'Modern Family' Actress Elizabeth Pena Dies

[CBHagman]

Source: ABC News

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.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/lone-star-actress-elizabeth-pena-dies-55-26227096

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Very sad news.

[ballyhoo]

1. She was good in everything she was in. RIP, Elizabeth......

[shenmue]

2. Too young!

[csziggy]

3. Far too young!

She was such a wonderful actress, too.

[valerief]

29. Very true. nt

[Cha]

4. I've just been watching her on a show on El Rey called "Matador".. playing Gabriel Luna's Mom..

Wow.. shocking! They just wrapped up the season on Amazon Vid. I always liked her! RIP Elizabeth Pena

[nirvana555]

5. I loved her. I wonder what happened. N/T

[Cha]

6. I know.. "natural causes, brief illness".. so young.. poor thing!

[TexasProgresive]

12. Sometimes infections can move incredible fast.

Not saying that's what killed Ms. Pena R.I.P. but a friend of mine recently came close to death. It started on Friday night with difficulty urinating progressed to a 105 fever in the night. He was taken to the hospital where it was determined that he had an e coli bladder infection that had gotten into his blood. The doc said that it was close to the point of no return when he began treatment with some kind of IV uber antibiotics. He has recovered and is back to work.

[Cha]

13. So glad for you friend and the IV uber antibiotics, TexasProgressive!

Elizabeth Pena~RIP

[Aristus]

7. An excellent actress.

And I never realized until I saw The Incredibles what a monstrously sexy voice she had.

Gone too young...

[Spitfire of ATJ]

11. She played that as the CLASSIC "femme fatale"...

[aquart]

8. She was a lovely, gracious lady. RIP, Elizabeth.

[Unknown Beatle]

9. RIP

What a talent.

[mackerel]

10. Actually I'm shocked! I can remember her first film, La Bamba. She's hardly seemed to

age since then. I wonder what kind of a brief illness would take her life.

[TexasProgresive]

14. We first met Elizbeth Pena in "batteries not included"

This was a fun film that nobody seems to have seen. The story is of an apartment building that a developer wants to pull down but the long time tenants refuse to move. The diner on the 1st floor is owned by Frank and Faye Riley (Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy) who have resided in the building for years. Faye is slipping in and out of dementia. A tacit ex-boxer Harry Nobles is the maintenance man. Ms. Pena plays a single pregnant woman.

The developers hire some local thugs to move the tenants out by whatever means. What comes to the rescue are 2 little flying saucer things that consume scrape metal and electricity. If you need a feel-good experience watch this film. It has a full range of emotions from love, hate, anger, fear, sadness and joy.

I just saw "La Bamba" Saturday for the 1st time which she made the same time as "batteries" Ironically Rosie became pregnant with Bob's child and there she is in NYC pregnant and single. Well to my mind- and you don't want to go in there. I've been told that I have a weird take on things and at my age have come to recognize the truth of that.

[Shadowflash]

15. "batteries not included"

Is one of my favorite movies, ever. She was awesome in that.

[Xyzse]

25. That was her?

I remember that movie from a long time ago.

[belzabubba333]

16. am i the only one to have seen her in "Jacob's ladder" with tim robbins?

[PeoViejo]

17. Brings back too many memories

I have the DVD, but cannot watch it all the way through before my PTSD kicks-in.

[msanthrope]

19. That movie gave me nightmares. Real, wake-up-screaming nightmares. nt

[closeupready]

21. I saw that film in the theater - don't recall the story.

Or seeing her (I don't really even know who she is). Anyway, RIP. K&R

[belzabubba333]

22. she was one of his wives while he was flipping between realities

she climbed into he shower with him iirc

[Denis 11]

26. It's one of my favorites

I am very saddened by the news of her passing.

[Bryce Butler]

18. I just saw her last night...

watching re-runs of NCIS.

RIP

[Yavin4]

20. Wait a second, how could she play Sofia Vergara's mom?

Sofia Vergara is 42. Elizabeth Pena was 55 when she died.

[kwassa]

28. well, Elizabeth had her baby Sofia at age 13 ....

[In_The_Wind]

23. May she rest in peace.

[ffernandez15]

24. RIP Elizabeth Pena

My condolences to her family. I have seen her in so many productions (Modern Family, NCIS, Jacob's Ladder), the one I remember best is her performance in Lone Star (great closing line - "Forget the Alamo&quot .

[marble falls]

27. Sad, sad, sad. A very funny and warm person.