Quick Facts
SagittariusBiography
Tia Texada is an American actress best known for her role as Cruz on NBC's critically acclaimed series Third Watch, and her recurring role as an undercover agent Ribera on The Unit for CBS. Other roles include, In Plain Sight, Saving Grace, Chuck for NBC, HBO's Mind of the Married Man, Everybody Hates Chris, The Amazing Spider-Man feature film, Batman Beyond, Static Shock, Firebreather and Handy Manny. She was the voice of Maybelline New York for 15 years, the number one selling cosmetic brand in the world and during her campaign of "Maybe Shes Born With it..Maybe It's Maybelline ".... it was named Brand of the Year and Launch of the Year for Lash Sensational. She was first female live announcer for the Espy Awards where she worked alongside Justin Timberlake, Jamie Foxx, Lebron James and Samuel L. Jackson for seven years. She was the voice of the winning Golden Trailer award for RoboCop feature film. Tia was the voice for launching Superbowl 50 for The NFL Today on CBS, Flesh and Bone for Starz, Lindt Gold Bunny, Zales, Unstoppable Collection, JC Penney World Cup Soccer IS for Girls, World Series of Poker Lady Luck for Espn, and Skittles 'Taste the Rainbow'. Tia was born with severe Strabismus and after surgery to correct this and wearing an eye patch, she took an acting class to help with her shyness, this led to her career as an actor.
Personal life
Texada was born in Louisiana to a reflexologist mother and an insurance agent father. She has been acting since she was young.
Career
Texada's appearances include guest starring roles in episodes of In Plain Sight, Chuck ("Chuck Versus the Coup d'Etat"), Saving Grace, Everybody Hates Chris,[1] The Unit, and Criminal Minds. She played Sgt. Maritza Cruz in the NBC Drama Third Watch in the last three of its six seasons.
She also has appeared in movies such as From Dusk Till Dawn (1996), Paulie (1998), Nurse Betty (2000), Bait (2000), Thirteen Conversations About One Thing (2001), Glitter (2001), Phone Booth (2003), and Spartan (2004).
Texada also has a singing career, and her songs have been featured on shows such as Dawson's Creek. She also played at the Lilith Fair tour in 1998.
She played the voice of Isabel Vasquez in the TV movie Firebreather. Texada has lent her voice to the animated series, The Wild Thornberrys, and Static Shock as well as television commercials. She is currently the voice of Elena Validus on the animated show Ben 10: Ultimate Alien as Alyssa Diaz's voice double.
Texada has also done layouts for magazines and has been featured in the men's magazines FHM and Maxim.
She appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man, where she is (accidentally) stripped out of her top by Peter Parker.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Coming in out of the Rain | Chrissy | |
| 1996 | From Dusk Till Dawn | Bar Owner | |
| 1997 | Run Away Car | Lupe | Television film |
| 1998 | Shadow of a Doubt | Conchita Perez | |
| 1998 | Paulie | Ruby, Lupe (voice) | |
| 1998 | The Unknown Cyclist | Lola | |
| 1999 | The Thirteenth Floor | Natasha's Roommate | |
| 2000 | Nurse Betty | Rosa Hernandez | |
| 2000 | Bait | Tika | |
| 2001 | Thirteen Conversations About One Thing | Dorrie | |
| 2001 | Glitter | Roxanne | |
| 2002 | Crazy as Hell | Lupa | |
| 2002 | Phone Booth | Asia | |
| 2003 | Welcome to the Neighborhood | Stephanie | |
| 2004 | Spartan | Jackie Black | |
| 2006 | 5up 2down | Maria | |
| 2006 | The Line-Up | Angel Bereza | Television film |
| 2008 | Black Crescent Moon | Darla Rosepetal | |
| 2010 | Firebreather | Isabel (voice) | Television film |
| 2012 | The Amazing Spider-Man | Sheila (Subway) | |
| 2014 | Finding Hope Now | Mrs. Villanueva |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Land's End | Corina | Episode: "El Perico" |
| 1996 | Sisters | P.A. | Episode: "A Sudden Change of Heart" |
| 1996 | CBS Schoolbreak Special | Episode: "Crosstown" | |
| 1996 | Malibu Shores | Kacey Martinez | 10 episodes |
| 1996 | ER | Gloria Lopez | Episode: "Homeless for the Holidays" |
| 1997 | NYPD Blue | Wanda Diaz | Episode: "A Wrecking Experience" |
| 1998 | Ask Harriet | Maria Garcia | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 1998 | Fame L.A. | Tasha | Episode: "Green Eyed Monster" |
| 1998 | Brooklyn South | Sylvia | Episode: "Queens for a Day" |
| 1999–2000 | The Wild Thornberrys | Santusa (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 1999 | Working | Female Rebel | Episode: "The Other Executive" |
| 2000 | Batman Beyond | Trina (voice) | Episode: "Payback" |
| 2000, 2002–2004 | Static Shock | Talon, Rita Velasquez (voice) | 8 episodes |
| 2001 | As Told by Ginger | Villager #2 (voice) | Episode: "I Spy a Witch" |
| 2001 | The Mind of the Married Man | Missy's Roommate | Episode: "Wonderful News" |
| 2002 | The American Embassy | Marissa | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2002–2005 | Third Watch | Sergeant Maria Cruz | 47 episodes |
| 2006–2007 | The Unit | Marianna Ribera | 2 episodes |
| 2006, 2009 | Handy Manny | Mrs. Alvarez (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 2007 | CSI: Miami | Jane Duncroft | Episode: "Miami Confidential" |
| 2008 | Criminal Minds | Detective Tina Lopez | Episode: "In Heat" |
| 2008 | Everybody Hates Chris | Ms. Rivera | Episode: "Everybody Hates the English Teacher" |
| 2010 | Saving Grace | Episode: "Loose Men in Tight Jeans" | |
| 2010 | Huge | Shay | 6 episodes |
| 2010 | Chuck | Hortensia Goya | Episode: "Chuck Versus the Coup d'Etat" |
| 2011 | Ben 10: Ultimate Alien | Elena Validus (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 2011 | In Plain Sight | Evita | Episode: "Something A-mish" |
| 2014 | Turbo FAST | Simone (voice) | Episode: "Mall Is Well/Taco Tank" |
Video games
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | True Crime: New York City | Street Racing Promoter | |
| 2008 | Speed Racer: The Videogame | Denise Mobile | |
| 2014 | Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII | Additional Voices |