# Octavio Ocaña

**Octavio Ocaña** (full name Octavio Augusto Pérez Ocaña; born 1998 in [Villahermosa, Tabasco](https://www.edgepedia.org/villahermosa-tabasco)) was a Mexican actor best known for playing Benito Rivers in the Televisa comedy series *Vecinos*, a role he held from the show's debut in 2005 until his death on 29 October 2021 in Cuautitlán Izcalli, State of Mexico, from a gunshot to the head during a police chase.<sup>[1](https://www.eluniversalpuebla.com.mx/nacional/quien-es-octavio-ocana/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://www.univision.com/galavision/octavio-ocana-primera-y-ultima-aparicion-en-vecinos)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[3](https://elpais.com/mexico/2021-10-30/el-misterioso-disparo-que-sego-la-vida-del-actor-de-vecinos-octavio-ocana.html)</sup>  His death, initially attributed by prosecutors to an accidental self-inflicted shot, was later reclassified as a homicide, and in December 2023 a former municipal police officer was sentenced to prison for his role in the killing.<sup>[4](https://www.nmas.com.mx/nacional/muerte-de-octavio-ocana-a-causa-del-uso-excesivo-de-la-fuerza-de-autoridad-cndh//)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[5](https://www.scjn.gob.mx/sites/default/files/sintesis-informativa/2023-12/S%C3%ADntesisPDF-21diciembre2023.pdf)</sup>

| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1998, Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico<sup>[1](https://www.eluniversalpuebla.com.mx/nacional/quien-es-octavio-ocana/)</sup> |
| Signature role | Benito Rivers in *Vecinos*, from the series' first sequence in 2005 until his death; IMDb credits 196 episodes<sup>[2](https://www.univision.com/galavision/octavio-ocana-primera-y-ultima-aparicion-en-vecinos)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1977047/)</sup>  |
| Other work | *Lola... Érase una vez* (2007, as Otto Von Ferdinand), *La familia P. Luche* (2007), *Hermanos y detectives* (2009, as Lorenzo), *Te doy la vida* (2020), *La mexicana y el güero* (2020)<sup>[1](https://www.eluniversalpuebla.com.mx/nacional/quien-es-octavio-ocana/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[7](https://www.eluniversal.com.mx/espectaculos/farandula/la-vida-de-octavio-ocana-traves-de-las-fotos-exclusivas-de-el-universal/)</sup>  |
| Death | 29 October 2021, gunshot to the head after a police chase on the Chamapa-Lechería highway, Cuautitlán Izcalli, State of Mexico; IMDb lists 30 October<sup>[3](https://elpais.com/mexico/2021-10-30/el-misterioso-disparo-que-sego-la-vida-del-actor-de-vecinos-octavio-ocana.html)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1977047/)</sup>  |
| Official finding | The State of Mexico prosecutor's office first ruled the shot accidental and self-inflicted; the case was later reclassified as homicidio doloso (intentional homicide)<sup>[8](https://www.nmas.com.mx/estado-de-mexico/seguridad/asesinatos/caso-octavio-ocana-peritaje-revela-que-actor-fue-sometido-y-asesinado/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[9](https://www.milenio.com/policia/fiscalia-edomex-pide-muerte-octavio-ocana-reclasifique)</sup>  |
| Conviction | Former Cuautitlán Izcalli officer Leopoldo Azuara sentenced in December 2023 to 20 years 9 months in prison and a 17 million peso fine<sup>[5](https://www.scjn.gob.mx/sites/default/files/sintesis-informativa/2023-12/S%C3%ADntesisPDF-21diciembre2023.pdf)</sup> |

## Early career and Vecinos

Ocaña began on television as a child in the section "Chiquillos y Chiquillas" of the long-running program *En familia con Chabelo*.<sup>[1](https://www.eluniversalpuebla.com.mx/nacional/quien-es-octavio-ocana/)</sup> According to producer Elías Solorio, he and [Eugenio Derbez](https://www.edgepedia.org/eugenio-derbez), creator of *Vecinos*, came across the boy playing football in the halls of Televisa before the pilot was filmed and invited him to audition for the role of Benito, which he won.<sup>[10](https://www.lasestrellas.tv/programas/vecinos-1/vecinos/asi-ha-sido-la-transformacion-de-benito-rivers-a-traves-de-15-anos-de-vecinos-fotos)</sup>

