Elizabeth Pena dead at age 55

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 15 (UPI) -- Elizabeth Peña has died at age 55.

The actress died Tuesday evening at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, nephew and writer Mario-Francisco Robles confirmed on the Latino Review. The cause of death is currently unknown.

"She was an inspiration. A role model. A pillar," 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."

Peña was born to Cuban immigrant parents in 1959, and attended the High School of Performing Arts in New York. She landed her first film role in El Super in 1979, and went on to star in such movies as La Bamba (1987), Jacob's Ladder (1990) and Rush Hour (1998). She more recently portrayed Gloria Pritchett's (Sofía Vergara) mother, Pilar, on ABC comedy Modern Family, and Tony Bravo's (Gabriel Luna) mother, Maritza Sandoval, on El Rey series Matador.

"She undoubtedly helped fuel my love of film," Robles shared. "Creating and performing art, transporting audiences to another place for a couple of hours. She did it all, and she made it look fun. She made it look easy. But I knew it wasn't. I knew she had a drive like no other."

Peña is survived by her husband of 20 years, Hans Rolla, and their two children, Fiona and Kaelan.