Thursday, October 16, 2014

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)

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