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Veteran actress Mary Rivera, known for Spider-Man cameo, dies at 82

Mary Rivera, who appeared as Ned Leeds’ grandmother in 2021’s “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” died at 82 after a stroke.

Mary Rivera, remembered for her brief but memorable role as the Filipino grandmother of Ned Leeds in “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” died in April at the age of 82 following a stroke. After falling into a coma, physicians informed her relatives that even if she awoke, her outlook would be bleak, prompting the decision to remove life support. The actress died in Honolulu, Hawaii, and her remains were cremated.

Her family said she took pride in her cameo, which featured a Tagalog line requesting Andrew Garfield’s character to clear cobwebs. Rivera leaves behind husband Alejandro, their children, eleven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Her sole credit listed on IMDb is the Marvel film.

Why it matters

The death of a veteran actress highlights the personal stories behind popular blockbuster films.

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Mary RiveraSpider-Man: No Way HomestrokehonolulucrematedgrandmotherTagalogMarvelfilm cameo