‘Modern Family’ Star Elizabeth Pena Dies

Elizabeth Pena, the versatile actress who had roles in Down and Out in Beverly Hills, La Bamba, Rush Hour and The Incredibles, died in Los Angeles of natural causes after a brief illness at age 55, her manager said. Pena had numerous television roles, and is known by a new generation of veiwers for playing the mother of Sofia Vergara’s character in Modern Family. She appeared regularly on the current crime drama Matador. She also directed a few episodes of TV shows and was a founding member of the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors. She is survived by her husband, Hans Rolla, a son, a daughter, her mother, and a sister.