A look back at the late “Glee” star’s life as an actor, singer, and devoted mother.

Naya Rivera’s life and legacy, 6 years after her death

A look back at the late “Glee” star’s life as an actor, singer, and devoted mother.

By Brianna Zigler

July 8, 2026 6:15 p.m. ET

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Naya Rivera attends the Libertine Fall 2019 Runway Show at Ebell of Los Angeles on April 26, 2019, in Los Angeles. Credit:

Presley Ann/Getty

- Six years ago, *Glee* star Naya Rivera died in a boating accident at Lake Piru, Calif.

- She is best known for portraying Santana Lopez on *Glee*, but she also left behind an impressive legacy as a singer, dancer, and actress.

- She is survived by her son, Josey, who was with her at the time of her death.

Six years ago, *Glee* star Naya Rivera died at the age of 33.

On July 8, 2020, Rivera drowned during a boating trip on Lake Piru in Ventura County, Calif., while out with her son, Josey Hollis Dorsey. Josey, who was 4 years old at the time, was later found safe, asleep in a life jacket aboard the drifting boat. Rivera’s body was recovered five days later.

After beginning her career as a child model and actor, Rivera landed her breakout role as Santana Lopez on the musical series *Glee*, where she starred from 2009 to 2015.

In addition to her acting career, Rivera was also an accomplished singer, dancer, and advocate. In her personal life, she was married to actor Ryan Dorsey, with whom she shared her son, Josey.

On the sixth anniversary of her death, we’re looking back at Rivera’s life and enduring legacy.

Naya Rivera began her career as a child actress and model

Naya Rivera as Santana Lopez on ‘Glee’.

Born on January 12, 1987, Rivera began her career as a child model and actress, appearing in a number of commercials — including one for Kmart — before landing the role of Hillary Winston on the CBS sitcom *The Royal Family*. She starred on the series from 1991 to 1992.

At just 5 years old, Rivera earned a nomination for a Young Artist Award. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, she appeared in a number of television series, including *The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air*, *Family Matters*, *Baywatch*, and *Even Stevens*.

Her breakout performance was as Santana Lopez on Glee

Naya Rivera as Santana Lopez on ‘Glee’.

Michael Yarish/FOX

Rivera’s life changed forever when she was cast on *Glee* in 2009, at the age of 22. She played Santana Lopez, the sharp-tongued sidekick to antagonistic cheerleading captain Quinn Fabray (Dianna Agron).

As the series progressed, it was revealed that Santana had feelings for her best friend and fellow cheerleader, Brittany Pierce (Heather Morris). The two eventually began a relationship, making Santana one of the first openly lesbian Latina characters on mainstream network television.

Though Rivera was not gay herself, she said she was honored to portray Santana and tell her story.

Speaking with *The Hollywood Reporter* in 2012, Rivera discussed how meaningful it was to know Santana’s story was resonating with viewers. “I get so many stories of people that the story line truly touched them and hit home for them,” she said. “It’s created a fan base for me that I never thought I’d have. It’s really cool to see how it’s evolved and it’s given me the greatest fan base in the entire world.”

For Billboard’s Pride Month coverage in 2017, Rivera wrote an impassioned letter to the LGBTQ+ community. In it, she wrote, “I have been so incredibly fortunate to portray a character on television that has meant so much to so many within the LGBTQ community.... It has been one of the great blessings in my life to receive such love and touching stories as a result of my portrayal of Santana Lopez on Glee. We are all put on this earth to be a service to others and I am grateful that for some, my Cheerios ponytail and sassy sashays may have given a little light to someone somewhere, who may have needed it.”

During her time on *Glee*, Rivera won a Screen Actors Guild Award and an ALMA Award. She also shared a nomination for a Grammy Award with the *Glee* cast and received a Brit Award nomination for International Breakthrough Act as part of the ensemble.

Rivera continued to act, dance, and sing after Glee

Naya Rivera poses for a portrait session at the 2013 Giffoni Film Festival on July 24, 2013 in Giffoni Valle Piana, Italy.

