Julián Ortega, Actor on Netflix’s ‘Elite, Dies at 41

Julián Ortega, who appeared in Netflix’s hit Spanish series “Elite,” died Aug. 25 after going into cardiac arrest while visiting Zahora Beach in Barbate, Spain, according to local outlets. He was 41.

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Spain’s Union de Actores y Actrices posted an obituary for Ortega on Monday.

While initial reports suggested the Spanish actor had drowned, authorities later said he went into cardiac arrest while on the shore. After paramedics attempted to revive him for several minutes, Ortega was pronounced dead on the scene.

Ortega played the manager of “La Cabana” restaurant in the Spanish drama series “Elite,” appearing in several episodes during the show’s first season. “Elite” would run for eight seasons from 2018-2024, with its last episode airing on July 26.

Two days after Ortega’s death, his “The Countryside” co-star Paco Collado took to X/ Twitter to share his respects , writing (translated to English), “It was a great pleasure [Julián Ortega] to play your father in [‘The Countryside’] you left us with sympathy, generosity and professionalism, many hugs friend and also to your family, a real shame in the prime of your youth, RIP Julian.”

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“Elite” follows a group of working-class teens who enroll in a prestigious private high school and clash with the established elite. Other cast members include Omar Ayuso, Itzan Escamilla, Arón Piper, Miguel Bernardeau, Valentina Zenere, André Lamoglia and Claudia Salas.

The show was nominated for several Fotogramas de Plata Awards, annual honors distributed by the Spanish film magazine Fotogramas since 1951. In 2019, “Elite” won “killer series” at the MTV MIAW Awards, an annual event held by MTV Latin America much like the American MTV Music Video Awards.

Ortega’s other credits include “4 estrellas,” “Untameable,” “Sentimos las molestias” and “Mylove Lost.”

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