**Benito Rivers.** The series premiered in 2005, when Ocaña was about seven years old, and its very first sequence opens with the Rivers family in apartment 101; his character's debut scene shows the red-haired boy reciting part of a [William Shakespeare](https://www.edgepedia.org/william-shakespeare) work while his father Frankie Rivers works at a typewriter.<sup>[2](https://www.univision.com/galavision/octavio-ocana-primera-y-ultima-aparicion-en-vecinos)</sup> He played Benito through the first seasons, leaving the role around age 11 to pursue football, and returned to acting in 2017, rejoining *Vecinos* at the end of its fourth season in the episode "La separación" and continuing in the role until his death.<sup>[1](https://www.eluniversalpuebla.com.mx/nacional/quien-es-octavio-ocana/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[11](https://www.sensacine.com.mx/actores/actor-763764/biografia/)</sup>  The character and the actor shared a love of football, and Ocaña said he did not mind being called "Benito" in the street.<sup>[2](https://www.univision.com/galavision/octavio-ocana-primera-y-ultima-aparicion-en-vecinos)</sup> Benito's line "claro, el rico siempre humillando al pobre" became the text of widely shared memes and stickers.<sup>[1](https://www.eluniversalpuebla.com.mx/nacional/quien-es-octavio-ocana/)</sup>

## Other roles

In 2007 Ocaña played Otto Von Ferdinand, the small brother of [Alexander](https://www.edgepedia.org/alexander) ([Aarón Díaz](https://www.edgepedia.org/aaron-diaz)) in the children's telenovela *Lola... Érase una vez* alongside [Eiza González](https://www.edgepedia.org/eiza-gonzalez), who nicknamed him "Piojo".<sup>[7](https://www.eluniversal.com.mx/espectaculos/farandula/la-vida-de-octavio-ocana-traves-de-las-fotos-exclusivas-de-el-universal/)</sup> That same year he appeared in Eugenio Derbez's *La familia P. Luche*, a participation he described as fortuitous after meeting the actor on a set.<sup>[12](https://www.elfinanciero.com.mx/espectaculos/2021/10/30/octavio-ocana-esta-es-su-trayectoria-en-series-de-television-y-peliculas/)</sup> In 2008, at nine, he played Gaspar, a boy who competes in oratory contests, in the film *Amor letra por letra* with Silvia Navarro and Alan Estrada, and in 2009 he played Lorenzo, a small genius at solving complex mathematical problems, opposite Julio Bracho in *Hermanos y detectives*.<sup>[7](https://www.eluniversal.com.mx/espectaculos/farandula/la-vida-de-octavio-ocana-traves-de-las-fotos-exclusivas-de-el-universal/)</sup> He had a special participation in the film *El fantástico mundo de Juan Orol* in 2012, and later appeared in the telenovelas *Te doy la vida* and *La mexicana y el güero* (both 2020).<sup>[8](https://www.nmas.com.mx/estado-de-mexico/seguridad/asesinatos/caso-octavio-ocana-peritaje-revela-que-actor-fue-sometido-y-asesinado/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[1](https://www.eluniversalpuebla.com.mx/nacional/quien-es-octavio-ocana/)</sup>  In February 2019 he left his handprints at Galerías, Plaza de las Estrellas, in Mexico City.<sup>[1](https://www.eluniversalpuebla.com.mx/nacional/quien-es-octavio-ocana/)</sup>