Zunino Celotto/Getty

After *Glee* concluded in 2015, Rivera’s career in entertainment didn’t slow down. Just before the show ended, she made her feature film debut in *At the Devil’s Door*, and she later appeared in *Mad Families*. She also voiced Selina Kyle/Catwoman in *Batman: The Long Halloween*, which became her final film role. Released posthumously in 2021, the two-part animated film was dedicated to her memory.

Rivera also had a main role in the series *Step Up: High Water*, appeared in five episodes of *Devious Maids*, and made cameos as herself on several reality shows, including *The Real Housewives of Atlanta*, *RuPaul’s Drag Race*, and *Sugar Rush: Extra Sweet*.

Her final television appearance was as a guest on the Adult Swim comedy series *The Eric Andre Show*, where she was game to be tormented by irreverent host Eric Andre and guest cohost LaKeith Stanfield.

In addition to her work in film and television, Rivera was also an accomplished singer and dancer, the latter of which she frequently showcased on *Glee*. During and after her time on the series, she pursued a music career, signing a solo recording deal with Columbia Records in 2011.

She told *Rolling Stone* in 2013, “I’ve been waiting for this day ever since I was a little girl. It’s always been my dream to release my own music. I love writing ... so to see something that I’ve been wanting to do forever come true is amazing. Seeing my solo stuff on iTunes right now is blowing my mind.”

Her debut single, “Sorry,” featured her then-fiancé Big Sean. She later released the EP *My Heart* in 2019.

Naya Rivera championed a number of charitable causes

Naya Rivera attends the premiere of ‘42’ at TCL Chinese Theatre on April 9, 2013, in Hollywood.

Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty

When Rivera wasn’t entertaining people, she was helping them. She donated to a variety of charities, particularly those supporting the LGBTQ+ community and immigrants. She was involved with organizations including GLAAD, Stand Up To Cancer, The Trevor Project, The Elephant Project, Entertainment Education Development (EED), Los Angeles Mission, and I Am An Immigrant.

In 2009, she told *Starry Constellation Magazine*, “I feel like [...] participating in charity events or giving back to the community [...] is really important to do because I feel like I am so blessed with my job and my life right now that I would love to take time to bowl for a cause. I hope to raise money to help some other people that are in a really tough situation.”

Following her death, her former publicist, Zack Teperman, told *Us Weekly* that Rivera “really wanted to use her platform and her voice for good, whether it was for anti-bullying, for equal rights, for women of color, she wanted to use this role to help talk about a bigger message.”

She was married to Ryan Dorsey, and they had one child together

Naya Rivera, Ryan Dorsey, and their son Josey Hollis Dorsey.

Ryan Dorsey/Instagram

Toward the beginning of her time on *Glee*, Rivera began dating Ryan Dorsey. She later revealed that she had an abortion during a period when the two were temporarily broken up.

Rivera wrote about the experience in her 2016 memoir, *Sorry Not Sorry*, saying, “When I made that decision [to have an abortion], I made it by myself, as I feel is the case for a lot of women, and I did not share it with Ryan at the time.”

Rivera later told PEOPLE that she initially did not tell Dorsey about her decision, but when she eventually did, he was understanding. She said it made her “love him that much more.”

“He said, ‘In the short time that we dated, I wish that I could have done something to make you feel like you could have trusted me with that information because I would have loved to have been there with you,’” Rivera recalled. “I think it was the kindest, best thing that any man could have ever said in that situation.”

After dating on and off for four years, Rivera and Dorsey quietly married in an intimate ceremony on July 19, 2014, in Cabo San Lucas.

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However, just two years later, in November 2016, Rivera filed for divorce. Though she initially called off the divorce the following year, she refiled in December 2017. Their divorce was finalized in June 2018.

During their marriage, Rivera announced in February 2015 that the couple was expecting their first child together.

Rivera wrote on her website, “Surprise! We’re having a baby! Ryan and I feel so blessed and can’t wait to welcome the newest member of our family.” They welcomed their son, Josey Hollis Dorsey, on Sept. 17, 2015.

