Actress Elizabeth Pena, whose film and television career spanned almost 40 years, died on Tuesday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after suffering from a brief illness. She was 55.

Her nephew, Mario-Francisco Robles, who writes for Latino Review, revealed the news on the website with a touching obituary.

"She was our star. She was my star. We celebrated her triumphs. We sweated through her struggles. As a family, even when we didn't always talk, we would all do whatever we could for one another," he wrote. "Tonight, my family is heartbroken. 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."

Pena, who was born in New Jersey and raised by Cuban immigrant parents, had a long list of credits including Lone Star, Rush Hour as well as a recurring role on ABC’s Modern Family playing the mother of Gloria (Sofia Vergara). This year, she also starred as Maritza Sandoval on El Rey's Matador.

The actress is survived by her husband, two teenage children, mother and sister.

Many of Pena's peers quickly took to Twitter to remember the Latina star.

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