- Singer and actress
Naya Rivera has died at the age of 33. - On Monday, the Ventura County Sheriff's Department confirmed that her body was found in Lake Piru, California, five days after she went missing.
- There was no indication that there was foul play or that this was a suicide, Sheriff Bill Ayub said during a briefing.
- Rivera rented a pontoon boat on Wednesday for her and 4-year-old son Josey, who was found alone on the boat hours later.
- The actress was perhaps best recognized for her role as cheerleader and
glee club member Santana Lopez on Fox's "Glee," which ran for six seasons between 2009 and 2015.
"Glee" star Naya Rivera has died at the age of 33.
On Monday, the Ventura County Sheriff's Department confirmed in a briefing that Rivera's body was found in Lake Piru, California, five days after she went missing.
Sheriff Bill Ayub said that Rivera's body was found floating near the surface of the water in the northern portion of the lake, known as the Narrows. Based on the physical characteristics of the body, they said they were "confident" that the body was Rivera's. The actress didn't have a life jacket on, and an adult-sized one was found on the boat.
There was no indication that there was foul play or that this was a suicide, Ayub said. The sheriff added that Rivera's son told them that he and his mother swam together and described being helped into the boat by Naya, who boosted him onto the boat from behind. When Dorsey looked back, he saw Rivera disappear under the surface of the water.
Next, an autopsy will be performed in Ventura, Ayub said.
The Ventura County Sheriff's Department confirmed on Wednesday that the actress was being searched for in the lake. Rivera rented a pontoon boat that day at 1 p.m. for her and 4-year-old son Josey Hollis Dorsey, who she shared with ex-husband Ryan Dorsey. Approximately three hours later, a boater found the child alone on the boat, asleep and wearing a life vest.
The sheriff's department believed it to be a "horrible accident," NBC Los Angeles reported.
"He was swimming with his mom in the water," Capt. Eric Buschow said. "He got out of the water, back in the water, mom did not."
Recently, Rivera shared a heartwarming photo with her son, which she captioned: "just the two of us."
—Naya Rivera (@NayaRivera) July 7, 2020
Days prior, she encouraged fans to "make the most of today and every day you are given."
"no matter the year, circumstance, or strifes everyday you're alive is a blessing. make the most of today and every day you are given. tomorrow is not promised," Rivera wrote on Instagram.
Rivera's acting career began in the '90s
The actress was born on January 12, 1987, in Santa Clarita, California. Rivera made her TV debut in 1991, starring as Hillary Winston on the CBS sitcom "The Royal Family." The show was created by Eddie Murphy and also starred "Sister, Sister" actress Jackée Harry. It was canceled after one season.
Rivera went on to guest-star on popular shows like "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," "Baywatch," "Family Matters," and "Even Stevens."
Rivera gained worldwide attention when she starred as Santana Lopez on 'Glee'
The Fox sitcom (created by Ian Brennan, Brad Falchuk, and Ryan Murphy) premiered in May 2009 and concluded in March 2015 after six seasons. Rivera portrayed Santana Lopez, a cheerleader and member of the New Directions "Glee" club.
Santana was best friends with fellow Cheerio Brittany Pierce (Heather Morris) and the pair had an on-again, off-again relationship. They got married during the final season. Santana also struggled with her sexuality before coming to terms with it and openly revealing that she was a lesbian.
Throughout her time on the show, Rivera covered songs like Abba's "Dancing Queen," The Zutons' "Valerie" (popularized by late singer Amy Winehouse), and The Band Perry's "If I Die Young."
Outside of the series, she collaborated with ex-fiancé Big Sean for the 2013 track "Sorry."
In a 2019 post celebrating the 10th anniversary of "Glee," Rivera said that she was "blessed to have been a part of such an amazing show."
"I've made lifelong friends, grew in my craft, and made some of the most beautiful memories because of 'Glee,'" she wrote on Instagram.
Rivera added: "I love all of our fans who are beyond amazing and saw a little piece of themselves in each one of the characters. Being a part of something special makes you special and 'Glee' will always have a special place in my heart."
Rivera became a mom in 2015
Rivera welcomed son Josey with then-husband Ryan Dorsey in September 2015. The pair got married in Mexico in 2014 but had a messy split in the years following.
In November 2016, Rivera filed for divorce from Dorsey. The following year, she reportedly filed a request to dismiss the divorce. In November 2017, Rivera filed for divorce again after an altercation that resulted in the actress being arrested and charged with misdemeanor domestic battery. The charges were later dropped.
Rivera and Dorsey's divorce was finalized in June 2018 and the two stars had joint custody of their son.
In the fall 2016 issue of Mini Magazine, the actress opened up about motherhood, saying that it "made me a much more observant person" and helped her realize "how truly selfless you become."
"I hope to instill good morals and values in him," she told the publication. "I want to teach him to be confident but kind, strong but not proud, and to always be in love with life."
In the years after 'Glee,' the actress released a memoir and landed roles in films and shows
Rivera's 2016 memoir titled "Sorry Not Sorry: Dreams, Mistakes, and Growing Up" was filled with surprising revelations about her personal life and her time on "Glee."
The actress said that she had an abortion after her breakup with Dorsey (the two previously dated before splitting and rekindling their relationship years later) and showed up to the set of "Glee" the next day to continue working. She also opened up about her past struggles with anorexia, her friendship with late costar Cory Monteith, and her relationship with costar and ex Mark Salling.
Rivera starred in the 2014 horror movie "At the Devil's Door," portrayed Biana Alvarez on season three of the show "Devious Maids," and was a judge on "RuPaul's Drag Race" in 2017.
Her most recent role was on the YouTube series "Step Up: High Water," a spin-off of the "Step Up" franchise. She portrayed Collette Jones on the show, which was initially canceled but picked up by Starz for a third season in May 2020.
Rivera is survived by son Josey Dorsey.