Funeral services were pending today for actress Elizabeth Pena, who appeared in films such as “Rush Hour,” “Lone Star” and “La Bamba” and recently appeared on ABC’s “Modern Family” as the mother of Sofia Vergara’s character.
Pena, 55, died Tuesday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, her nephew — writer Mario-Francisco Robles — announced in an obituary posted on the Latino Review website.
Tonight, my family is heartbroken,” Robles wrote. “There’s now a void that will never be filled. All we can do now is remember your sharp sense of humor, your endless hunger for life and your never-ending pursuit of happiness.”
Pena starred in the ABC series “I Married Dora” in 1987-88. She most recently completed work on the El Rey Network’s “Matador.”
Her other film credits include “Down and Out in Beverly Hills,” “Free Willy 2,” “Blue Steel” and “*batteries not included.”
“She is survived by her husband, two children, mother and sister.