Elizabeth Pena was an American actress, director, and screenwriter. She is best known for her roles in films such as La Bamba, Down and Out in Beverly Hills, and Rush Hour. Pena was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and began her career in the early 1980s. She was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for her role in La Bamba, a biopic about the life of singer Ritchie Valens. Pena passed away in 2014 at the age of 55.