Elizabeth Peña

Photo of Elizabeth Peña

Biography

This striking, stage-trained Latina first gained recognition as the maid-turned-revolutionary in Paul Mazursky's "Down and Out in Beverly Hills" (1986). Born in the US, Pena was raised in Cuba and moved back to Manhattan at the age of eight. She was acting professionally two years later and subsequently attended the famed High School of Performing Arts. Pena went on to appear in more than 20 off-Broadway shows and toured for two years as …
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Job Title

Actor

Born

September 23, 1959

Career Milestones

2008

Cast in the indie feature, "How the Garcia Girls Spent Their Summer" (filmed in 2003)

2007

Cast in the Korean dragon fantasy feature, "Dragon Wars"

2006

Cast in Andy Garcia's feature directorial debut "The Lost City"

2005

Starred opposite Felicity Huffman in the indie-drama "TransAmerica"

2004

Voiced Mirage in the animated feature "The Incredibles"

2001

Had featured role as a doctor in the sci-fi film "Impostor"

2001

Portrayed the oldest daughter the ensemble feature, "Tortilla Soup"

2000

Co-starred in the Showtime series "Resurrection Blvd."

1999

Was one of the titular "Seven Girlfriends"

1998

Had featured role in the box-office hit "Rush Hour"

1998

Co-starred in the Showtime original "Aldrich Ames: Traitor Within"

1997

Appeared in the HBO movie "The Second Civil War"

1996

Delivered a superb performance in John Sayles' "Lone Star"

Cast as a regular on John Sayles' quirky legal drama "Shannon's Deal" (NBC)

1990

First starring role in a feature, "Jacob's Ladder"

1989

TV-movie debut, featured in two-hour pilot for "Shannon's Deal" (NBC)

1987

Played title character in the short-lived ABC sitcom, "I Married Dora"

1986

TV series debut, "Tough Cookies"

1986

Breakthrough film role, "Down and Out in Beverly Hills"

1985

Made TV debut in an episode of "Cagney and Lacey" (CBS)

1980

First US film role, "Times Square"

1979

Debut feature, "El Super"

1969

First lead role in a play at age ten

Awards

1997

Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female in Lone Star