By Anne Goetz

“Modern Family” star, Elizabeth Pena, died Tuesday, October 14th of natural causes. Pena was cast as the mother of Sophia Vergara in the hit television series that profiles a dysfunctional family in the 21st Century.

Pena had a long and illustrious career that spanned decades. She starred in such big-screen hits as “La Bamba,” ” Batteries Not Included” and “Free Willie II”. She lent her voice to the character of Mirage in Disney/Pixar’s animated feature, “The Incredibles.”

In addition to her career on the big screen, Pena worked steadily in television right up until her death, with roles in “CSI: Miami,” “Ghost Whisperer,” and “Boston Public” to name only a few. Fans of Pena may remember her most for her work on “Lonestar,” alongside Kris Kristofferson and Matthew McConaughey. The 1996 film about murder in a Texas bordertown has been called her “breakout role.”

According to her agent, Pena passed away in Los Angeles, after battling a brief illness. She was 55 years old.

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