Elizabeth Maria Peña (September 23, 1959 – 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.
Lina Reyes
Store Owner (voice)
Pilar Ramírez
Superintendent Elizabeth Vasquez
Mercedes Escalante
Marla
Rosie Diaz
Jinx Baldasseri
Sonya Benavides
Maria
Dr. Jennifer Martinez
Paran-Dul (voice)
Rosa Santos (voice)
Paran Dul (voice)
Debra
Warden Gloria Galvez
Elizabeth Gaitan
Johnson
Mirage (voice)
Beatrice 'Bibi' Corrales
Ellen Garza
Lucy Acosta
Mika Camarena
Rosie Morales
Tracy Perez
Jezzie
Simone
Kate Haley
Agent Linda Perez
Marisa Esteval
Rosa Maria
Gale
Midwife (as Elizabeth Pena)
Margaret
Carmen
Lawyer
Christina
Consuelo
Carla
Ms. Tate
Dr. Lopez
Christina Fernandez
Pilar
Dr. Weinette
Toni Gage
Disco Hostess
Sra. Soto
Rita
Carmen
Carmen
Isabel Parades
Marlena
Det. Luisa Rojas
Mirabela
Martha
Leticia Narnjo
Paran Dul (voice)
Rosa
Clara Harris
Theresa Shoe
Holly
Flores
Christina Rayes
Dona
Anna Rodriguez
Zeena
Storyteller
Esperanza
Ellen Garza
Esther
Ellen Fields
Officer Santiago
Lisa
Maria Rodriguez
Mrs. Castro
Lucy Acosta
Viv Saunders
Flo Martin
Connie
Liz Garcia
Lolita
Rosario Ames
Aurelita
Self