‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ actress, Mary Rivera, dies at 82

Mary Rivera, the Filipino-American actress who won over Marvel fans with her brief but memorable performance as Ned Leeds' grandmother in Spider-Man: No Way Home, has died at the age of 82. Although her on-screen appearance lasted only a few minutes, Rivera's warmth, humor and authentic portrayal of "Lola" made her one of the most cherished supporting characters in the blockbuster film.

According to her family, Rivera died on April 15, 2026, in Honolulu, Hawaii, after suffering a stroke. Her death became public following the publication of her obituary and confirmation from family members.

Mary Rivera's memorable role in Spider-Man: No Way Home

Rivera made her acting debut in Sony Pictures' 2021 Marvel blockbuster Spider-Man: No Way Home. She portrayed Ned Leeds' Filipino grandmother, affectionately called "Lola," the grandmother of Jacob Batalon's character.

Though it was her only credited screen role, Rivera featured prominently in one of the film's most memorable sequences. As Ned and MJ attempt to locate Tom Holland's Peter Parker using Doctor Strange's Sling Ring, they instead summon alternate Spider-Men portrayed by Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire.


Unaware of the multiversal chaos unfolding around her, Rivera's Lola casually interacts with the superheroes. Speaking in Tagalog, she asks Garfield's Spider-Man to clean the cobwebs from the ceiling before matter-of-factly announcing, "I'm going to bed." The understated humor of the scene quickly became a fan favorite and has since been widely shared online.

A retired missionary who found Hollywood late in life

Long before appearing in one of Marvel's biggest films, Rivera had dedicated much of her life to missionary work.

According to her obituary, she accepted the role after retiring from her work as a missionary. Family members encouraged her to audition after a casting call sought a Filipina grandmother for the film. Rivera reportedly took great pride in representing the Filipino community on the global stage.

Additional accounts from her family reveal that before her Hollywood appearance, Rivera had also worked as a teacher and radio broadcaster.

Family confirms cause of death

Reports citing Rivera's family state that the actress suffered a stroke before falling into a coma. Doctors reportedly informed the family that even if she regained consciousness, her chances of recovery were extremely poor. Following those medical assessments, the family made the difficult decision to remove her from life support.

Rivera died peacefully in Honolulu and was later cremated, according to family members. She is survived by her husband, Alejandro, four children, 11 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. A celebration of her life was held in Hawaii in June.

Jacob Batalon and fans pay tribute

Following news of Rivera's passing, tributes poured in across social media from Marvel fans who remembered her scene-stealing performance.

Jacob Batalon, who played her on-screen grandson Ned Leeds, paid tribute by writing, "REST IN PARADISE LOLA," honoring the actress whose warmth resonated both on and off screen.