Mary Rivera, best known for playing Ned Leeds' grandmother in Spider-Man: No Way Home, has died at the age of 82. The actress passed away on April 15 in Honolulu, Hawaii, after suffering a stroke.
Family's Heartbreaking Decision
According to her obituary, she was later cremated. A family member told TMZ that doctors warned her condition was extremely serious following the stroke and said that even if she came out of the coma, "her prognosis would not be good." Her loved ones then made the heartbreaking decision to remove her from life support.
Memorable Role in Marvel Blockbuster
Rivera appeared in the 2021 Marvel blockbuster as the Filipino grandmother of Ned Leeds, played by Jacob Batalon. She featured in one of the film's most memorable scenes when she spoke in Tagalog before, through Ned's translation, asking Andrew Garfield's Spider-Man to climb onto the ceiling and clean a cobweb from a hard-to-reach corner.
Proud of Her Role
According to her family, Rivera was "extremely proud" to have appeared in the hugely successful superhero film. They revealed she had been encouraged by relatives to audition for the role, which went on to become one of the biggest highlights of her acting career.
Life and Tributes
Born on June 2, 1943, in Iloilo in the Philippines, Rivera later made her home in Hawaii, where she spent the rest of her life. Following news of her death, heartfelt tributes have been shared on her online obituary page by friends, colleagues and loved ones remembering the actress.
One mourner wrote: "Tita Mary, as my mentor and colleague, you will be missed tremendously. My deepest and most heartfelt sympathies go out to the Rivera family during this difficult time."
Another shared: "Love you, miss you Nanay. My memories with you are vast and long, beginning with you telling me to say: 'Biva Marcos Lopez' as a toddler, to three generations taking Cover Look photos, to saying goodbye. Imagining you watching us."
Rivera is survived by her husband, Alejandro, her children Carmela Jones, Paul Rivera, Edwin Rivera and Angela Kelly, along with 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
