Photo: Richard Sandoval / CC BY-SA 2.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Elizabeth Peña had the kind of grounded presence that quietly elevated everything around her. Across Down and Out in Beverly Hills, La Bamba, Jacob's Ladder, and Rush Hour, she rarely led the marquee yet was never forgettable, shifting register with real craft. The voice work and stage roots tell me her devotion to acting ran deeper than fame. Losing her at 55 in 2014 still feels like a loss of someone in full command. What I admire most is that she carved out durable space for Latina performers at a time when the doors barely opened, a pioneer dressed as a reliable character actor.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Elizabeth Peña
- Name (Japanese)
- エリザベス・ペーニャ
- Reading
- えりざべす・ぺーにゃ
- Born
- September 23, 1959 – October 14, 2014
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Libra / Boar
- Origin
- Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- actor / stage actor / television actor / film actor / voice actor
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School
- University
- Private
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Elizabeth Peña born?
September 23, 1959 – October 14, 2014.
Where is Elizabeth Peña from?
Elizabeth Peña is from Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States.
What does Elizabeth Peña do?
Elizabeth Peña works as actor, stage actor, television actor, film actor, voice actor.
Actor — see all → · Stage actor — see all → · More people from United States →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-17
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.