Stephanie Beatriz

Stephanie Beatriz was an actress whose onscreen career hit an early peak with one of the lead roles in ensemble police comedy "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," devised by Michael Schur, co-creator of sitcom hit "Parks and Recreation" (NBC 2009- ), and his writing partner Daniel J. Goor. Beatriz played Detective Rosa Diaz, a deadpan and fearsomely focused foil to "Saturday Night Live" alumnus Andy Samberg's lead character Jake Peralta and the love interest of hapless Detective Charles Boyle (Joe Lo Truglio). Beatriz claimed that one of her first meetings with her agent saw her request to do "something like 'Parks and Recreation,'" and her role in "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" attracted acclaim for both her dramatic looks and her comedic acting ability. Born in Argentina and raised in the Clear Lake area of Houston, TX, Beatriz' background was part-Colombian and part-Bolivian. Her acting background started in regional theatre, including the title role in prominent Latino playwright Octavio Solis' play Lydia, while her television roles included a debut in cop show "The Closer" (TNT 2005-2012), a recurring role as the jealous sister of Gloria Pritchett (Sofia Vergara) on "Modern Family" (ABC 2009- ) and a guest appearance as a drug-addicted model in urban drama "Southland" (NBC/TNT 2009-2013). Her film roles included parts in critically acclaimed foster care drama "Short Term 12" (2013), romantic drama "You're Not You" (2016), Paul Reubens' comeback vehichle "Pee-Wee's Big Holiday" (2016) and a voice role in animated hit "Ice Age 3: Collision Course" (2016).