Mary Rivera, the actress recognized by audiences around the world for her memorable appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home, has died at 82.
Rivera died on April 15 in Honolulu, Hawaii, after suffering a stroke. Her family made the difficult decision to remove her from life support after doctors warned her condition was extremely serious and her prognosis would not be good, even if she recovered from the coma.
Her death marks the end of a long and respected career that spanned film, television, and the stage, with Rivera remembered for bringing warmth and personality to every role she took on.
In 2021, she won over a huge global audience with her turn as Lola, Ned Leeds’ loving and traditional grandmother, opposite Jacob Batalon in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Though her screen time was brief, her scenes with Tom Holland’s Peter Parker and Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man left a lasting impression and quickly became a standout moment for fans.
In one of the movie’s most memorable scenes, Rivera, who spoke only in Tagalog, asked Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man to clean the cobwebs from Ned’s ceiling while Ned translated for her. According to her family, the role became one of her proudest accomplishments. Interestingly, it was her daughter Angie Kelly who encouraged her to audition after discovering a Facebook casting call seeking a local Hawaii Filipina grandmother.
Rivera later told KHON2 about the opportunity: “It was a rare privilege for me, a simple Filipina, to be featured in a Hollywood movie. I wanted to bring some pride to my homeland of the Philippines because I thought, wow, this is Disney. This is Marvel.”
The news prompted an outpouring of tributes online, with viewers and members of the entertainment world reflecting on the joy she brought to the screen.
“Mary brought so much genuine warmth, humor, and heart to the set,” a tribute online shared. “Her scene in No Way Home was one of the most heartwarming moments in the entire franchise, and her talent made an unforgettable impression on millions.”
Well before her appearance in the Marvel franchise, Rivera had already established herself as a committed and admired performer. According to her obituary, she had worked as a teacher, radio broadcaster, and missionary before taking on her most famous role. Over the years, she built a reputation for strong character work and a deep dedication to her craft.
Those who worked with her often described her as a generous collaborator with sharp comic instincts, someone capable of bringing honesty and charm to productions of every size, from intimate theater performances to major studio films.
Her role in Spider-Man: No Way Home was her only credited acting role, but it introduced her to a younger generation, many of whom shared clips of her scenes widely on TikTok and X, helping cement her place in modern pop culture. Her daughter, Angie Kelly, reflected on her mother’s impact, telling Hawai’i Public Radio: “To us, she’s just my mom. But to the rest of the world, she’s Ned’s Lola. It’s humbling really, because never before in cinematic history really has there been a place for the Filipino language and culture.”
“She stole every single second she was on screen alongside two Spider-Men,” one fan wrote on X. “That scene in Ned’s living room will always be iconic. Rest in peace, Mary.”
As word of Rivera’s passing spread, tributes continued to pour in from across the world, with many fans sharing favorite moments from her performance and offering condolences to those closest to her.
Rivera is survived by her husband, Alejandro, her children, 11 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
Although her Marvel appearance brought her renewed recognition later in life, Rivera’s wider legacy rests in the memorable performances she delivered over many years and the affection she inspired in audiences on and off screen.