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Elizabeth Peña

Elizabeth Peña

Actor · Died October 14, 2014, aged 55 · Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA

Elizabeth Maria Peña (September 23, 1959 – October 14, 2014) was an American actress, and the daughter of a theater-company co-founder, who has also compiled experience as a television director in her own right. Peña was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, daughter of Estella Margarita (née Toirac), an arts administrator and producer, and Mario Peña, the Cuban-born actor, writer, and director who jointly founded the Latin American Theatre Ensemble. It is unknown whether Peña was named after the town of her birth. Peña graduated from New York's High School of Performing Arts in 1977. Her classmates included Ving Rhames, alongside whom she would later co-star in Jacob's Ladder, and Esai Morales, alongside whom she would later co-star in La Bamba. She is also a founding member of the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors. In 1979, Peña appeared in her first film, El Super, "an exceptionally moving and melancholy comedy about a family of lower-middle-class Cuban refugees attempting to adjust to life in Spanish Harlem.", New York City. Peña worked once again with film director, Leon Ichaso in his next feature Crossover Dreams opposite Ruben Blades. Peña has appeared in movies such as La Bamba, Down and Out in Beverly Hills, Lone Star, Vibes, and Rush Hour. In 2002, she starred in Showtime's Resurrection Blvd. as Tia Bibi Corrades in the episode "Justicia," which she also directed. During the next year, 2003, she appeared in and directed "It Was Fun While It Lasted," an episode of The Brothers Garcia. She also provided the voice of the character Mirage in Pixar's animated film The Incredibles. She guest starred in the 18th episode of Numb3rs, Season Two, as Sonya Benavides. Although the actress does speak Spanish, she does not dub her own voice for Spanish releases. Peña is also noted for having starred in I Married Dora, a sitcom that lasted only 13 episodes in 1987, as Dora Calderon, the "Dora" of the show's title. In the final show, the cast broke the "fourth wall" of suspended disbelief by announcing their cancellation on-camera and taking a curtain call. Writer-director John Sayles produced the critically acclaimed but short-lived television series Shannon's Deal (1989–1991) co-starring Peña alongside series lead Jamey Sheridan. In 1996 Sayles wrote and directed the mystery film Lone Star and again cast her in a co-starring role. Peña died on October 14, 2014 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California at the age of 55.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 23, 1959
Died
October 14, 2014 (aged 55)
From
Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
63 on MovieCove · 90 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 26% in 30 days

What are Elizabeth Peña's films like?

Across their 42 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Drama15 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 46th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy13 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 47th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 20th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 55th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
26%
Self
24%
Survival
21%
Morality
14%
Society
9%
Ideas
4%
Power
2%
Family bonds18 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival10 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity9 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeMemory4 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 41 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 15 · Serious 14 · Dark 12

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 25 · Stylized 14 · Heightened 2

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 12 · Charged 18 · Intense 11

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 18 · Shifting 21 · Whiplash 2

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 23 · Some laughs 12 · Funny 6

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 18 · Even-paced 21 · Relentless 2

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 17 · Engaged 22 · Full focus 2

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 13 · Affecting 15 · Heavy 13

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 31 · Open-ended 6 · Ambiguous 4

Roles they play

16 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 8 of 16 analyzed roles.

Ally
8 of 16
Mentor
3 of 16
Hero
2 of 16
Shadow
1 of 16
Threshold guardian
1 of 16
Herald
1 of 16
Show the 16 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
21
Warm
18
Melancholic
13
Hopeful
13
Dread
11
Other
33

How their films linger

Hopeful19 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 7 with a twist

  • Happy16
  • Bittersweet18
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous5

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Elizabeth Peña's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 42 of their 63 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (25).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Elizabeth Peña's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

90 credits, 63 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Song of Sway Lake(2018)

    as Marlena

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Grandma(2015)

    as Carla

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Ana Maria in Novela Land(2015)

    as Sra. Soto

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Girl on the Edge(2015)

    as Esther

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Plush(2013)

    as Dr. Lopez

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Blaze You Out(2013)

    as Dona

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • In the Dark(2013)

    as Dr. Weinette

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Common Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Travis' Foster Mother

  • Charlie's Angels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Warden Gloria Galvez

  • The Perfect Family(2011)

    as Christina Rayes

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Down for Life(2009)

    as Mrs. Castro

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Mother and Child(2009)

    as Lawyer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Modern Family(2009)

    Show 2 episodes · as Pilar Ramírez

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Nothing Like the Holidays(2008)

    as Anna Rodriguez

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • A Single Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Storyteller

  • Racing for Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Flores

  • Love Comes Lately (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Esperanza

  • Dragon Wars: D-War(2007)

    as Agent Linda Perez

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Goal II: Living the Dream(2007)

    as Rosa Maria

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Adrift in Manhattan(2007)

    as Isabel Parades

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Sueño(2005)

    as Mirabela

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Ghost Whisperer(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Marla

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • The Lost City(2005)

    as Miliciana (Zoraida) Muñoz

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Keep Your Distance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Holly

