Laurence Dollimore
A SPANISH actor who starred in the hit Netflix series Elite has died while enjoying a beach day in Cadiz.
Julian Ortega suddenly collapsed on Zahora beach in Barbate at around 5.30pm on Sunday.
The 41-year-old was initially reported to have drowned but emergency and lifeguard services have since confirmed that he was on the shore when he went into cardiorespiratory arrest.
Paramedics spent up to half an hour trying to revive the actor but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The tragic incident took place in front of shocked bathers just below the La Calima beach bar.
Emergency workers acted quickly and had access to a defibrillator but were unable to save his life.
Ortega had a successful acting career which began in the theatre after he graduated from Madrid’s Royal School of Dramatic Art (RESAD).
His move to television saw him play roles in El Pueblo, Velvet and more recently Elite, which saw him star in six episodes.
Tributes have poured in for Ortega online, with fellow actor Fernando Tejero writing: “I am broken with pain, dear colleague… what a great actor and what a beautiful person you are, Julian Ortega… fly high, hugs to your father and mother.”
Actress Silvia Marso added: “My friend @lauracepedagolferichs just called me to give me the bad news that Julian Ortega Rodriguez has passed away, a tremendous actor and a colleague of integrity, honesty and as good a person as his parents Gloria Muñoz and Jose Antonio Ortega.
“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.”
