'La Bamba' Actress Elizabeth Peña Dead At 55

The entertainment industry has lost another of its biggest stars. 

Actress Elizabeth Peña died Tuesday at the age of 55. She was popular for her versatile roles in films such as “Lone Star” and comedic parts in TV shows like “Modern Family.” 

According to the Huffington Post, Peña’s manager, Gina Rugolo, said Wednesday the Cuban-American actress passed away in Los Angeles from natural causes after a brief illness.

No other details have been provided. 

Peña was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and devoted 40 years of her life to Hollywood stardom. Her movie roles included “La Bamba,” ”Down and Out in Beverly Hills,” ”Jacob’s Ladder” and “Rush Hour.” In filmmaker John Sayles’ “Lone Star,” she memorably portrayed a history teacher who rekindles a romance with an old flame, played by Chris Cooper.

She starred in the 1980s sitcom “I Married Dora” in the titular role as a housekeeper from El Salvador who weds her employer to avoid deportation.

Pena also provided her voice to Disney-Pixar’s “The Incredibles,” the “Justice League” cartoon series and Seth MacFarlane’s “American Dad.”

Pena most recently appeared on the El Rey Network drama “Matador.”

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – JUNE 06: ALBUQUERQUE, NM JUNE 6: Actress Elizabeth Pena poses for the camera during a break in her schedule during the Albuquerque Film & Media Experience (AFME) on JUNE 6, 2013 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. (Photo by Steve Snowden/Getty Images)