Popular Actor, Ortega Dies At 41 After Collapsing On The Beach

Spanish actor, Julian Ortega known for appearing in the popular Spanish-language Netflix drama series “Elite,” is dead.

He died after reportedly experiencing a cardiac arrest on a beach.

He was 41.

His death on Sunday (August 25) was confirmed by Spain’s National Union of Actors and Actresses in an obituary earlier this week, which read: “From the Unión de Actores y Actrices, we send our most sincere condolences to the actor’s family and friends.”

Initial reports about his death had suggested he had drowned. Still, according to local English-language outlet Olive Press Spain, authorities later confirmed Ortega had gone into cardiac arrest on the shores of Zahora Beach in Barbate, Spain.

Popular Actor, Ortega Dies At 41 After Collapsing On The Beach

Paramedics reportedly attempted to revive the actor but he was eventually pronounced dead at the scene.

“Our deepest condolences to his family and friends,” the union wrote in a statement Monday.

Ortega, son of Spanish actress Gloria Muñoz, was born in Madrid in 1983.

He attended drama school in the Spanish capital, according to the union.

He then launched his more-than-two-decade-long on-screen career, appearing in Spanish-language films, such as the 2000 drama “El Otro Barrio” (“The Other Side”) and the 2008 horror fantasy “La raíz del Mal.”

He appeared in several television series in Spain, before rising to international prominence after appearing in six episodes of Netflix’s “Elite.”

Ortega played a restaurant manager in the murder-mystery-infused high school drama, which centers on wealthy students at a private school.

His most recent appearances were in drama series such as “The Countryside” (originally, “El Pueblo”) and “4 Estrellas.”

“You were a great man, humble, always smiling, generous, thoughtful… such a good colleague… Thank you, for everything,“ wrote his “Countryside” costar Ruth Diaz in an Instagram post.

“How good to share those months on El Pueblo and to have gotten to know you a little bit. You have gone too soon,” she added.

According to the Spanish Theatre in Madrid, Ortega also worked on theater projects, including the 2021 play “Ira,” which he wrote and then starred in alongside his mother.