## Death and criminal case

On the afternoon of 29 October 2021, Ocaña was driving a truck in Cuautitlán Izcalli when a municipal police unit ordered him to stop; he accelerated and a chase began, ending when the vehicle left the road and struck a wall on the Chamapa-Lechería highway. He died of a gunshot to the head; two companions survived the crash and were detained.<sup>[3](https://elpais.com/mexico/2021-10-30/el-misterioso-disparo-que-sego-la-vida-del-actor-de-vecinos-octavio-ocana.html)</sup> The State of Mexico prosecutor's office (FGJEM) initially concluded that the actor had accidentally shot himself with a weapon he was carrying after the crash.<sup>[13](https://www.excelsior.com.mx/funcion/cronologia-octavio-ocana-2021-a-2025/1748366)</sup> His family rejected that version; his father, Octavio Pérez, said the weapon found in the truck was his son's and duly registered, but that he could not have been holding it while driving.<sup>[8](https://www.nmas.com.mx/estado-de-mexico/seguridad/asesinatos/caso-octavio-ocana-peritaje-revela-que-actor-fue-sometido-y-asesinado/)</sup> An independent expert report commissioned by the family concluded he had not shot himself, and in 2023 the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) issued recommendation 71/2023, finding that the municipal police involved were responsible for excessive use of force that led to the death.<sup>[8](https://www.nmas.com.mx/estado-de-mexico/seguridad/asesinatos/caso-octavio-ocana-peritaje-revela-que-actor-fue-sometido-y-asesinado/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[4](https://www.nmas.com.mx/nacional/muerte-de-octavio-ocana-a-causa-del-uso-excesivo-de-la-fuerza-de-autoridad-cndh//)</sup>  The FGJEM reclassified the crime from abuse of authority to intentional homicide after its own, independent, and CNDH expert reports coincided.<sup>[9](https://www.milenio.com/policia/fiscalia-edomex-pide-muerte-octavio-ocana-reclasifique)</sup>

**Judicial outcomes.** In December 2023, Leopoldo Azuara, a former Cuautitlán Izcalli municipal officer, was sentenced by a control judge to 20 years 9 months in prison for his participation in the homicide, with a 17 million peso fine for reparation of damages; a second implicated officer, Alberto "N", remained a fugitive at that point.<sup>[5](https://www.scjn.gob.mx/sites/default/files/sintesis-informativa/2023-12/S%C3%ADntesisPDF-21diciembre2023.pdf)</sup> The second officer, Gerardo "N" (Gerardo Rodríguez García), was captured in 2025 in Veracruz after roughly four years as a fugitive.<sup>[14](https://www.mgmnoticias.mx/noticias/juez-no-vincula-policia-caso-benito-ocana)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[15](https://blob.elporvenir.mx/pdf/ElPorvenirpdf2025-05-26.pdf)</sup>  In March 2026 a judge declined to commit him to trial (vincular a proceso) on the charge of abuse of authority, a ruling the family has challenged through an amparo (Mexican legal appeal protecting constitutional rights).<sup>[16](https://sdpnoticias-sdpnoticias-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/espectaculos/famosos/caso-octavio-ocana-policia-libra-proceso-por-presunto-abuso-de-autoridad/)</sup> The family's lawyer, [Javier Hernández](https://www.edgepedia.org/javier-hernandez), has also disputed the reparation awarded: a prior resolution through the prosecutor's office set it at more than 19 million pesos, while the [State of Mexico](https://www.edgepedia.org/state-of-mexico)'s Executive Commission for Victim Assistance fixed it at under 50,000 pesos.<sup>[17](https://www.infobae.com/mexico/2026/07/09/que-paso-con-el-caso-de-octavio-ocana-el-actor-de-vecinos-su-hermana-da-detalles-de-la-batalla-legal/?outputType=amp-type)</sup>

Ocaña was buried in Villahermosa, Tabasco, on 1 November 2021.<sup>[18](https://el-mexicano.com.mx/Uploads/PrintEdition/2021-11-02.pdf)</sup> He was engaged to Nerea Godínez at the time of his death.<sup>[1](https://www.eluniversalpuebla.com.mx/nacional/quien-es-octavio-ocana/)</sup> When *Vecinos* returned for a later season, the production paid tribute to him rather than recasting Benito Rivers.<sup>[19](https://www.milenio.com/espectaculos/television/asi-recordaran-a-octavio-ocana-en-la-nueva-temporada-de-vecinos)</sup>

