If you grew up in Latin America watching Marvel movies in Spanish, you knew Alexis Ortega’s voice even if you didn’t know his name. He was Spider-Man.
Not Tom Holland exactly, but the voice that brought Peter Parker to life for millions of Spanish-speaking fans who heard his warm, youthful performance every time Spidey cracked a joke or struggled with teenage angst or saved the day in the MCU. Ortega died on January 24, 2026, at just 38 years old, with the news breaking publicly two days later and absolutely devastating the Latin American entertainment community.
His family hasn’t disclosed what caused his death, and honestly, the dubbing world and fans are too busy mourning to push for answers they’re clearly not ready to share.
What matters right now is that the entertainment industry just lost one of its most talented voice actors at an age when he should have had decades of work ahead of him. Ortega’s career wasn’t just about translating English dialogue into Spanish. It was about making these global blockbusters feel personal and authentic to Latin American audiences, about becoming the definitive voice of Spider-Man for an entire generation who will forever associate his performance with Tom Holland’s portrayal.
He did this while also voicing Tadashi in Big Hero 6, working on Finding Dory and Cars 3, appearing in live-action shows, and basically establishing himself as one of the best in the business before his life was cut tragically short.
Alexis Ortega has sadly passed away at the age of 38.
The voice of Tadashi Hamada in Big Hero 6 and Spider-Man (Tom Holland) from Captain America: Civil War to Avengers: Infinity War in Latin America. pic.twitter.com/rlFyhVYNcj
— Cartoon Base (@TheCartoonBase) January 27, 2026
The Voice That Defined Spider-Man
Alexis Ortega, born August 31, 1987, started his voice acting career in 2013 with what would become one of his signature roles: Tadashi Hamada in Big Hero 6. That’s a hell of a debut, landing a major Disney animated film right out of the gate. His performance as Hiro’s older brother showcased this ability to convey warmth and emotional depth that would define his entire career. Tadashi doesn’t get a ton of screen time in Big Hero 6, but he makes an impact, and Ortega’s voice work is a big reason why Spanish-speaking audiences connected with that character so strongly.
But let’s be real, it was Spider-Man that made Ortega a household name in Latin America. Starting with Captain America: Civil War, Ortega became the Spanish voice of Tom Holland’s Peter Parker, and he absolutely nailed it. He continued through Spider-Man: Homecoming and Avengers: Infinity War, bringing all that awkward teenage energy, the humor, the vulnerability, the heroism that makes Spidey such a beloved character.
Here’s the thing about voice acting that people don’t always appreciate: it’s not just reading lines in a different language. You have to match the mouth movements, capture the emotional beats, convey personality through voice alone, and make it all feel natural instead of dubbed. Ortega made it look easy, creating a Spider-Man that didn’t sound like a Spanish translation of Tom Holland. It sounded like Peter Parker speaking Spanish, which is exactly what great dubbing should accomplish.
For millions of Latin American Marvel fans, Ortega’s voice IS Spider-Man. When they think about Peter’s first appearance in Civil War, when they remember that iconic “Mr. Stark, I don’t feel so good” scene in Infinity War, they’re hearing Ortega’s voice. That’s his legacy right there, becoming inseparable from one of the most popular superheroes in the world for an entire region.
Beyond Marvel and Disney
Ortega didn’t just do Marvel and Disney work, though those were obviously his biggest gigs. He voiced characters in Finding Dory and Cars 3, reprised Tadashi for the Big Hero 6 TV series, and built this solid career across multiple studios and projects. Each role showed his range, his ability to adapt his voice to different characters and tones.
He also did live-action work, most notably in Luis Miguel: The Series where he played a young Jorge “El Burro” Van Rankin. This role proved Ortega wasn’t just a voice actor but a legitimate performer who could handle on-screen work too. He appeared in other Mexican TV productions, showing versatility that extended beyond the recording booth.
More recently, Ortega got involved with digital media, including the Spanish version of MrBeast’s YouTube channel. That’s smart diversification right there, recognizing that entertainment is changing and newer platforms matter just as much as traditional studios. Despite his success though, Ortega kept a pretty low social media profile, letting his work speak for itself instead of chasing online fame.
The Dubbing Community Loses a Giant
The ALDA Awards, which recognizes excellence in anime dubbing, released a statement about Ortega’s death saying “We regret to announce the passing of actor Alexis Ortega. We extend our condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues. He will always be remembered for his remarkable performances.” That pretty much sums up how the industry feels right now.