  • Down in the Valley(2005)

    as Gale

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Transamerica(2005)

    as Margaret

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • American Dad!(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Store Owner (voice)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • How the Garcia Girls Spent Their Summer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Lolita

  • Numb3rs(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Sonya Benavides

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all shows

  • The Incredibles(2004)

    as Mirage (voice)

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Maya & Miguel(2004)

    Show 70 episodes · as Rosa Santos (voice)

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all shows

  • Suburban Madness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Clara Harris

  • Hollywood Mom's Mystery(2004)

    as Theresa Shoe

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Justice League Unlimited(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Paran-Dul (voice)

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Justice League: Starcrossed(2004)

    as Paran Dul (voice)

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • NCIS(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Lina Reyes

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Without a Trace(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Rosie Diaz

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • CSI: Miami(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Mercedes Escalante

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • Ten Tiny Love Stories(2002)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Zig Zag(2002)

    as Ms. Tate

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Impostor(2001)

    as Midwife (as Elizabeth Pena)

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Justice League(2001)

    Show 3 episodes · as Paran Dul (voice)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • On the Borderline (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Connie

  • Things Behind the Sun(2001)

    as Carmen

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Tortilla Soup(2001)

    as Leticia Narnjo

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Boston Public (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · as Superintendent Elizabeth Vasquez

  • Resurrection Blvd. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 53 episodes · as Beatrice 'Bibi' Corrales

  • Seven Girlfriends(1999)

    as Martha

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Border Line(1999)

    as Maria Rodriguez

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Aldrich Ames: Traitor Within (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Rosario Ames

  • Strangeland(1998)

    as Toni Gage

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Rush Hour(1998)

    as Johnson

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Pass(1998)

    as Zeena

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • The Second Civil War(1997)

    as Christina Fernandez

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Dellaventura (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Simone

  • Gridlock'd(1997)

    as Admissions Person

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Contagious (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Det. Luisa Rojas

  • Two (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Elizabeth Gaitan

  • Recon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Officer Santiago

  • Lone Star(1996)

    as Pilar Cruz

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • It Came from Outer Space II(1996)

    as Ellen Fields

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • The Invaders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Ellen Garza

  • The Invaders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 2 episodes · as Ellen Garza

  • Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home(1995)

    as Kate Haley

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • The Outer Limits(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Jennifer Martinez

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Across the Moon(1994)

    as Carmen

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Roommates(1994)

    as Lisa

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Dead Funny(1994)

    as Viv Saunders

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • The Waterdance(1992)

    as Rosa

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Fugitive Among Us (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Flo Martin

  • Jacob's Ladder(1990)

    as Jezzie

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Dream On (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Debra

  • Shannon's Deal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 14 episodes · as Lucy Acosta

  • Blue Steel(1990)

    as Tracy Perez

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Drug Wars: The Camarena Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 3 episodes · as Mika Camarena

  • Shannon's Deal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Lucy Acosta

  • Vibes(1988)

    as Consuelo

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • *batteries not included(1987)

    as Marisa Esteval

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • I Married Dora (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 13 episodes · as Dora Calderon

  • La Bamba(1987)

    as Rosie Morales

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • L.A. Law(1986)

    Show 4 episodes · as Jinx Baldasseri

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • Tough Cookies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 8 episodes · Actor

  • Down and Out in Beverly Hills(1986)

    as Carmen

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Crossover Dreams (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Liz Garcia

  • Cagney & Lacey(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • T.J. Hooker(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Maria

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • They All Laughed(1981)

    as Rita

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Hill Street Blues(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Times Square(1980)

    as Disco Hostess

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • El Super (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Aurelita

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 90 titles from 1979 to 2019; peak year 1997.

Biggest box office

The Incredibles (2004)

$632M worldwide

Highest rated

The Incredibles (2004)

Midcredits 98th

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19792019

Peak 1997 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 7 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting90 of 90: 90 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score51st

By decade

1970s1 · acting1980s14 · acting1990s27 · acting2000s37 · acting2010s11 · acting

Billing

usually 6th · top billed in 0% of 31 roles
80900005

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Elizabeth Peña's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 47th percentile, the median of all 48; across their 41 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 41st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

41stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 41

Approval · how many liked their films

42ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 41

Reach · how many have seen their films

71stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 41

Midcredits score across 63 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up16
  • 50th to 74th17
  • 25th to 49th16
  • Below 25th14

Shape of the crowd

26 of their 63 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved8
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser23
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed26

Most divisive · actor

Blaze You Out (2013)

88th percentile spread · 63% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Incredibles (2004)

Midcredits 98th · 89% liked

Reviewers score the acting 68/100 in their films, across 38 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 47. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Elizabeth Peña's work okay for kids?

Across up to 17 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore10 titles27–90 · median 56 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity17 titles20–67 · median 48 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity10 titles37–72 · median 53 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs9 titles25–58 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense9 titles27–83 · median 53 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Elizabeth Peña work with?

People who share at least 2 of Elizabeth Peña's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; John Leguizamo shares the most, 3.

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers

Mixed roles