Elizabeth Pena obit

Actress Elizabeth Pena dies at age 55

She was not on the list.

LOS ANGELES –  Elizabeth Pena, the versatile actress who shifted between dramatic roles in such films as "Lone Star" and comedic parts in TV shows like "Modern Family," has died. She was 55.

Pena's manager, Gina Rugolo, said Wednesday the Cuban-American actress died Tuesday in Los Angeles of natural causes after a brief illness. No other details were provided.

Born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, to Cuban immigrant parents, Pena's Hollywood career spanned four decades and included roles in such movies as "La Bamba," ''Down and Out in Beverly Hills," ''Jacob's Ladder" and "Rush Hour." In filmmaker John Sayles' "Lone Star," she memorably portrayed a history teacher who rekindles a romance with an old flame, played by Chris Cooper.

Pena appeared on such TV shows as "L.A. Law," ''Dream On," ''Resurrection Blvd." and "Modern Family," where she played the mother of Sofia Vergara's character, Gloria.

She starred in the 1980s sitcom "I Married Dora" in the titular role as a housekeeper from El Salvador who weds her employer to avoid deportation.

Pena also provided her voice to Disney-Pixar's "The Incredibles," the "Justice League" cartoon series and Seth MacFarlane's "American Dad."

Pena most recently appeared on the El Rey Network drama "Matador."

"She was a role model, a truly extraordinary performer and an inspiration in every sense of the word," the network said in a statement. "Our thoughts are with Elizabeth's family and friends during this difficult time. She will be deeply missed."

She is survived by her husband, two children, mother and sister.

Filmography

Film and Television 1979               El Super                Aurelita               

1980      Times Square     Disco Hostess    

1981      They All Laughed              Rita       

1985      Crossover Dreams            Liz Garcia            

1985      Cagney & Lacey                 Adelita Carrena                 Episode: "Ordinary Hero"

1985      T.J. Hooker          Maria    Episode: "Rip-off"

1986      Down and Out in Beverly Hills     Carmen               

1986      Hill Street Blues                Alice      Episode: "Come and Get It"

1986      Tough Cookies   Connie Rivera    6 episodes

1987      La Bamba             Rosie Morales   

1987      *batteries not included Marisa Esteval  

1987–1988          I Married Dora   Dora Calderon   13 episodes

1988      Vibes     Consuelo            

1989      Shannon's Deal Lucy Acosta        Television film

1989      Blue Steel            Tracy Perez        

1990      Drug Wars: The Camarena Story                Mika Camarena                 Miniseries

1990      Jacob's Ladder   Jezzie   

1990–1991          Shannon's Deal Lucy Acosta        11 episodes

1992      The Waterdance               Rosa     

1992      Fugitive Among Us           Flo Martin           Television film

1993      Dream On            Debra    Episode: "Super Freak"

1993–1994          L.A. Law                Jinx Baldasseri   4 episodes

1994      Dead Funny        Viv Saunders     

1994      Roommates        Lisa        Television film

1995      Across the Moon              Carmen               

1995      The Outer Limits               Dr. Jennifer Martinez      Episode: "Living Hell"

1995      Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home           Kate Haley          

1995      The Invaders      Ellen Garza          Miniseries

1996      It Came from Outer Space II         Ellen Fields          Television film

1996      Lone Star             Pilar      

1996      Recon    Officer Santiago               

1996      Two       Elizabeth Gaitan                Unaired pilot

1997      Contagious          Det. Luisa Rojas                 Television film

1997      Gridlock'd            Admissions Person         

1997      The Second Civil War      Christina              Television film

1997      Dead Man's Gun               Gisella   Episode: "Fortune Teller"

1998      The Pass               Zeena   

1998      Rush Hour           Detective Tania Johnson              

1998      The Eddie Files Aunt Ida               Episode: "Charts & Graphs: The Dessert Derby"

1998      Strangeland        Toni Gage           

1998      Aldrich Ames: Traitor Within       Rosario Ames     Television film

1999      Border Line         Maria Rodriguez               Television film

1999      Seven Girlfriends              Martha

2000      Ryan's Comedia                Mrs. Neuroplanet            Voice

2001      Things Behind the Sun    Carmen               

2001      Tortilla Soup       Leticia Naranjo

2001      Resurrection Blvd.            Beatriz "Bibi" Corrales    Episode: "Arriba Y Abajo"

2001      On the Borderline            Connie

2002      Impostor              Midwife              

2002      ZigZag   Ms. Tate              

2002      Ten Tiny Love Stories      Nine      

2002      Resurrection Blvd.                            Director

Episode: "Justicia"

2002–2003          Boston Public     Superintendent Elizabeth Vasquez           2 episodes

2003      CSI: Miami           Mercedes Escalante        Episode: "Simple Man"

2003      The Brothers Garcia                        Director

Episode: "It Was Fun While It Lasted"

2004      The Hollywood Mom's Mystery Theresa Shoe     Television film

2004      Suburban Madness         Clara Harris         Television film

2004      Maya & Miguel Rosa Santos        Voice

2004      The Incredibles Mirage Voice

2004      NCIS       FBI Agent Lina Reyes       Episode: "Terminal Leave"

2004–2005          Justice League   Paran Dul             Voice

4 episodes

2005      How the Garcia Girls Spent Their Summer             Lolita    

2005      Without a Trace                Rosie Diaz            Episode: "Neither Rain Nor Sleet"

2005      Transamerica     Margaret            

2005      Down in the Valley          Gale      

2005      Sueño   Mirabela             

2005      Keep Your Distance         Holly     

2005      The Lost City      Miliciana Muñoz              

2005      Numb3rs              Sonya Benavides              Episode: "Assassin"

2006      Minoriteam        Maria / Gold Digger         Voice

Episode: "Landon in Love"

2007      Adrift in Manhattan        Isabel Parades  

2007      American Dad! Store Owner       Voice

Episode: "American Dream Factory"

2007      Goal II: Living the Dream               Rosa Maria         

2007      D-War   Agent Linda Perez           

2007      Love Comes Lately           Esperanza           

2008      Racing for Time                 Flores    Television film

2008      A Single Woman               Storyteller          

2008      Nothing like the Holidays              Anna Rodriguez                

2009      Ghost Whisperer              Marla    Episode: "This Joint's Haunted"

2009      Mother and Child             Amanda              

2009      Becoming Eduardo          Leticia  

2009      Down for Life     Mrs. Castro        

2011      Off the Map        Inez        Episode: "I'm Home"

2011      The Perfect Family           Christina Reyes

2013      Major Crimes     Rosa Vega           Episode: "Under the Influence"

2013      Modern Family Pilar       2 episodes

2013      Blaze You Out    Dona    

2013      Plush     Dr. Lopez            

2014      Matador               Maritza Sandoval[10]      7 episodes

2015      Grandma             Carla     

2015      Girl on the Edge                Esther  

2015      Ana Maria in Novela Land             Sra Soto              

2017      The Song of Sway Lake   Marlena               (final film role)