Mary Rivera, an actress who gained recognition for her role as Ned Leeds' grandmother in the 2021 film "Spider-Man: No Way Home," has died at the age of 82. Her family confirmed her passing, which occurred on April 15 in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Rivera's family shared that she had suffered a stroke that left her in what doctors described as an "extremely serious" condition. Facing a grim prognosis after falling into a coma, her family made the difficult decision to remove her from life support.
In the film, Rivera's character famously instructed Spider-Man, portrayed by Andrew Garfield, to clean up cobwebs while speaking in Tagalog, with Ned, played by Jacob Batalon, translating her words. Her relative told TMZ that Rivera was "extremely proud" of her role in the movie, considering it one of the "proudest accomplishments" of her life.
Rivera's daughter, Angie Kelly, recounted in May 2022 how she discovered the casting opportunity through social media. A Facebook ad seeking a local Filipina grandmother between the ages of 50 and 90 caught her eye, and she immediately thought of her mother.
Though initially hesitant, Rivera eventually created a tape with the help of a relative and submitted it to the film's casting officials. She was asked to discuss herself and her interest in the role, highlighting her past experiences as a radio broadcaster and teacher, and her most cherished roles as a mother and grandmother.
Kelly spoke about the subsequent recognition her mother received, describing it as an "amazing adventure." She noted the significance of having Filipino language and culture represented in cinema, acknowledging the filmmakers' attention to cultural details.
Rivera was born in Iloilo, Philippines, on June 2, 1943. A celebration of her life was held on June 6 at Trinity Central Oahu Church in Mililani Mauka, Hawaii. Her remains have been cremated.
She is survived by her husband, Alejandro, four children, 11 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.