Actress. Peña and her family moved to Cuba and returned to the U.S. when she was nine to live in New York City. She graduated from the High School of the Performing Arts in Manhattan and appeared on stage and in commercials before landing her first film role in 'El Super' (1979). In a career that spanned four decades, among the films she appeared in were: 'Down and Out in Beverly Hills' (1986), 'La Bamba' (1987), '*batteries not included' (1987), 'Jacob's Ladder' (1990), 'Dead Funny' (1994), 'Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home' (1995), 'Lone Star' (1996, for which she received the Independent Spirit and Bravo Awards), 'Rush Hour' (1998), 'Things Behind the Sun' (2001), 'The Incredibles' (2004), 'The Lost City' (2005), 'A Single Woman' (2008), 'Nothing Like the Holidays' (2008), 'The Perfect Family' (2011) and 'Girl on the Edge' (2014). In the 1980s, she starred in the television sitcom 'I Married Dora' in the title role as a housekeeper from El Salvador who weds her employer to avoid deportation. She also appeared on such TV shows as: 'Hill Street Blues', 'Tough Cookies', 'L.A. Law', 'Dream On', 'Resurrection Blvd.', 'Boston Public', 'NCIS', 'Justice League', 'Matador' and 'Modern Family'.
Actress. Peña and her family moved to Cuba and returned to the U.S. when she was nine to live in New York City. She graduated from the High School of the Performing Arts in Manhattan and appeared on stage and in commercials before landing her first film role in 'El Super' (1979). In a career that spanned four decades, among the films she appeared in were: 'Down and Out in Beverly Hills' (1986), 'La Bamba' (1987), '*batteries not included' (1987), 'Jacob's Ladder' (1990), 'Dead Funny' (1994), 'Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home' (1995), 'Lone Star' (1996, for which she received the Independent Spirit and Bravo Awards), 'Rush Hour' (1998), 'Things Behind the Sun' (2001), 'The Incredibles' (2004), 'The Lost City' (2005), 'A Single Woman' (2008), 'Nothing Like the Holidays' (2008), 'The Perfect Family' (2011) and 'Girl on the Edge' (2014). In the 1980s, she starred in the television sitcom 'I Married Dora' in the title role as a housekeeper from El Salvador who weds her employer to avoid deportation. She also appeared on such TV shows as: 'Hill Street Blues', 'Tough Cookies', 'L.A. Law', 'Dream On', 'Resurrection Blvd.', 'Boston Public', 'NCIS', 'Justice League', 'Matador' and 'Modern Family'.
Bio by: Louis du Mort
Gravesite Details
Cremated, Ashes scattered at sea
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