Elizabeth Peña

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Elizabeth Peña (2009)

Elizabeth Peña (born September 23, 1959 in Elizabeth , New Jersey , † October 14, 2014 in Los Angeles , California ) was an American actress . She was one of the most famous American actresses of Hispanic origin in the 1980s and 1990s .

Life and accomplishments

Elisabeth Peña came from a Cuban family. Her father worked as an actor, director and screenwriter. She grew up in New York City and studied at the New York High School of the Performing Arts .

Peña made her debut in the award-winning comedy El Súper (1979). In the comedy Zoff in Beverly Hills (1986) she appeared as Carmen alongside Nick Nolte , Bette Midler and Richard Dreyfuss . She played one of the leading roles in the award-winning mini television series The Camarena Conspiracy (1990). She also played one of the leading roles - alongside Christina Applegate  - in the comedy So Close to the Moon (1995). For her role in the crime drama Lone Star (1996) she won the NCLR Bravo Award in 1996 and the Independent Spirit Award in 1997 . In 1998 she received the American Latino Media Arts Award for her role in the television thriller Contagious (1997) and was awarded the same prize for her role in the comedy Gridlock'd. (1997) nominated.

For the role in the action film Rush Hour (1998) she won the American Latino Media Arts Award in 1999 and was nominated for the Blockbuster Entertainment Award . In 1999 she was nominated for the American Latino Media Arts Award for her role in the television movie Aldrich Ames: Traitor Within (1998).

From 2000 to 2002, Peña played the role of Beatriz Corrales in the television series Resurrection Blvd. , She also directed several episodes. For this role she won the American Latino Media Arts Award in 2001 . In the comedy Tortilla Soup - The Spice of Life (2001) she played the role of Leticia Naranjo , the teacher and daughter of Martin Naranjo , played by Hector Elizondo . For this role she won the American Latino Media Arts Award in 2002 .

Peña's first marriage was to the teacher William Stephan Kibler. Since 1994 she was married to Hans Rolla, with whom they had two children.

She died on October 14, 2014 at the age of 55 after a brief, serious illness.

Filmography (selection)

Web links

Commons : Elizabeth Peña  - Collection of Images

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Entry at filmreference.com
  2. ↑ Elizabeth Pena Dies: Actress In 'Modern Family,' 'Matador,' 'La Bamba' at deadline.com , accessed on October 16, 2014 (English)
personal data
SURNAME Peña, Elizabeth
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Dickinson, Elizabeth Anne; Pena, Elizabeth
BRIEF DESCRIPTION US-american actress
DATE OF BIRTH September 23, 1959
PLACE OF BIRTH Elizabeth , New Jersey , United States
DATE OF DEATH October 14, 2014
Place of death Los Angeles , California , United States