# 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 | 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 |
| 2010 | Finding Hope Now | Mrs. Villanueva | |
| 2012 | The Amazing Spider-Man | Sheila (Subway) | |
| 2021 | Killer Cheer Mom | Detective Sanchez | Television film |

### 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 Maritza 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 Valadis | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2011 | In Plain Sight | Evita | Episode: "Something A-mish" |
| 2014 | Turbo FAST | Simone | Voice, episode: "Mall Is Well" |
| 2017 | Stitchers | Dr. Sophia Torres | Episode: "Perfect" |

### Video games

| Year | Title | Role |
| 2005 | True Crime: New York City | |
| 2008 | Speed Racer: The Videogame | Denise Mobile |
| 2014 | Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII | Additional Voices |