‘Elite’ Alum Julian Ortega Dead at 41 After Collapsing on Beach

Elite actor Julián Ortega has died. He was 41.

The actor, famed for his roles in the Spanish Netflix drama and movies including Sicario, collapsed and had a heart attack on Aug. 25 (Sunday), at Playa de Zahora beach in Cádiz, Spain, according to The Olive Press.

He went into cardiac arrest around 5.30pm local time while on shore, despite initial reports stating that he had drowned, the Spanish outlet reported.

The actor was said to have been pronounced dead at the scene after paramedics tried to revive him for 30 minutes.

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His death has been confirmed by the Spanish Union of Actors and Actresses, who published an obituary in his honor that read: "Our deepest condolences to his family and friends from the Union of Actors and Actresses. Rest in peace."

Ortega starred in six episodes of the first season of Elite, which followed a trio of working-class teens whose grievances with their wealthy classmates led to a murder.

The actor played the manager of the La Cabana restaurant in the hit Spanish-language drama’s first series in 2018, with the show running for eight seasons before coming to an end in July.

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Ortega’s other credits included Cable Girls, Caronte and Velvet and The Countryside, with the actor most recently starring in the Spanish soap opera 4 Estrellas.

He studied at the drama school Real Escuela Superior de Arte Dramático in Madrid.