Tia Texada

Tia Texada is an American actress and model. She is best known for her role as Sgt. Maritza Cruz on the NBC series Third Watch, and her recurring role as undercover agent Ribera on The Unit for CBS. Other roles include In Plain Sight, Saving Grace, Chuck, Mind of the Married Man, Everybody Hates Chris, The Amazing Spider-Man, Batman Beyond, Static Shock, Firebreather, and Handy Manny. Additionally, Texada was an announcer for the ESPY Awards and a spokesperson for various products, including Maybelline.

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, 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 television film Firebreather. Texada has lent her voice to the animated series The Wild Thornberrys, and Static Shock, as well as television commercials. She additionally voiced Elena Valadis in Ben 10: Ultimate Alien.

Texada has also done layouts for magazines and has been featured in the men's magazines FHM and Maxim.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1993 Coming in Out of the Rain Chrissy 1996 From Dusk till Dawn Bar Dancer 1997 Run Away Car Lupe TV movie 1998 Shadow of a Doubt Conchita Perez Paulie Ruby/Lupe (voice) The Unknown Cyclist Lola 1999 The Thirteenth Floor Natasha's Roommate 2000 Nurse Betty Rosa Hernandez Bait Tika 2001 Thirteen Conversations About One Thing Dorrie Glitter Roxanne 2002 Crazy as Hell Lupa Phone Booth Asia 2003 Welcome to the Neighborhood Stephanie 2004 Spartan Jackie Black 2006 5up 2down Maria 2008 Black Crescent Moon Darla Rosepetal 2010 Firebreather Isabel (voice) TV movie Finding Hope Now Mrs. Villanueva 2012 The Amazing Spider-Man Sheila (Subway) 2014 Finding Hope Now Mrs. Villanueva 2021 Killer Cheer Mom Detective Sanchez TV movie

Television Year Title Role Notes 1995 Land's End Corina Episode: "El Perico" 1996 Sisters P.A. Episode: "A Sudden Change of Heart" CBS Schoolbreak Special - Episode: "Crosstown" High Tide - Episode: "Code Name: Scorpion" Malibu Shores Kacey Martinez Main Cast ER Gloria Lopez Episode: "Homeless for the Holidays" 1997 NYPD Blue Wanda Diaz Episode: "A Wrecking Experience" 1998 Ask Harriet Maria Garcia Episode: "Pilot" Fame L.A. Tasha Episode: "Green Eyed Monster" Brooklyn South Sylvia Episode: "Queens for a Day" 1999–2000 The Wild Thornberrys Santusa (voice) Guest Cast: Season 1 & 3 1999 Arli$$ - Episode: "The Stories You Don't Hear About" Working Female Rebel Episode: "The Other Executive" 2000 Batman Beyond Trina (voice) Episode: "Payback" 2000–04 Static Shock Talon/Rita Velasquez (voice) Recurring Cast 2001 As Told by Ginger Villager #2 (voice) Episode: "I Spy a Witch" The Mind of the Married Man Missy's Roommate Episode: "Wonderful News" 2002 The American Embassy Marissa Episode: "Pilot" 2002–05 Third Watch Sergeant Maritza Cruz Main Cast: Season 4-6 2006–07 The Unit Marianna Ribera Guest Cast: Season 2-3 2006–09 Handy Manny Mrs. Alvarez (voice) Guest Cast: Season 1-2 2007 CSI: Miami Jane Duncroft Episode: "Miami Confidential" 2008 Criminal Minds Detective Tina Lopez Episode: "In Heat" Everybody Hates Chris Ms. Rivera Episode: "Everybody Hates the English Teacher" 2010 Saving Grace - Episode: "Loose Men in Tight Jeans" Huge Shay Recurring Cast Chuck Hortensia Goya Episode: "Chuck Versus the Coup d'Etat" 2011 In Plain Sight Evita Episode: "Something A-mish" Ben 10: Ultimate Alien Elena Validus (voice) Guest Cast: Season 2-3 2014 Turbo FAST Simone (voice) Episode: "Mall Is Well" 2008 Speed Racer: The Videogame Denise Mobile (voice) 2014 Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII Additional Voices (voice)