## References

1. [¿Quién es Octavio Ocaña? El Universal Puebla](https://www.eluniversalpuebla.com.mx/nacional/quien-es-octavio-ocana/)
2. [¿Cuál fue la primera y la última aparición de Octavio Ocaña en Vecinos? Univision](https://www.univision.com/galavision/octavio-ocana-primera-y-ultima-aparicion-en-vecinos)
3. [El misterioso disparo que segó la vida del actor de 'Vecinos' Octavio Ocaña, El País](https://elpais.com/mexico/2021-10-30/el-misterioso-disparo-que-sego-la-vida-del-actor-de-vecinos-octavio-ocana.html)
4. [Muerte de Octavio Ocaña, por Uso Excesivo de Fuerza: CNDH, N+](https://www.nmas.com.mx/nacional/muerte-de-octavio-ocana-a-causa-del-uso-excesivo-de-la-fuerza-de-autoridad-cndh//)
5. [Síntesis Informativa, 21 de diciembre de 2023, Poder Judicial de la Federación (La Prensa: Policía es sentenciado a 20 años por caso Octavio Ocaña)](https://www.scjn.gob.mx/sites/default/files/sintesis-informativa/2023-12/S%C3%ADntesisPDF-21diciembre2023.pdf)
6. [Octavio Ocaña, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1977047/)
7. [La vida de Octavio Ocaña a través de las fotos exclusivas de El Universal](https://www.eluniversal.com.mx/espectaculos/farandula/la-vida-de-octavio-ocana-traves-de-las-fotos-exclusivas-de-el-universal/)
8. [Octavio Ocaña Fue Sometido y Asesinado, Revela Peritaje, N+](https://www.nmas.com.mx/estado-de-mexico/seguridad/asesinatos/caso-octavio-ocana-peritaje-revela-que-actor-fue-sometido-y-asesinado/)
9. [Reclasifican muerte de Octavio Ocaña como homicidio doloso, Milenio](https://www.milenio.com/policia/fiscalia-edomex-pide-muerte-octavio-ocana-reclasifique)
10. [Así ha sido la transformación de 'Benito Rivers' a través de 15 años de 'Vecinos', Las Estrellas](https://www.lasestrellas.tv/programas/vecinos-1/vecinos/asi-ha-sido-la-transformacion-de-benito-rivers-a-traves-de-15-anos-de-vecinos-fotos)
11. [Octavio Ocaña: Su biografía, SensaCine](https://www.sensacine.com.mx/actores/actor-763764/biografia/)
12. [Octavio Ocaña: esta es su trayectoria en series de televisión y películas, El Financiero](https://www.elfinanciero.com.mx/espectaculos/2021/10/30/octavio-ocana-esta-es-su-trayectoria-en-series-de-television-y-peliculas/)
13. [Octavio Ocaña: cuatro años sin Benito Rivers, Excélsior](https://www.excelsior.com.mx/funcion/cronologia-octavio-ocana-2021-a-2025/1748366)
14. [Juez no vincula a proceso a policía por caso Octavio Ocaña, MAGA Noticias](https://www.mgmnoticias.mx/noticias/juez-no-vincula-policia-caso-benito-ocana)
15. [El Porvenir, 26 de mayo de 2025](https://blob.elporvenir.mx/pdf/ElPorvenirpdf2025-05-26.pdf)
16. [Caso Octavio Ocaña: policía libra proceso por presunto abuso de autoridad, SDP Noticias](https://sdpnoticias-sdpnoticias-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/espectaculos/famosos/caso-octavio-ocana-policia-libra-proceso-por-presunto-abuso-de-autoridad/)
17. [¿Qué pasó con el caso de Octavio Ocaña? Su hermana da detalles de la batalla legal, Infobae](https://www.infobae.com/mexico/2026/07/09/que-paso-con-el-caso-de-octavio-ocana-el-actor-de-vecinos-su-hermana-da-detalles-de-la-batalla-legal/?outputType=amp-type)
18. [El Mexicano, 2 de noviembre de 2021](https://el-mexicano.com.mx/Uploads/PrintEdition/2021-11-02.pdf)
19. [Así recordarán a Octavio Ocaña en la nueva temporada de Vecinos, Milenio](https://www.milenio.com/espectaculos/television/asi-recordaran-a-octavio-ocana-en-la-nueva-temporada-de-vecinos)

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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of Latin America and Iberia › Mexican screen actors*

*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*

*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*

License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license