Mary Rivera, Who Played Ned’s Grandma in Spider-Man: No Way Home, Dies at 82

Mary Rivera died after suffering a serious stroke

Mary Rivera died aged 82 after suffering a serious stroke in April, according to TMZ. The outlet reported that she never recovered, as detailed in our sister site IGN Middle East’s report on Rivera’s death.

Jacob Batalon, who plays Ned Leeds in the Spider-Man films, subsequently shared a tribute on Instagram. He wrote: “REST IN PARADISE LOLA😭❤️❤️❤️.”

It was a brief message for a performer whose connection to the franchise came through one role, but it carried the affection established between their characters in Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Rivera’s sole acting role became a memorable part of No Way Home

Spider-Man: No Way Home was Rivera’s only screen acting role, and she played Ned’s Filipina grandmother, commonly called Lola.

Rivera appears during the apartment sequence involving Ned, MJ, and the Spider-Men brought together by the film’s multiverse story. Her character responds to the extraordinary events around her with the grounded authority of a grandmother who still expects the ceiling to be cleaned.

The performance was short, but Rivera gave the sequence a distinct comic rhythm alongside Batalon. In a film built around returning stars and major franchise moments, her work stood out through its warmth and specificity.

Rivera’s family encouraged her to answer the casting call

Rivera auditioned after her family spotted a Facebook casting call seeking a local Filipina grandmother in Hawai’i.

Her daughter Kelly told Hawai’i Public Radio that she found the advert while scrolling through Facebook. “I see an ad, a casting call looking for a local Hawai’i Filipina grandmother between the age of 50 and 90,” she recalled. “And immediately I thought, ‘Oh, well my mom qualifies and checks off all those boxes.’”

The audition asked Rivera to speak about herself and her reasons for pursuing the role. She discussed her life in the Philippines, her move to the United States, and raising four children and 11 grandchildren.

Kelly also described Rivera as a former radio broadcaster and teacher, while emphasising her life as a mother and grandmother. That personal history accompanied Rivera into her only film performance, giving Spider-Man: No Way Home one of its most human supporting turns.