Spanish actors Julian Ortegabest known for his role in netflix A member of the series Elite died on a beach in Spain.
Ortega, 41, who appeared in six episodes of the popular Spanish teen drama series, died at around 5.30pm on Sunday at Zahora Beach in Barbate, on the southern coast near Cadiz.
Witnesses dining at the nearby La Calima bar said they saw the actor fall. The US Sun reported.
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Initial reports suggested Ortega had drowned, but lifeguards later clarified that he was on shore when he suffered a heart attack.
Despite paramedics' 30-minute attempts to revive him, Ortega was pronounced dead at the scene.
Spain's national actors union confirmed his death in a statement: “On behalf of the Unión de Actores y Actris, we offer our heartfelt condolences to the actor's family and friends.”
The Netflix series Elite was streamed over 20 million times on Netflix within its first month of release in 2018.
Ortega also starred in several other famous Spanish TV series, including Velvet, Cristo y Rey, and El Pueblo.
Most recently, he appeared in seven episodes of the television show 4 Estrellas in 2023.
He came from an acting family, with his parents Gloria Muñoz and José Antonio Ortega both being in the film industry.
Friends and fellow actors paid tribute to Ortega on social media.
Fellow Spanish actor Fernando Tejero said: “I am heartbroken, dear colleague… What a great actor and what a beautiful person you are, Julian Ortega… Fly high, hugs to your father and mother.”
“A great actor and a loyal, honest colleague and a good human being, just like his parents, Gloria Muñoz and José Antonio Ortega,” wrote actress Silvia Marso.
