Elizabeth Pena, whose film and television career spanned almost 40 years, died from complications of alcohol abuse, according to new reports.

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The Rush Hour actress passed away on Oct. 14 after months of suffering from cirrhosis of the liver, according to her death certificate, TMZ reported.

WebMD.com explains, "Cirrhosis is a slowly progressing disease in which healthy liver tissue is replaced with scar tissue, eventually preventing the liver from functioning properly."

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Pena, who also played Sofia Vergara’s mother on Modern Family, developed acute gastrointestinal bleeding and hours later went into cardiac arrest. She spent her last moments at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Pena’s nephew, Mario-Francisco Robles, who writes for Latino Review, revealed the news of her death 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. This year, she also starred as Maritza Sandoval on El Rey's Matador.

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

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