Netflix star dies after 'collapsing on beach' in freak tragedy - 'life can be so cruel'

Fans and fellow actors are in mourning after Julian Ortega , a 41 year old actor known for his part in the Netflix series Elite, tragically passed away on a beach in Spain .

While at Zahora Beach in Barbate, just southwest of Marbella, late Sunday, he suffered a heart attack. Despite immediate calls for medical assistance by worried beachgoers and the efforts of paramedics who attempted resuscitation for up to half an hour using a defibrillator, they couldn't save him.

His passing occurred under dramatic circumstances as the emergency unfolded near a beachside bar. Julian, hailing from Madrid, was acclaimed for his roles in Caronte (2020), Elite (2018), and Nunc Et in Hora (2010), as well as appearances in beloved Spanish TV shows including Cristo Rey, Elite, and Velvet.

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His death was publicly confirmed by Spain's national union of actors and actresses in their heartfelt statement: "From the Union de Actores y Actrices, we send our most sincere condolences to the actor's family and friends."

The beloved series Elite, where Julian played a recurring character, is set in a prestigious private high school and tracks the lives of three scholarship students. Garnering international praise, its explosive first season was streamed by an astonishing 20 million Netflix accounts in the first month alone.

Julian graced the popular show in six episodes as the manager of La Cabana, a burger restaurant, according to NeedToKnow. Tributes have been pouring in for the esteemed performer, whose acting lineage includes his mother, actress Gloria Munoz, and his father, actor Jose Antonio Ortega.

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Following the sad news of his passing, tributes for the actor have been flooding in. Goya Award-winning actor Fernando Tejero paid homage by commenting: "Life can be so cruel sometimes. I'm heartbroken, dear friend. You were such a great actor and an even better person, Julian Ortega. Fly high," while actress Virginia Mataix echoed the sentiment, stating on X, "A big hug to Gloria Munoz. I'm so sorry."

Actress Silvia Marso also expressed her sorrow, saying: "He was an incredible actor and a colleague who was as genuine, honest, and kind as his parents. I can't even begin to imagine how his parents and everyone who knew him in the industry must be feeling. It's just awful. I can't wrap my head around it. I'm filled with absolute sadness."