Elizabeth Peña, best known for her work on Modern Family and in Pixar’s The Incredibles, died from complications related to alcohol abuse, an autopsy has revealed.
Peña died on October 14, but a cause of death was not known at the time.
According to the coroner’s report, Peña suffered from cirrhosis of the liver. At the time of her death, it was only announced that Peña had been fighting an undisclosed illness.
The complications included gastrointestinal bleeding, which caused the actress’ heart to stop.
Peña’s nephew, Mario F. Robles, penned a loving tribute to his Ñaña in the Latino Review, in which he remembered her dedication to her craft:
She undoubtedly helped fuel my love of film. She informed my desire to be an actor, writer, and director. I followed in her foot steps at the High School of Performing Arts. It still remains my life’s goal to earn a living doing what I love: 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 know it wasn’t. I know she had a drive like no other, and that she was a force to be reckoned with when she decided it was time to make it big or…well, nothing. She never considered an alternative. Her singular focus was breathtaking, and awe-inspiring.
