Liza Colon-Zayas

Liza Colon-Zayas is an American actress and playwright who gained widespread recognition later in her career through her acclaimed role in the FX series The Bear. Born in 1972 in New York City to Puerto Rican parents, she grew up in the Lower East Side of Manhattan and discovered her passion for theater through community programs and the vibrant downtown arts scene.

Colon-Zayas spent decades building her career primarily in theater, becoming a respected figure in New York’s off-Broadway and Latino theater communities. She is a longtime member of the LAByrinth Theater Company, founded by Philip Seymour Hoffman and John Ortiz, where she developed her skills as both an actress and playwright. Her plays have been produced at various New York venues, and her theatrical work earned her recognition within the industry long before mainstream fame arrived.

Her breakthrough came with her role as Tina Marrero in FX’s The Bear, which premiered in 2022. Her portrayal of the no-nonsense but deeply caring prep cook and porter at the chaotic Chicago restaurant resonated with audiences and critics alike. In 2024, she made history by winning the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, becoming only the second Latina to win in that category and delivering an emotional speech that went viral.

Colon-Zayas’s Emmy win represented not only a personal triumph but a milestone for representation in Hollywood. Her decades of dedication to her craft in theater, combined with her scene-stealing work in The Bear, exemplifies the kind of late-career recognition that comes to actors who never stopped honing their abilities. She continues to work in both television and theater, bringing authenticity and depth to every role.