Alexis Ortega dies at 38, leaving a lasting mark on Latin American dubbing
Alexis Ortega, the Mexican voice actor and on-camera performer known to many audiences as the Latin American Spanish voice of Spider-Man in several major superhero films, has died at age 38. An industry awards organization tied to Latin dubbing announced his death on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026 ET, prompting tributes from colleagues and fans across the region.
The cause of death has not been disclosed publicly. Further specifics were not immediately available.
A voice tied to a generation of blockbuster releases
Ortega built wide recognition through dubbing work that helped define how global franchises sounded for Spanish-speaking viewers. His most widely cited role was voicing Peter Parker, portrayed on screen by Tom Holland, in multiple high-profile superhero releases during the late 2010s. For many fans, that performance became the default voice they associate with the character in Latin America.
He was also known for voicing Tadashi Hamada in Big Hero 6, another role that carries emotional weight for audiences because of the character’s importance to the story. Beyond those marquee credits, Ortega’s career included additional dubbing work across animated and live-action titles, reflecting the steady, high-volume nature of localization work in the region.
Some specifics have not been publicly clarified, including the full list of projects he had completed or was actively recording at the time of his death.
How dubbing work is cast, recorded, and remembered
In Latin American dubbing, roles are typically assigned through casting decisions made by localization teams that match vocal tone, age range, and performance style to a character’s on-screen presence. Actors record dialogue in studios, often working scene-by-scene to match timing, emotion, and lip movement as closely as possible. Because the same voice can follow a character across multiple films, viewers form a strong attachment to continuity—especially in long-running franchises.
That continuity is part of why Ortega’s death is being felt as more than a single-credit loss. When a recognizable voice disappears, future releases face a difficult balance: honoring what audiences already associate with a character while allowing a new performer room to build their own interpretation.
His career extended beyond the booth
While Ortega was best known for voice work, he also appeared as an actor in television projects, adding another layer to his public profile. That crossover matters in an entertainment ecosystem where dubbing performers often remain invisible to the broader audience even when their voices are instantly recognizable.
He was also reported to be working on a project titled El Segundo Piso at the time of his death. A full public timeline has not been released about the project’s status or what changes, if any, will be made to complete it.
Who is affected, and what comes next for projects tied to his work
Two groups are feeling the impact most immediately. First are fans across Latin America who grew up with Ortega’s voice in major releases and now associate that voice with formative moviegoing moments. Second is the dubbing community itself—fellow actors, directors, and studio teams who rely on long-standing creative partnerships and consistent performance standards to deliver localized versions on tight schedules.
Studios and production teams may also face practical decisions in the weeks ahead, including how to handle any remaining work tied to Ortega’s roles, and whether to recast characters for future installments or adjust timelines for localization when continuity is a priority. Those decisions can affect release coordination, marketing plans, and the audience experience for upcoming dubbed editions.
In the days ahead, the next verifiable milestone will be whether Ortega’s family or representatives announce memorial arrangements, and whether the Latin dubbing awards group plans a formal tribute during a scheduled ceremony or public event.
