Liza Colón-Zayas

Liza Colón-Zayas, born as Liza Colón in 1972, is an American actress and playwright. She emerged from the Bronx borough of New York City, carrying a rich Puerto Rican heritage. Notably, she holds a bachelor's degree in theater from SUNY Albany. Colón-Zayas began her illuminating career off-Broadway, gaining mainstream appeal when she wrote, produced, and starred in a one-woman show titled Sistah Supreme. This semi-autobiographical play depicts her experiences growing up as a Latina woman in New York during the turbulent 1970s and 1980s.

She found a home with the LAByrinth Theatre Company, being a member since its inception in 1992. She's recognized onstage for her role of Norca in Our Lady of 121st Street and Haiku Mom in Quiara Alegría Hudes's Pulitzer winner, Water by the Spoonful. Beyond theater, Colón-Zayas has also thrived on the screen, featuring on notable television series like Sex and The City, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Blue Bloods. Her significant role as Tina Marrero on Hulu's comedy series, The Bear, brought her into the limelight and earned her a Primetime Emmy Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Colón-Zayas' personal life includes her marriage to actor David Zayas, known for his role in Showtime's Dexter.