Elizabeth Peña

She also voiced Rosa Santos in the animated television series Maya & Miguel (2004-2007) and Mirage in the animated film The Incredibles (2004).

• Name — Elizabeth Peña • Birth Name — Elizabeth Maria Peña • Born — 23 September 1959 • Birthplace — Elizabeth, New Jersey, U.S. • Died — 14 October 2014 • Place of death — Los Angeles, California, U.S. • Occupation — Actress • Years Active — 1979–2014 • Spouse — * William Kibler (m. married 1988; div. divorced 1993) • Children — 2

Peña was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, on September 23, 1959, to Mario and Estella Margarita Peña. Mario Peña was a Cuban actor, playwright, director, and designer, and Estella Margarita Peña was a producer. The Peña family moved to Cuba when Elizabeth was less than a year old; she returned to the United States at the age of nine, after which time she and her family resided in New York City. Peña's parents founded the Theatre Ensemble. In 1977, Peña graduated from New York's High School of Performing Arts.

In 1979, Peña made her film debut in Leon Ichaso's El Super, a "moving and melancholy comedy about a family of lower middle class Cuban refugees attempting to adjust to life in Spanish Harlem". She worked with Ichaso again in the director's next feature, Crossover Dreams. Peña starred in I Married Dora, a sitcom (1987–1988), as the title character. She also starred in producer John Sayles's critically acclaimed but short-lived television series Shannon's Deal (1989–1991). Peña appeared in films such as Nothing like the Holidays, La Bamba, Down and Out in Beverly Hills, Jacob's Ladder, *batteries not included, Blue Steel, 1997's Gridlock'd as ER Admissions Person (under the name Elizabeth Anne Dickinson), Vibes, and Rush Hour. In 1996, Sayles wrote and directed the mystery film Lone Star and again cast Peña in a co-starring role, for which she won the 1996 Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Actress and a Bravo Award for Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film from the National Council of La Raza. In 2002, Peña starred in Showtime's Resurrection Blvd. as Bibi Corrades in the episode "Justicia"; she directed an episode of the show. In 2003, she appeared in and directed "It Was Fun While It Lasted", an episode of The Brothers Garcia. Peña was the fourth Latina to join the Directors' Guild of America. Peña also voiced Mirage in Pixar's animated film The Incredibles. She guest-starred in the 18th episode of season 2 of Numb3rs as Sonya Benavides, and in season 4 of Modern Family as Pilar, the Colombian mother of Gloria Pritchett. Peña co-founded the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors. She acted in 45 films.

Peña married television producer William Stephan Kibler in 1988. Their marriage ended in divorce. In 1994, Peña married Hans Rolla, with whom she had two children, Fiona and Kaelan. Peña died on October 14, 2014, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 55. The cause of death listed on her death certificate was cirrhosis of the liver due to alcohol, which caused acute gastrointestinal bleeding, cardiogenic shock and cardiac arrest. Peña was cremated and buried at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York, alongside the ashes of her mother Estella Margarita Toirac.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1985 — Cagney & Lacey — Adelita Carrena — Episode: "Ordinary Hero" • 1985 — T. J. Hooker — Maria — Episode: "Rip-Off" • 1986 — Hill Street Blues — Alice — Episode: "Come and Get It" • 1986 — Tough Cookies — Connie Rivera — Main role, 6 episodes • 1987–1988 — I Married Dora — Dora Calderon — Main role, 13 episodes • 1989 — Shannon's Deal — Lucy Acosta — Television film • 1990 — Drug Wars: The Camarena Story — Mika Camarena — Miniseries, 3 episodes • 1990–1991 — Shannon's Deal — Lucy Acosta — Main role, 11 episodes • 1993 — Dream On — Debra — Episode: "Super Freak" • 1993–1994 — L.A. Law — Jinx Baldasseri — 4 episodes • 1994 — Roommates — Lisa — Television film • 1995 — The Outer Limits — Dr. Jennifer Martinez — Episode: "Living Hell" • 1995 — The Invaders — Ellen Garza — Miniseries, 2 episodes • 1997 — The Second Civil War — Christina — Television film • 1997 — Dead Man's Gun — Gisella — Episode: "Fortune Teller" • 2000–2001 — Resurrection Blvd. — Beatriz "Bibi" Corrales — 21 episodes • 2002–2003 — Boston Public — Superintendent Elizabeth Vasquez — 2 episodes • 2003 — CSI: Miami — Mercedes Escalante — Episode: "Simple Man" • 2003 — The Brothers García — Director, 1 episode • 2004 — Suburban Madness — Clara Harris — Television film • 2004 — NCIS — FBI Agent Lina Reyes — Episode: "Terminal Leave" • 2004 — Justice League — Paran Dul (voice) — Episode: "Starcrossed" • 2005 — Without a Trace — Rosie Diaz — Episode: "Neither Rain Nor Sleet" • 2005–2009 — Maya & Miguel — Rosa Santos (voice) — Main cast • 2005 — Numb3rs — Sonya Benavides — Episode: "Assassin" • 2005 — Justice League Unlimited — Paran Dul (voice) — Episode: "Hunter's Moon" • 2006 — Minoriteam — Maria, Gold Digger (voice) — Episode: "Landon in Love" • 2007 — American Dad! — Store Owner (voice) — Episode: "American Dream Factory" • 2008 — Racing for Time — Flores — Television film • 2009 — Ghost Whisperer — Marla — Episode: "This Joint's Haunted" • 2011 — Off the Map — Inez — 4 episodes • 2012 — Prime Suspect — Gloria Lopez — Episode: "Ain't No Sunshine" • 2013 — Major Crimes — Rosa Vega — Episode: "Under the Influence" • 2013 — Modern Family — Pilar Ramirez — 2 episodes • 2014 — Matador — Maritza Sandoval — Recurring role, 7 episodes

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 2004 — The Incredibles — Mirage — Voice • 2013 — Disney Infinity

Elizabeth Peña was recorded at birth as Elizabeth Maria Peña. The authorities additionally record the heading Elizabeth Anne Dickinson. Her recorded language was English.

Elizabeth Peña is recorded as actor, stage actor, television actor and film actor.