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 Yorks High School of Performing Arts in 1977. Her classmates included Ving Rhames, alongside whom she would later co-star in Jacobs 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 Showtimes 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 Pixars 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 shows 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 Shannons 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.
Lolita
Film 2005
Leticia Narnjo
Film 2001
Mrs. Castro
Film 2010
Ellen Garza
Film 1995
Rosario Ames
Film 1998
Det. Luisa Rojas
Film 1997
Clara Harris
Film 2004
Dr. Weinette
Film 2013
Dona
Film 2013
Carmen
Film 1995
Aurelita
Film 1979
Liz Garcia
Film 1985
Isabel Parades
Film 2007
Paran Dul (voice)
Film 2004
Esther
Film 2015
Disco Hostess
Film 1980
Flo Martin
Film 1992
Maria Rodriguez
Film 1999
Storyteller
Film 2008
Film 2002
Martha
Film 2000
Marlena
Film 2019
Rita
Film 1981
Self
Film 1990
Jinx Baldasseri
Tv 1986
Superintendent Elizabeth Vasquez
Tv 2000
Sonya Benavides
Tv 2005
Store Owner (voice)
Tv 2005
Tv 1982
Tv 1981
Rosie Diaz
Tv 2002
Tv 1982
Lina Reyes
Tv 2003
Tv 1987
Dr. Jennifer Martinez
Tv 1995
Tv 1986
Warden Gloria Galvez
Tv 2011
Paran Dul (voice)
Tv 2001
Paran-Dul (voice)
Tv 2004
Mercedes Escalante
Tv 2002
Ellen Garza
Tv 1995
Pilar Ramírez
Tv 2009
Elizabeth Gaitan
Tv 1996
Simone
Tv 1997
Christina
Tv 1997