sayles produced the critically acclaimed but short-lived television series Shannon's Deal (1989–1991) co-starring Peña alongside series lead Jamey Sheridan. In 1996 Sayles wrote and directed the mystery film Lone Star and again cast her in a co-starring role.
Peña died on October 14, 2014 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California at the age of 55.
The Song of Sway Lake
Marlena
2019
Grandma
Carla
2015
Ana Maria in Novela Land
Sra. Soto
2015
Girl on the Edge
Esther
2015
Plush
Dr. Lopez
2013
Blaze You Out
Dona
2013
In the Dark
Dr. Weinette
2013
Charlie's Angels
Warden Gloria Galvez · (1 episode)
2011
The Perfect Family
Christina Rayes
2011
Down for Life
Mrs. Castro
2010
Mother and Child
Lawyer
2009
Modern Family
Pilar Ramírez · (2 episodes)
2009
Nothing Like the Holidays
Anna Rodriguez
2008
A Single Woman
Storyteller
2008
Racing for Time
Flores
2008
Love Comes Lately
Esperanza
2007
Dragon Wars: D-War
Agent Linda Perez
2007
Goal II: Living the Dream
Rosa Maria
2007
Adrift in Manhattan
Isabel Parades
2007
Sueno
Mirabela
2005
Ghost Whisperer
Marla · (1 episode)
2005
Keep Your Distance
Holly
2005
Down in the Valley
Gale
2005
Transamerica
Margaret
2005
American Dad!
Store Owner (voice) · (1 episode)
2005
How the Garcia Girls Spent Their Summer
Lolita
2005
Numb3rs
Sonya Benavides · (1 episode)
2005
The Incredibles
Mirage (voice)
2004
Maya & Miguel
Rosa Santos (voice) · (70 episodes)
2004
Suburban Madness
Clara Harris
2004
The Hollywood Mom's Mystery
Theresa Shoe
2004
Justice League Unlimited
Paran-Dul (voice) · (1 episode)
2004
Justice League: Starcrossed - The Movie
Paran Dul (voice)
2004
NCIS
Lina Reyes · (1 episode)
2003
Without a Trace
Rosie Diaz · (1 episode)
2002
CSI: Miami
Mercedes Escalante · (1 episode)
2002
Ten Tiny Love Stories
2002
Zig Zag
Ms. Tate
2002
Impostor
Midwife (as Elizabeth Pena)
2001
Justice League
Paran Dul (voice) · (3 episodes)
2001
On the Borderline
Connie
2001
Things Behind the Sun
Carmen
2001
Tortilla Soup
Leticia Narnjo
2001
Boston Public
Superintendent Elizabeth Vasquez · (2 episodes)
2000
Resurrection Blvd.
Beatrice 'Bibi' Corrales · (53 episodes)
2000
Seven Girlfriends
Martha
2000
Border Line
Maria Rodriguez
1999
Aldrich Ames: Traitor Within
Rosario Ames
1998
Strangeland
Toni Gage
1998
Rush Hour
Johnson
1998
The Pass
Zeena
1998
The Second Civil War
Christina Fernandez
1997
Dellaventura
Simone · (1 episode)
1997
The Second Civil War
Christina · (1 episode)
1997
Contagious
Det. Luisa Rojas
1997
Two
Elizabeth Gaitan · (1 episode)
1996
Recon
Officer Santiago
1996
Lone Star
Pilar
1996
It Came from Outer Space II
Ellen Fields
1995
The Invaders
Ellen Garza
1995
The Invaders
Ellen Garza · (2 episodes)
1995
Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home
Kate Haley
1995
The Outer Limits
Dr. Jennifer Martinez · (1 episode)
1995
Across the Moon
Carmen
1994
Roommates
Lisa
1994
Dead Funny
Viv Saunders
1994
The Waterdance
Rosa
1992
Fugitive Among Us
Flo Martin
1992
Building 'Jacob's Ladder'
Self
1990
Jacob's Ladder
Jezzie
1990
Dream On
Debra · (1 episode)
1990
Shannon's Deal
Lucy Acosta · (14 episodes)
1990
Blue Steel
Tracy Perez
1990
Drug Wars: The Camarena Story
Mika Camarena · (3 episodes)
1990
Shannon's Deal
Lucy Acosta
1989
Vibes
Consuelo
1988
*batteries not included
Marisa Esteval
1987
I Married Dora
(13 episodes)
1987
La Bamba
Rosie Morales
1987
L.A. Law
Jinx Baldasseri · (4 episodes)
1986
Tough Cookies
(8 episodes)
1986
Down and Out in Beverly Hills
Carmen
1986
Crossover Dreams
Liz Garcia
1985
Cagney & Lacey
(1 episode)
1982
T. J. Hooker
Maria · (1 episode)
1982
They All Laughed
Rita
1981
Hill Street Blues
(1 episode)
1981
Times Square
Disco Hostess
1980
El Super
Aurelita
1979