Spider-Man: No Way Home actress Mary Rivera, Ned's Lola, dies
Mary Rivera’s death was confirmed by family at the weekend, sparking tributes for a Spider-Man: No Way Home turn that stole scenes despite its brevity.
If you blinked during Spider-Man: No Way Home, you might’ve missed Mary Rivera — but if you did catch her, you’ll remember her as Ned Leeds' grandmother, the sharp-eyed lola who found herself hosting two Spider-Men and hardly blinking. Now comes word that Rivera has died, aged 82, a small but memorable part of Marvel history gone.
In her daughter Angie Kelly's words to Hawaii Public Radio after the film’s release: 'It’s been an amazing adventure. To us, she’s just my mum. But to the rest of the world, she’s Ned’s Lola. It’s humbling really, because never before in cinematic history really has there been a place for the Filipino language and culture. They did a really good job with paying attention to the details of our culture.'
Rivera passed away on April 15, 2026. A family member confirmed her death, telling TMZ she suffered a stroke that left her in a critical state. Doctors made it clear she was unlikely to recover, and after warnings her condition would not improve, the family made the decision to take her off life support. She was cremated soon after.
From TV to Teaching – and a Marvel Cameo
Mary Rivera’s on-screen moments might have been brief, but her journey to Hollywood wasn’t typical. She actually started out at Kanlaon Broadcasting System — later rebranded as Radio Philippines Network (RPN) — before changing paths entirely and spending most of her career as a teacher and church missionary. Not exactly the expected pipeline to the MCU.
Outside her spot in 'No Way Home', Rivera also appeared in a couple of indie projects: Paranormal Highway in 2017 and Teddy Told Me To (2023). The Spider-Man role came about thanks to a nudge from her family: her daughter spotted an open call on Facebook, talked her into auditioning, and Rivera sent off a self-tape that bagged her the role of a lifetime—sharing the screen, in a way, with every live-action Peter Parker so far.
Mary Rivera died at age 82 on April 15, 2026, after suffering a stroke.
She leaves behind a big family: her husband Alejandro, four children, eleven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. For most of the world, she’ll always be Ned’s lola — the rare Marvel character who got to scold Spider-Men in Tagalog and not seem remotely phased by the multiverse exploding in her living room.