Mary Egida Rivera, ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Actress, Dies at 82
Mary Egida Rivera, the Filipino-American actress remembered for playing Ned Leeds’ grandmother in the Marvel blockbuster Spider-Man: No Way Home, has died. She was 82.
Rivera died peacefully in Honolulu, Hawaii, on April 15, 2026, according to an online obituary. Her death was publicly reported in August.
A family member said Rivera had suffered a stroke and subsequently fell into a coma. After doctors indicated that her chances of meaningful recovery were poor, her family made the difficult decision to remove her from life support.
Memorable Appearance as Ned’s Lola
Rivera made a brief but memorable appearance as “Lola,” the grandmother of Ned Leeds, played by Jacob Batalon, in the 2021 film Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Her character appeared during one of the film’s most important multiverse sequences. Ned and MJ, played by Zendaya, accidentally open a portal and bring Andrew Garfield’s version of Peter Parker into Ned’s home.
After Garfield demonstrates his Spider-Man powers by climbing onto the ceiling, Rivera’s character asks him in Tagalog to clean a cobweb while he is up there. She also reminds the visiting Spider-Men to clean up after themselves, adding warmth and humour to the otherwise tense scene.
The performance became especially meaningful to Filipino viewers because it brought the Tagalog language and a recognisable Filipino family setting into one of Hollywood’s biggest franchises.
How Rivera Secured the Role
Rivera’s family encouraged her to audition after her daughter, Angela “Angie” Kelly, spotted an online casting notice seeking a local Filipino grandmother living in Hawaii.
During her audition, Rivera reportedly spoke about her life in the Philippines, her move to the United States and the experience of raising four children and 11 grandchildren.
Although Spider-Man: No Way Home was her only screen appearance, the role transformed Rivera into a familiar face among Marvel fans around the world.
Kelly previously said her mother had performed several roles during her lifetime, including working as a radio broadcaster and teacher. She was also a retired church missionary, but her family considered her work as a mother and grandmother her greatest accomplishment.
Proud Representation of Filipino Culture
Born on June 2, 1943, in Iloilo, Philippines, Rivera was immensely proud of representing the Filipino community in a major Hollywood production.
Her family said playing Ned’s Lola was among her most cherished achievements. The film gave her an opportunity to appear alongside an ensemble cast that included Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Andrew Garfield, Tobey Maguire and Jamie Foxx.
Released in December 2021, Spider-Man: No Way Home became a global box-office phenomenon, earning more than $1.9 billion worldwide. Rivera’s small but scene-stealing performance remained one of its most affectionate comedic moments.
Following news of her death, Batalon paid tribute to his onscreen grandmother on social media, writing: “Rest in paradise, Lola,” accompanied by hearts and a crying emoji.
Fans also remembered Rivera for bringing authenticity, humour and Filipino cultural representation to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Family and Legacy
Rivera is survived by her husband, Alejandro Rivera; their four children, Carmela Jones, Paul Rivera, Edwin Rivera and Angela Kelly; 11 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
A celebration of her life was held on June 6 at Trinity Central Oahu Church in Hawaii.
While her acting career consisted of a single film appearance, Mary Egida Rivera left a lasting impression. To millions of moviegoers, she will always be remembered as Ned’s warm, outspoken and unforgettable Lola—a grandmother who brought Filipino language, culture and humour to the spectacular world of Spider-Man.