Rivera spoke with PEOPLE about motherhood in 2018 and had nothing but praise for her son. “First and foremost, everything I do is for Josey. He’s at the best age! He’s talking so much and [he’s] so cool, kind and sweet. Josey inspires me in so many ways.”

Three months before Rivera disappeared during the boating trip that claimed her life, she and Dorsey agreed to share joint custody of their son.

Rivera died in a boating accident in 2020

Naya Rivera and Josey Hollis attend the premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures’ ‘The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part’ at Regency Village Theatre on February 2, 2019 in Westwood, California.

Gregg DeGuire/Getty

On July 8, 2020, Rivera was reported missing after she disappeared while on a boating trip to Lake Piru with her son, Josey, a place where she had many fond childhood memories. Rivera had rented a pontoon boat, and the two went swimming in the lake.

When the boat was not returned on time, staff went looking for it and found Josey alone aboard, asleep and wearing a life jacket. Authorities searched for Rivera for five days. After the initial search-and-rescue effort became a recovery operation, she was presumed dead. Rivera’s body was recovered from the lake on July 13, 2020. Her death was ruled an accidental drowning.

In 2025, Dorsey spoke publicly about Rivera’s death in an interview with PEOPLE, describing the period before authorities found her body as “the worst five days of my life.”

“I instantly said, ‘What do you mean? She knows how to swim,’” Dorsey said. “They jumped in, and Josey got back on, and they’re trying to find Naya.” He recalled collapsing onto a pallet of drinks. “I didn’t know what to think, but I feared the worst.”

Dorsey also reflected on the heartbreaking details Josey shared about his final moments with his mother. “He said that the last thing she said was his name, and then she went under, and he didn’t see her anymore. It just rocks my world that he had to witness her last moments.”

He also spoke about the guilt Josey felt over surviving an accident that claimed his mother’s life.

“Something he’s said over and over is that he was trying to find a life raft, and there was a rope, but there was a big spider on the rope, and he was too scared to throw it,” Dorsey said. “I keep reassuring him, ‘Buddy, that rope wasn’t going to be long enough.’”

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Her family and friends have continued to keep her memory alive

Chris Colfer, Jenna Ushkowitz, Harry Shum Jr, Dianna Agron, Cory Monteith, Heather Morris, Lea Michele, Dijon Talton, Mark Salling, Naya Rivera, Kevin McHale, and Amber Riley on ‘Glee’.

In July 2026, Dorsey gave an interview to *Page Six* on the sixth anniversary of Rivera’s death. He said he tells his son that Rivera is “smiling down” on him and is proud of the young man he’s becoming.

“He’s been taking piano lessons for a little over a year now,” Dorsey explained. “And he’s getting pretty good. It’s the one thing I connected with his mom,” he said, adding that the late actress had always “regretted” quitting piano.

Rivera’s former *Glee* costars have also spoken fondly of her over the years. On the first anniversary of her death, several cast members shared heartfelt tributes. In July 2024, Heather Morris remembered her friend in a touching Instagram post.

She captioned a photo of the two of them together, “I can’t believe it’s been 4 years..boy how time flies. Yet every year I’m taken by surprise how much it still hurts. We grow up together, fell apart, and came back together in such a beautiful way. God you’re missed so much…except I can’t shake the feeling you never left…you’re still here with us..guiding us to our highest potential.”

She concluded the post by writing, “I miss you Nay Nay.”

In a September 2025 episode of *And That’s What You REALLY Missed*, the *Glee* rewatch podcast hosted by Kevin McHale and Jenna Ushkowitz, costar Jane Lynch recalled being impressed by Rivera’s performance during an emotionally charged scene.

“It was real, and she meant it,” Lynch said. “And I was very impressed with her, her commitment, and her strength because I’m a big girl.”

She added, “Also, I remember how she would have these monologues and she’d be word-perfect in the first take. She was a real pro. So missed.”

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