EP
Elizabeth Peña
Actor, Director
Died 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.
Filmography
| 2018 | The Song of Sway Lake · as Marlena |
| 2015 | Girl on the Edge · as Esther |
| 2015 | Grandma · as Carla |
| 2015 | Ana Maria in Novela Land · as Sra. Soto |
| 2014 | Matador (2014) (TV Series) · as Maritza Sandoval |
| 2013 | In the Dark · as Dr. Weinette |
| 2013 | Blaze You Out · as Dona |
| 2013 | Plush · as Dr. Lopez |
| 2012 | Common Law (2012) (TV Series) · as Travis' Foster Mother |
| 2012 | Major Crimes (TV Series) · as Rosa Vega |
| 2011 | The Perfect Family · as Christina Rayes |
| 2011 | Off the Map (TV Series) · as Inez |
| 2011 | Prime Suspect (US) (TV Series) · as Gloria Lopez |
| 2011 | Charlie's Angels (2011) (TV Series) · as Warden Gloria Galvez |
| 2010 | Outlaw (TV Series) · as Judge Patino |
| 2010 | Funny or Die Presents (TV Series) · as Triple-Chief Rodrigomirez (segment "United States Police Department") |
| 2009 | Mother and Child · as Lawyer |
| 2009 | Down for Life · as Mrs. Castro |
| 2009 | Modern Family (TV Series) · as Pilar Ramírez |
| 2008 | A Single Woman · as Storyteller |
| 2008 | Nothing Like the Holidays · as Anna Rodriguez |
| 2007 | Goal II: Living the Dream · as Rosa Maria |
| 2007 | Dragon Wars: D-War · as Agent Linda Perez |
| 2007 | Adrift in Manhattan · as Isabel Parades |
| 2007 | Love Comes Lately · as Esperanza |
| 2005 | Transamerica · as Margaret |
| 2005 | Down in the Valley · as Gale |
| 2005 | The Lost City · as Miliciana Muñoz |
| 2005 | How the Garcia Girls Spent Their Summer · as Lolita |
| 2005 | Keep Your Distance · as Holly |
| 2005 | Dream · as Mirabela |
| 2005 | Minoriteam (TV Series) · as Gold Digger |
| 2005 | Numb3rs (TV Series) · as Sonya Benavides |
| 2005 | American Dad! (TV Series) · as Store Owner (voice) |
| 2005 | Ghost Whisperer (TV Series) · as Marla |
| 2004 | The Incredibles · as Mirage (voice) |
| 2004 | Hollywood Mom's Mystery · as Theresa Shoe |
| 2004 | Suburban Madness · as Clara Harris |
| 2004 | Maya & Miguel (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 2004 | Justice League Unlimited (TV Series) · as Paran Dul (voice) |
| 2003 | NCIS (TV Series) · as Agent Lina Reyes |
| 2002 | Zig Zag · as Ms. Tate |
| 2002 | Ten Tiny Love Stories · as Unknown |
| 2002 | CSI: Miami (TV Series) · as Mercedes Escalante |
| 2002 | Without a Trace (TV Series) · as Rosie Diaz |
| 2001 | Impostor · as Midwife (as Elizabeth Pena) |
| 2001 | Tortilla Soup · as Leticia Narnjo |
| 2001 | Things Behind the Sun · as Carmen |
| 2001 | On the Borderline · as Connie |
| 2001 | Justice League (TV Series) · as Paran Dul (voice) |
| 2000 | Resurrection Blvd. (TV Series) · as Beatrice 'Bibi' Corrales |
| 2000 | Boston Public (TV Series) · as Superintendent Elizabeth Vasquez |
| 1999 | Seven Girlfriends · as Martha |
| 1998 | Rush Hour · as Tania Johnson |
| 1998 | Strangeland · as Toni Gage |
| 1998 | Aldrich Ames: Traitor Within · as Rosario Ames |
| 1998 | The Pass · as Zeena |
| 1997 | Gridlock'd · as Admissions Person |
| 1997 | The Second Civil War · as Christina |
| 1997 | Dead Man's Gun (TV Series) · as Madam Gisella |
| 1997 | Dellaventura (TV Series) · as Simone |
| 1996 | Lone Star · as Pilar |
| 1996 | It Came from Outer Space II · as Ellen Fields |
| 1995 | The Invaders · as Ellen Garza |
| 1995 | The Outer Limits (1995) (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1995 | Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home · as Kate Haley |
| 1994 | Across the Moon · as Carmen |
| 1994 | Roommates · as Lisa |
| 1994 | Dead Funny · as Viv Saunders |
| 1992 | The Waterdance · as Rosa |
| 1990 | Jacob's Ladder · as Jezebel |
| 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 | La Bamba · as Rosie Morales |
| 1986 | L.A. Law (TV Series) · as Jinx Baldasseri |
| 1986 | Tough Cookies (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1986 | Down and Out in Beverly Hills · as Carmen |
| 1982 | T.J. Hooker (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1981 | They All Laughed · as Rita |
| 1981 | Hill Street Blues (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1981 | Cagney & Lacey (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1980 | Times Square · as Disco Hostess |