Social media exploded with tributes from fans and fellow voice actors sharing clips of Ortega’s work, personal memories, and just expressing how gutted they are about losing him. The dubbing community is tight-knit, and when you lose someone this talented this young, it hits hard. Voice actors often don’t get the recognition they deserve compared to on-screen performers, but within their community and among fans who pay attention to this stuff, Ortega was a star.
What makes this even more tragic is that 38 is so damn young. Ortega was in his prime with potentially decades of work ahead of him. All those future roles he would have voiced, all the characters he would have brought to life, all the performances we’ll never get to hear because his life got cut short. That’s what the entertainment world just lost.
Why Voice Actors Matter
Ortega’s career highlights something that doesn’t always get enough attention: voice actors play a massive role in making global entertainment accessible and emotionally resonant for international audiences. Latin America has a strong dubbing tradition, and voice actors there are cultural mediators who help audiences connect with stories from around the world.
It’s not just about language translation. It’s about cultural adaptation, about making dialogue and emotional beats land with local audiences while staying faithful to the original performance. That’s a specialized skill that requires both technical ability and artistic sensibility. Ortega excelled at this, creating performances that felt authentic rather than just dubbed.
For Spanish-speaking Marvel fans, Ortega’s Spider-Man work defined their experience of those films. His voice shaped how they understood Peter Parker’s character, how they connected emotionally with his journey, how they remembered key moments from those movies. That’s significant cultural impact for someone most people outside Latin America probably never heard of.
The Mystery Surrounding His Death
As of now, Ortega’s family hasn’t said what caused his death. They’ve kept that private, and honestly, that’s their right. The entertainment community has mostly respected that privacy, focusing on celebrating Ortega’s life and work rather than demanding answers about something deeply personal.
The lack of official information hasn’t stopped people from grieving or processing this loss. Whether we know the cause or not doesn’t change the fact that a talented artist died way too young and left behind work that will outlive him. That’s what matters right now.
A Legacy in Every Performance
Ortega’s voice will keep reaching audiences for years to come through all the characters he brought to life. Every time someone watches Spider-Man: Homecoming in Spanish, every kid who discovers Big Hero 6, every Marvel fan doing an MCU rewatch, Ortega’s performances are there. His work achieved this permanence that ensures his artistry continues touching new audiences.
That’s the beautiful and sad thing about voice acting. The performances live on in the films and shows, but the person behind them is gone. Spanish-speaking Marvel fans will keep hearing Ortega’s Spider-Man, keep connecting with his portrayal of Peter Parker, keep experiencing these stories through his vocal work. His voice became part of how an entire generation remembers these characters.
What We Lost
The entertainment industry just lost a gifted performer who elevated Latin American dubbing and helped millions of people connect with global stories. Ortega’s Spider-Man work alone would be enough to secure his legacy, but his contributions extended across multiple studios, projects, and platforms. He was versatile, talented, and professional, respected by colleagues and beloved by fans.
At 38, he should have had so much more ahead of him. More iconic roles, more characters to bring to life, more opportunities to showcase his range and artistry. We’ll never know what those future performances might have been, and that’s what makes this loss so painful for people who admired his work.
The voice acting community lost one of its best, Marvel fans lost their Spider-Man, and anyone who cares about quality dubbing and cultural adaptation in entertainment lost an artist who set standards for excellence in his field.
Honoring His Work
As the entertainment world processes this loss, the best way to honor Ortega is remembering and appreciating the work he left behind. His performances brought joy to millions of people, shaped how Latin American audiences experienced some of the biggest films of the past decade, and demonstrated the artistry required for truly great voice acting.
His family deserves privacy and space to grieve. Fans deserve time to process losing a voice that meant so much to their viewing experiences. The industry needs to recognize what it lost and hopefully continue the standards Ortega helped establish for quality dubbing work.
Alexis Ortega’s voice won’t be forgotten. Every time Spider-Man swings into action in a Spanish-language MCU film, every time someone watches Big Hero 6, his artistry lives on. That’s the legacy he leaves behind, and it’s one worth celebrating even as we mourn the person who created it.
If Alexis Ortega voiced characters you loved, share your favorite memory or performance in the comments. His work touched millions of people, and remembering what his performances meant to you is one way to honor his legacy during this incredibly sad time for everyone who appreciated his talent.
