Elizabeth Pena (La Bamba) dead at 55

(CNN) -- Actress Elizabeth Peña has died of natural causes after a brief illness, her manager told CNN. She was 55.

Peña passed away Tuesday, Gina Rugolo said in a statement.

Among her many roles, Peña is known for appearing as the mother of a character played by Sofia Vergara in the ABC sitcom "Modern Family."

She's played on both the big and small screens during her more than three-decade career. She also tried her hand at directing, becoming only the fourth Latina member of the Director's Guild of America when she joined, the statement said.

Other career highlights include roles in "Down and Out in Beverly Hills," "La Bamba," "Rush Hour," and "The Incredibles."

Most recently, Peña appeared in the TV drama "Matador."

"I am stunned and heartbroken, just found out about the passing of my friend Elizabeth Peña. She was such a Life Force it's hard to believe," tweeted actor Lou Diamond Phillips, who starred in "La Bamba."

"Elizabeth was not only an amazing actress, she was one of the most vibrant, wonderful people I have ever known. My prayers to her family," he said.

Peña was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and she graduated from New York's High School of Performing Arts in 1977.

She is survived by her mother, a sister, her husband, and two children.

 

it's very sad news dude One of my fav from latino. Rip.

 

" natural causes after a brief illness"

 

Wow, RIP.

 

I'll be the one to say it: She was really hot back in the 80s and 90s and had some nice nude scenes. Might be too soon for some to check out but they're out there.

 

natural causes usually means heart failure.

 

I first recall seeing her back in 1987 in the sitcom I Married Dora and I remember she was so cute. I was thrilled to see her do a topless scene later on in Jacob's Ladder (1990) and she was still hot looking. When I looked her up I discovered she had quite an extensive resume on IMDb. I haven't kept tabs on her in later years but I will never forget her because of the crush I had on her in the 80's.

Often, yes - but it could also mean stroke, organ failure, profound shock due to infection or blood loss, pulmonary embolism, etc.

 

Yall are discussing her boobs? Man... thats just plain wrong. Lol

 

I remember her riding richard dreyfus in down and out in beverly hills, she was all sweaty

she was also great in lone star

55 is way young

 

Oh that sucks. She was great in Jacob's Ladder, one of my all-time favorite mind-fuck movies.

 

Labamba

Bateries not included

 

Was just watching her in Rush Hour. But my favorite role of hers was the bizarre Latin American assassin in Vibes, where she tries to kill Jeff Goldblum.

 

According to the death certificate, Elizabeth was an alcoholic who suffered from liver cirrhosis. Internal bleeding from the stomach eventually made her heart stop.

 

That's to bad. Just loved her in Jacob's Ladder and Modern Family

 

R.I.P. Elizabeth.