EP
Elizabeth Peña
Actor, Director
Born September 23, 1959Died October 14, 2014 (55 years)
Elizabeth Peña (September 23, 1961 - 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.
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.
Movies & Shows on Plex
Known For
Filmography
| 2018 | The Song of Sway Lake · as Marlena |
| 2015 | Grandma · as Carla |
| 2015 | Ana Maria in Novela Land · as Sra. Soto |
| 2015 | Girl on the Edge · as Esther |
| 2014 | Matador (2014) (TV Series) · as Maritza Sandoval |
| 2013 | Plush · as Dr. Lopez |
| 2013 | Blaze You Out · as Dona |
| 2013 | In the Dark · as Dr. Weinette |
| 2012 | Major Crimes (TV Series) · as Rosa Vega |
| 2012 | Common Law (2012) (TV Series) · as Travis' Foster Mother |
| 2011 | Prime Suspect (US) (TV Series) · as Gloria Lopez |
| 2011 | Charlie's Angels (2011) (TV Series) · as Warden Gloria Galvez |
| 2011 | The Perfect Family · as Christina Rayes |
| 2011 | Off the Map (TV Series) · as Inez |
| 2010 | Outlaw (TV Series) · as Judge Patino |
| 2009 | Down for Life · as Mrs. Castro |
| 2009 | Mother and Child · as Lawyer |
| 2009 | Modern Family (TV Series) · as Pilar Ramírez |
| 2008 | Nothing Like the Holidays · as Anna Rodriguez |
| 2008 | A Single Woman · as Storyteller |
| 2008 | Racing for Time · as Flores |
| 2007 | Funny or Die Presents (TV Series) · as Triple-Chief Rodrigomirez (segment "united States Police Department") |
| 2007 | Love Comes Lately · as Esperanza |
| 2007 | Dragon Wars: D-War · as Agent Linda Perez |
| 2007 | Goal II: Living the Dream · as Rosa Maria |
| 2007 | Adrift in Manhattan · as Isabel Parades |
| 2005 | Down in the Valley · as Gale |
| 2005 | Minoriteam (TV Series) · as Gold Digger |
| 2005 | Sueño · as Mirabela |
| 2005 | Ghost Whisperer (TV Series) · as Marla |
| 2005 | The Lost City · as Miliciana Muñoz |
| 2005 | Keep Your Distance · as Holly |
| 2005 | Transamerica · as Margaret |
| 2005 | American Dad! (TV Series) · as Store Owner (voice) |
| 2005 | How the Garcia Girls Spent Their Summer · as Lolita |
| 2005 | Numb3rs (TV Series) · as Sonya Benavides |
| 2004 | The Incredibles · as Mirage (voice) |
| 2004 | Maya & Miguel (TV Series) · as Rosa Santos (voice) |
| 2004 | Suburban Madness · as Clara Harris |
| 2004 | The Hollywood Mom's Mystery · as Theresa Shoe |
| 2004 | Justice League Unlimited (TV Series) · as Paran-Dul (voice) |
| 2004 | Justice League: Starcrossed · as Paran Dul (voice) |
| 2003 | NCIS (TV Series) · as Lina Reyes |
| 2002 | Without a Trace (TV Series) · as Rosie Diaz |
| 2002 | CSI: Miami (TV Series) · as Mercedes Escalante |
| 2002 | |
| 2002 | Zig Zag · as Ms. Tate |
| 2001 | Justice League (TV Series) · as Paran Dul (voice) |
| 2001 | Impostor · as Midwife (as Elizabeth Pena) |
| 2001 | On the Borderline · as Connie |
| 2001 | Things Behind the Sun · as Carmen |
| 2001 | Tortilla Soup · as Leticia Narnjo |
| 2000 | Boston Public (TV Series) · as Superintendent Elizabeth Vasquez |
| 2000 | Resurrection Blvd. (TV Series) · as Beatrice 'bibi' Corrales |
| 1999 | Seven Girlfriends · as Martha |
| 1999 | Border Line · as Maria Rodriguez |
| 1998 | Aldrich Ames: Traitor Within · as Rosario Ames |
| 1998 | Strangeland · as Toni Gage |
| 1998 | Rush Hour · as Johnson |
| 1998 | |
| 1997 | Dellaventura (TV Series) · as Simone |
| 1997 | The Second Civil War · as Christina Fernandez |
| 1997 | Dead Man's Gun (TV Series) · as Madam Gisella |
| 1997 | Gridlock'd · as Admissions Person |
| 1997 | Contagious · as Det. Luisa Rojas |
| 1996 | It Came from Outer Space II · as Ellen Fields |
| 1996 | Two (TV Series) · as Elizabeth Gaitan |
| 1996 | Lone Star · as Pilar |
| 1995 | The Invaders · as Ellen Garza |
| 1995 | The Invaders (1995) (TV Series) · as Ellen Garza |
| 1995 | Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home · as Kate Haley |
| 1995 | The Outer Limits (1995) (TV Series) · as Dr. Jennifer Martinez |
| 1994 | Across the Moon · as Carmen |
| 1994 | |
| 1994 | Dead Funny · as Viv Saunders |
| 1992 | The Waterdance · as Rosa |
| 1992 | Fugitive Among Us · as Flo Martin |
| 1990 | Jacob's Ladder · as Jezzie |
| 1990 | Dream On (TV Series) · as Debra |
| 1990 | Shannon's Deal (TV Series) · as Lucy Acosta |
| 1990 | Blue Steel · as Tracy Perez |
| 1990 | Drug Wars: The Camarena Story (TV Series) · as Mika Camarena |
| 1989 | Shannon's Deal · as Lucy Acosta |
| 1988 | Vibes · as Consuelo |
| 1987 | *batteries not included · as Marisa Esteval |
| 1987 | |
| 1987 | I Married Dora (TV Series) |
| 1987 | La Bamba · as Rosie Morales |
| 1986 | L.A. Law (TV Series) · as Jinx Baldasseri |
| 1986 | Tough Cookies (TV Series) |
| 1986 | Down and Out in Beverly Hills · as Carmen |
| 1985 | Crossover Dreams · as Liz Garcia |
| 1982 | T.J. Hooker (TV Series) |
| 1981 | They All Laughed · as Rita |
| 1981 | Cagney & Lacey (TV Series) |
| 1981 | Hill Street Blues (TV Series) |
| 1980 | Times Square · as Disco Hostess |
| 1979 | El Super · as Aurelita |