Tributes Flow In After Star’s Tragic Passing

Colleagues and fans are mourning the loss of actor Julian Ortega, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 41. Ortega, known for his role in Netflix’s Spanish hit series *Elite*, was at Playa de Zahora beach in Cádiz, Spain when he collapsed and went into cardiac arrest, according to local reports. His sudden death has sparked an outpouring of tributes online.

The Spanish Union of Actors and Actresses confirmed his passing on Monday, August 26, with an obituary honoring Ortega. The statement read, “Our deepest condolences to his family and friends from the Union of Actors and Actresses. Rest in peace.” Many of Ortega’s fellow actors also shared their own heartfelt tributes.

In a tribute posted on X, actor Paco Collado reflected on his time with Ortega, calling it “an honor” to have portrayed his father on the series *El pueblo*. Collado noted that Ortega “left us with sympathy, generosity, and professionalism,” and sent “many hugs” to Ortega’s family, expressing his sorrow for the loss of someone so young.

Actress Raquel Guerrero also shared her thoughts, writing, “A pleasure to have been able to share a bit of this life and be able to enjoy your education, your humility, and your work.” Stage and screen actress Sílvia Marsó took to Instagram to remember Ortega as a “tremendous actor and a colleague of integrity, honesty,” noting that he was “as good a person as his parents,” actors Gloria Muñoz and Jose Antonio Ortega. Marsó expressed her profound sadness for Ortega’s parents, saying, “I can’t even imagine how these parents, colleagues, so beloved in the profession, are. How horrible… I can’t take it in. Absolute sadness.”

Fans of Ortega have also turned to social media to pay their respects. On Ortega’s final Instagram post dated March 19, where he reflected on his time on one of his most recent series, fans shared their condolences. One commented, “rest in peace and may the light illuminate and give strength to your family and loved ones.” Another wrote, “How sad and unfair life is!!! R.I.P Julian !!!”

Ortega hailed from Madrid and followed in his parents’ footsteps by pursuing an acting career. He gained notable recognition with his role in six episodes of *Elite* Season 1 in 2018, where he played the manager of La Cabana restaurant. His acting credits also include roles in *Caronte*, a crime drama that aired on Amazon Prime Video, *Nunc Et in Hora* (2010), *Velvet* (2014), and *Cristo y Rey* (2023). Most recently, he starred in the Spanish soap opera *4 Estrellas* and had completed work on the upcoming film *Trompeta* before his untimely death.

According to *The Olive Press*, an English-language publication in Spain, Ortega suffered cardiac arrest around 5:30 p.m. while visiting Zahora Beach in Barbate, Spain. Despite paramedics’ efforts to revive him for about 30 minutes, he was pronounced dead at the scene. There have been conflicting reports about the circumstances of his death, with initial accounts suggesting he drowned. However, emergency and lifeguard services later clarified that he went into cardiac arrest while on the shore.