Mary Rivera, who played Ned's Lola in 'Spider-Man: No Way Home', was taken off life support after she slipped into a coma. She is survived by her husband, 4 kids, and 11 grandchildren.
See more of our coverage in your search results.
Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleVeteran actress Mary Rivera, best known for winning hearts as ‘Lola’, the grandmother of ‘Ned Leeds’ in Spider-Man: No Way Home, has passed away. The beloved actress and retired missionary passed away earlier this year in Honolulu, Hawaii, from complications following a major stroke.
News of her death broke months later with the release of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, but tributes have continued to pour in for the woman whose brief but memorable appearance became one of the film’s most wholesome moments.
The actress had slipped into a coma after suffering a major stroke on April 15, 2026, according to information shared by her family. The family was told by doctors that even if she regained consciousness, her prognosis was extremely poor and her chances of recovery slim, reports said.
Considering her complicated medical outlook, her loved ones made the heartbreaking decision to remove her from life support. Later on the same day, the actress passed away peacefully. She was later cremated according to family traditions. In her obituary, Rivera's family described her as a woman who lived a life of faith, service, and family. The actress is survived by her husband and four children and their kids.
Away from her Hollywood fame, Mary Rivera lived a private and close-knit life with her husband, Alejandro Rivera. The couple built a large family with four children, Carmela Jones, Paul Rivera, Edwin Rivera and Angela Kelly, along with 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Rivera's youngest daughter, Angela 'Angie' Kelly, reportedly played a significant role in helping the actress land her iconic role in Marvel. She was the one who encouraged the actress to audition for 'Lola' after she spotted a Facebook casting call looking for a Filipino grandmother in Hawaii. Recalling the time, she said in an interview with Hawai'i Public Radio:
"I happened to be on a friend's Facebook scrolling, and I see an ad, a casting call looking for a local Hawaii Filipina grandmother between the age of 50 and 90. And immediately I thought, 'Oh, well, my mom qualifies and checks off all those boxes."
For most of her life, Mary Rivera lived as a missionary, teacher, and broadcaster. Her daughter said, "My mom has worn many hats over the years. She was a radio broadcaster, a teacher, but most notable was her role as a mother and grandmother." In her final years, however, Mary shot to global fame and became an instant favorite among international fans after portraying Ned's 'Lola' in 2021's Spider-Man: No Way Home.
The actress's most unforgettable scene featured her speaking in Tagalog while asking Andrew Garfield's 'Spider-Man' to clean the cobwebs in her home. The moment largely delighted audiences and became one of the film's funniest exchanges. In later interviews, the actress said that she felt honored to represent Filipino culture on one of Hollywood's biggest stages. Speaking to KHON2 after the film's release, Rivera said:
"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. So, yes, I will audition for it."
Mary Rivera's role in the 2021 film lasted only a few minutes, but those few minutes became a defining moment for the franchise and fans alike. But the role carried enormous significance for Filipino audiences, who celebrated seeing their language and culture featured in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Reflecting on her journey to Hollywood, Angie Kelly proudly said:
"It's been an amazing adventure. To us, she's just my mom. But to the rest of the world, she's Ned's Lola."
Rest in peace, Mary!
Read Next: Ariana Grande's Reaction To Stepping Back From Music In Focus Amid Her Weight Loss Concerns