- Has one daughter with Jonathan T. Taplin: Daniela Taplin (born 1976). Has two children (one son, one daughter) with David S. Ward: Joaquin Atwood Ward and Sylvana Bonifacia Ward (born 1981). Has eight siblings (four brothers, four sisters).
- Born in San Diego, California, her parents were from Curimeo, Michoacán, Mexico.
- She worked with Luis Valdez's El Teatro Campesino which acted as the cultural arm of Cesar Chavez's United Farm Workers (UFW) movement and Chicano Movement.
- Attended and graduated from San Jose State University (SJSU) with a double major in Spanish literature and drama (acting).
- During her attendance at San Jose State University (SJSU), she rehearsed and performed with the Light Opera Company, starring in a variety of dramatic performances.
- Her daughter Sylvana Bonifacia Ward (Sylvana Ward Durrett) attended and graduated from Princeton University with her Bachelor's degree in English literature (2003).
- She won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Actress in Stand and Deliver (1988).
- Although she played Lou Diamond Phillips and Esai Morales' mother in La Bamba (1987), she is only twelve years their senior.
- She appeared in two films which have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant": La Bamba (1987) and Stand and Deliver (1988).
- Although she played David Warner's daughter in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991), she is only nine years his junior.
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