MANILA, Philippines — Philippine-born actress Mary Egida Rivera, best known for playing Ned Leeds' grandmother in the Marvel blockbuster Spider-Man: No Way Home," has died. She was 82.
Rivera's family confirmed her passing to US entertainment outlet TMZ on Aug. 4, 2026, more than four months after her death.
According to the report, the actress suffered a stroke in April and was left in critical condition. Her family later made the difficult decision to remove her from life support after doctors said her prognosis remained poor even if she regained consciousness from her coma.
Born on June 2, 1943, in Iloilo, Rivera later moved to Honolulu, Hawaii, where she spent her final years.
Although her role in Spider-Man: No Way Home was brief, it became one of the film's most memorable moments. Rivera portrayed the grandmother of Ned Leeds, played by Jacob Batalon, in the 2021 Marvel hit starring Tom Holland, Andrew Garfield and Toby Maguire.
In one fan-favorite scene, Rivera's character witnesses the alternate Spider-Men emerge through magical portals created by Ned. Speaking in Filipino, she humorously tells them to clean up the mess they made inside her home.
According to TMZ, Rivera's family considered her appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home one of the proudest achievements of her acting career. Her performance resonated with audiences, particularly Filipino fans, who fondly remembered her scene as one of the film's standout comedic moments.
Rivera leaves behind a legacy that extended beyond Hollywood, with her memorable performance serving as a proud representation of Filipino talent on the global stage.
