Who was Juan “Spike” Osorio? Wonder Man tribute explained

by

Unlike most Marvel heroes who aim to be great, Simon Williams, aka Wonder Man, just wants to be a successful actor. His main challenge isn’t battling villains, but hiding his incredible powers from the world.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II plays a struggling actor who teams up with Trevor Slattery (played by Sir Ben Kingsley), a fellow actor famous – and infamous – for portraying the villain known as the Mandarin in Iron Man 3.

They’re both trying to land a role in the upcoming Wonder Man movie, a superhero film Simon enjoyed as a child. But things get complicated when secrets start to emerge and people aren’t being truthful about who they are.

At the end of the first episode, a dedication appears with the message, “In memory of Juan ‘Spike’ Osorio,” which raises a new question for viewers.

Who is Juan Osorio, also known as Spike? And what was his connection to Wonder Man? Here’s the full story.

Who was Juan “Spike” Osorio?

Osorio was an experienced lighting technician who worked on the electrical crews for many Hollywood films and TV shows. He’d worked on big science fiction and fantasy projects like The Dark Tower, American Born Chinese, and Ant-Man and the Wasp, as well as more realistic shows such as Mayans M.C. and The Conners, before joining the team on Wonder Man.

Crew members told The Daily Beast that Osorio had a background in the military before starting work in Hollywood. Dave McGrory, a rigging gaffer, shared that Osorio had remarkably survived a major explosion during his time serving in the Middle East.

McGrory explained that the soldier’s vehicle hit a roadside bomb, and he witnessed the deaths of several close friends. He was also injured during a firefight in a cave in Afghanistan, receiving shrapnel wounds that left a scar under his left eye.

McGrory added: “The man made it out of Afghanistan, and didn’t make it out of the studio system.”

What happened to Juan “Spike” Osorio?

While filming Wonder Man, crew member Rigoberto Osorio tragically fell from a catwalk at the Radford Studio Center in Studio City and died on February 6, 2024, according to Variety.

Carlos Osorio, who was 41 years old when he died, is remembered by his wife, Joanne Osorio-Wu, a successful professional in the energy sector, and his mother, Zoila Osorio.

A vigil in Burbank drew hundreds of people to remember Osorio, and his wife spoke movingly to those who gathered.

Want to see this content?

This YouTube video isn’t available while you’re signed in to Contentpass. Please sign out of Contentpass to watch it.

Joanne Osorio-Wu shared that Spike deeply cared for everyone he knew and worked with, always prioritizing their safety, regardless of their position. She expressed how much he meant to her and thanked them for the positive influence they had on his life.

Kaitlyn Yang, who oversaw visual effects for American Born Chinese, fondly remembered Spike Osorio. She recalled working with him on a previous project, where he ensured her team had the necessary lighting for their green screens. Like many others who worked with him, Yang felt valued and respected in his company. She wishes him peace.

Marvel expressed their sadness and offered condolences to the family and friends of the deceased. They are also fully cooperating with the investigation into how the accident happened.

After the accident, a Cal/OSHA investigation revealed that the catwalk Osorio fell through had a weakened, rotting section of wood that wasn’t securely attached to the roof. This led to a $36,000 fine for Disney and a $45,000 fine for Radford Studio Center.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the family of the deceased, Osorio, has sued Radford Studio Center for wrongful death. The lawsuit claims the studio didn’t adequately maintain or inspect its property, and the family is seeking financial compensation for their loss.

Radford’s legal team challenged the accusations, suggesting the accident might have been caused by carelessness from Osorio or someone else involved.

Wonder Man is streaming now on Disney+.

Authors

David OpieFreelance Writer

David Opie is a freelance journalist who covers TV and film for various online publications like TopMob, Indiewire, and Empire. He’s a strong advocate for LGBTQ+ representation, often speaking on panels about queer storytelling. Beyond TV and film, he loves comics, animation, and horror – and he’s particularly hoping to see a Buffy the Vampire Slayerthemed musical challenge on RuPaul’s Drag Race*. Before becoming a freelancer, David worked as a Deputy TV Editor at Digital Spy and holds a degree in Psychology.

Read More

2026-01-28 07:35