Rivera was “very proud” to have been cast as the grandmother of Ned Leeds, her family said
Credit: Disney+
NEED TO KNOW
- Mary Egida Rivera, who appeared as Ned’s grandmother in Spider-Man: No Way Home has died
- Rivera, originally from the Philippines, was proud to represent her heritage in the 2021 Marvel blockbuster
- She is survived by her husband, four children, 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren who honored her legacy in tributes
Mary Egida Rivera, who appeared in Spider-Man: No Way Home as Ned’s Lola, has died. She was 82 years old.
Rivera was cast as the grandmother of Ned Leeds (Jacob Batalon), who stars as the school-aged best friend to Peter Parker.
The actress passed away peacefully on April 15, 2026, in Honolulu, according to an obituary. TMZ shared the news on Monday, Aug. 3, after a family member told the outlet that Rivera had a stroke before being placed on life support.
Credit: Disney+
Rivera was born on June 2, 1943, in Iloilo, Philippines, and was “very proud” to accept the role “as the Filipino grandmother,” sharing the big screen with Tom Holland, Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, Jamie Foxx, Zendaya and more in the 2021 Marvel movie, per the obituary.
The film sees Holland, Maguire and Garfield, who each shared the role of Spider-Man in different installments, cross over into each other’s multiverses.
In one scene, Batalon and Zendaya open a portal in Ned’s living room that allows Garfield to enter as Spider-Man.
Rivera witnesses the otherworldly event take place and begins to scream before Zendaya’s MJ asks Garfield to “prove” that he is really Spider-Man.
As Garfield mildly uses his superpowers to stick to the ceiling as proof, Ned’s Lola begins speaking Tagalog, asking Garfield to please clean the cobwebs while he’s up there, as Ned translates.
Credit: Diamond Head Mortuary
Her family told TMZ they encouraged her to audition for the part.
“Thank you for representing the Filipino community with such grace and pride when you portrayed Ned Leed’s Lola in Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021). You will forever be loved, cherished, and missed. Paalam po, Lola,” one person wrote in a Facebook tribute.
“On our last conversation, you left an apt quote from Ernest Lehman in the words of Captain Georg Von Trapp to Maria: ‘You left without saying goodbye,’” another person wrote.
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“Indeed, you left without saying goodbye. Yet the legacy and love you modeled for our country, our people, our culture, and our languages live on. You will always be remembered not only as once a Hollywood star or as Ned’s Lola in Spiderman, but as a true friend, colleague, and Lola to the Hiligaynon and Pilipino literary and cultural heritage,” the tribute continued. “Madamu nga salamat. Tubtob sa liwat, ka-Sumakwelan!”
Rivera is survived by her husband, Alejandro Rivera; children, Carmela Jones (Jay), Paul Rivera (Leilani), Edwin Rivera, Angela Kelly (Jaime); 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
A celebration of life was held on June 6 at Trinity Central Oahu Church at the Mililani Tech Park.
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