Liza Colon-Zayas
Biography
Liza Colon-Zayas is an American actress and playwright born on June 7, 1972, in New York City, New York. She is of Puerto Rican descent and has had a distinguished career in New York theater, working extensively with companies like LAByrinth Theater Company, where she is a founding member alongside Philip Seymour Hoffman and John Ortiz.
Colon-Zayas gained mainstream recognition for her role as Tina Marrero, the tough, experienced line cook, in the FX series The Bear (2022-present). Her grounded, authentic performance as Tina's journey from resistant veteran employee to dedicated culinary student earned her a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2024, making her the first Latina to win in that category.
Beyond The Bear, Colon-Zayas has had a prolific career in New York theater, appearing in numerous off-Broadway productions. Her television credits include Law & Order, The Sopranos, and David Simon's The Deuce (2017-2019). She is also an accomplished playwright.
Known For
Other Notable Roles
- Annabel in The Deuce (2017-2019)
- Various LAByrinth Theater Company productions
- Various Law & Order franchise appearances
Awards & Recognition
- 🏆 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (The Bear, 2024) - first Latina winner in the category
- 🏆 Obie Award for sustained excellence in theater
Frequently Asked Questions
She is best known for playing Tina Marrero in The Bear (2022-present).
She became the first Latina to win the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, winning for The Bear in 2024.
Yes, she is a founding member of the LAByrinth Theater Company in New York and has had an extensive career in off-Broadway theater.