A Mexican wrestler who starred in the film Nacho Libre has died after collapsing from apparent cardiac arrest during a match in London.

Key points: The event promoter said the wrestler suffered "a cardiac arrest" during a match

The event promoter said the wrestler suffered "a cardiac arrest" during a match Emergency services arrived five minutes after being called but he couldn't be saved

Emergency services arrived five minutes after being called but he couldn't be saved "Silver King" starred alongside Jack Black in the 2006 film Nacho Libre

Cesar Cuauhtemoc Gonzalez Barron, who wrestled under the name Silver King, was one of the featured wrestlers of The Greatest Show of Lucha Libre at the Roundhouse on Saturday night.

Lucha libre is a popular form of wrestling in Mexico that features colourful masks, elaborate costumes and acrobatic techniques.

The north London performance venue tweeted just after 12:30am on Sunday that the 51-year-old "sadly lost his life" during the event.

Lucha Libre World, which promoted the Roundhouse event, said in a statement that he "suffered what we believe was a cardiac arrest while performing in the show and sadly passed away".

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Gonzalez appeared as a champion wrestler and comic villain in the 2006 movie Nacho Libre, which starred Jack Black as a monk who wanted to be a masked luchador (wrestler).

Black posted a tribute to his co-star on Instagram.

The description of the show on the Roundhouse's website said the "awesome and immense Silver King" would take to the ring "portraying his villainous character, the evil rudo Ramses from his role" in the movie.

Hollywood star Jack Black worked with Gonzalez in the film Nacho Libre. ( Supplied: IMDB )

Britain's Press Association reported that Gonzalez's opponent, Juventud Guerrera — Spanish for "Youth Warrior" — knocked him to the canvas twice.

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Gonzalez was struggling to stand up from the first flooring when another blow from Juventud Guerrera sent him sprawling back down front first, the Press Association said.

The victorious wrestler pinned Silver King and started celebrating his win, the news agency said.

Attendee Roberto Carrera Maldonado told the BBC that the wrestler's condition initially appeared "staged" as part of the fight, before efforts were made to revive him and the audience was cleared from the venue.

"All of us were really shocked. It wasn't clear what was happening," Mr Maldonado said.

"I had the impression they didn't know what to do."

The London Ambulance Service said medics arrived five minutes after they were called to the Roundhouse on Saturday, but the patient was pronounced dead at the scene.

Gonzalez was the son of well-known Mexican wrestler who performed as Dr Wagner, and one of his brothers is luchador Dr Wagner Jr.

He made his professional debut in the mid-1980s and worked for promoters in Mexico and Japan.

Gonzalez came from a family of professional wrestlers and was well-known in global wresting circles. ( Supplied: IMDB )

AP