Elizabeth Pena was born on September 23, 1959, in Elizabeth, New Jersey, to Cuban immigrants Mario and Estella Margarita Peña, who were known for their contributions to the Latin-American Theatre Ensemble. Her father, Mario Peña, was a playwright, actor, director, and novelist, and Elizabeth inherited her love for the arts from him.
Elizabeth's parents encouraged her talent from a young age, and she became a founding member of the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors in 1975. She graduated from the High School of Performing Arts in 1977 and went on to pursue a career in repertory theater and television commercials.
Her film debut came in 1979 with the independent Spanish-speaking feature El Super, which told the story of Cuban refugees. Elizabeth continued to play independent and rebellious characters throughout her career, showcasing her attitude and independence.
She gained recognition for her support role in the comedy Down and Out in Beverly Hills (1986),starring Bette Midler, Richard Dreyfuss, and Nick Nolte. Elizabeth's performance as the sultry, smoky-voiced maid Carmen earned her critical acclaim.
Elizabeth's television career took off with two short-lived series, Tough Cookies (1986) and I Married Dora (1987). She went on to appear in a range of roles, including Ritchie Valens' stepsister-in-law in the biopic La Bamba (1987),a drug enforcement agent in the miniseries Drug Wars: The Camarena Story (1990),and a live-in girlfriend to Tim Robbins' character in the drama Jacob's Ladder (1990).
Elizabeth received several awards and nominations for her performances, including the Independent Spirit and Bravo awards for her role in Lone Star (1996) and four ALMA Awards for her work in Contagious (1997),Tortilla Soup (2001),Rush Hour (1998),and Resurrection Blvd. (2000).
In the 2000s, Elizabeth found steady employment on television with guest roles on several shows, including Boston Public, CSI: Miami, Without a Trace, Numb3rs, Ghost Whisperer, Charlie's Angels, Prime Suspect, Common Law, and Modern Family. She also appeared in films such as On the Borderline (2001),Transamerica (2005),The Lost City (2005),Mother and Child (2009),The Perfect Family (2011),Plush (2013),and Grandma (2015).
Elizabeth Pena passed away on October 14, 2014, at the age of 55, due to complications from cirrhosis of the liver. She was survived by her husband, Hans Rolla, and their two children, Kælan and Fiona.
