Naya Marie Rivera
10 min read
Reading time
1,900
Words
Published
37
Film credits
5
Awards
Naya Rivera died at 33 from accidental drowning on Lake Piru in July 2020. She is remembered as Santana Lopez on Glee 2009-2015. Her acting career began at age four on The Royal Family 1991. She later released music with Columbia Records, won a Screen Actors Guild Award, and wrote the memoir Sorry Not Sorry 2016.
Names, aliases, and relatives of Naya Rivera — birth name, kin, and personal ties.
Naya Rivera by the numbers — life, work, and family.
Naya Rivera — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.
At age four, Naya Rivera landed her first acting role as Hillary Winston on the sitcom The Royal Family 1991. Born on January 12, 1987, in Valencia, California, she is of half Puerto Rican, one quarter African-American, and one quarter German descent. She attended Valencia High School and the New York Film Academy, and began songwriting at 15. As a teenager, she auditioned for American Idol but did not make the cut.
In 2009, Rivera joined Fox’s musical comedy-drama Glee as Santana Lopez. Initially a supporting character, Santana became a fan favorite. Rivera’s performance earned her a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series. She signed with Columbia Records in 2011 and released her single Sorry featuring Big Sean in September 2013. Before Glee, she appeared in guest roles on CSI: Miami, The Bernie Mac Show, and Family Matters, and in the film The Master of Disguise. After Glee, she voiced characters in Batman: The Long Halloween Parts 1 and 2. Rivera nearly quit acting before landing the Glee role.
Naya Rivera married actor Ryan Dorsey in July 2014. Their son Josey was born on September 17, 2015. The couple divorced in 2018. Her younger brother Mychal Rivera played tight end for the NFL’s Oakland Raiders. She was close friends with Glee co-star Heather Morris and co-executive producer John Peter Kousakis. In her memoir Sorry Not Sorry, Rivera wrote openly about her personal struggles, including an abortion in 2010. She dated actor Tahj Mowry from 2000 to 2004.
Naya Rivera’s portrayal of Santana Lopez – one of the first prominent Afro-Latina LGBTQ characters on network television – defines her legacy. Her performance on Glee earned a Screen Actors Guild Award and multiple other honors. After her death in July 2020, fans and castmates paid tribute. Her memoir Sorry Not Sorry inspired many. Rivera ranked number one on AfterEllen’s Hot 100 list in 2011 and 2012. She also earned recognition for her music, including the 2013 single Sorry, and for her charitable work.
The complete filmography of Naya Rivera — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.
Every award, honor, and recognition received by Naya Rivera — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.
A wall of memorable lines from Naya Rivera — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.
My Passion for Music Is One of My Greatest Loves.
My Heart Is a Slushee Full of Love and I Want to Toss It All Over You.
Getting Hit on by Both Genders Is Such a Champagne Problem.
I Eat the Same Thing Every Day: Brown Rice Pasta That’s Gluten Free. I Put Arugula at the Bottom of the Bowl, Make the Pasta and While It’s Still Hot I Put It on Top of the Arugula so It Sort of Wilts It. Throw on Some Tuna, Mix It up and It’s a Really Good Tuna Salad.
Little-known facts about Naya Rivera — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.
Rivera signed with Elton John’s management company in September 2012.
Rivera’s heritage is half Puerto Rican, one quarter African-American, and one quarter German.
She auditioned for American Idol 2002 but didn’t make the cut.
Rivera took up songwriting at the age of 15.
She had a son named Josey Dorsey born September 17, 2015 with ex-husband Ryan Dorsey.
Rivera visited Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch twice, invited by Jackson’s niece.
In May 2011, Rivera signed a record contract with Columbia Records.
Despite their on-screen rivalry on Glee, Rivera and co-star Kevin McHale were close friends and gave each other the nickname Bee.
Rivera died from accidental drowning on July 8, 2020, after renting a pontoon boat on Lake Piru with her four-year-old son Josey, who survived.
As a baby, Rivera appeared in Kmart commercials; her first significant acting job was at age four on The Royal Family 1991.
Her younger sister Nickayla Rivera called her Little Sonic because of her high energy.
Rivera released her first single Sorry featuring Big Sean on September 17, 2013.
She was an avid reader and dedicated time to various charitable organizations.
Her real-life best friends were Glee co-star Heather Elizabeth Morris and co-executive producer John Peter Kousakis.
Rivera was on the verge of quitting acting before she got her role on Glee 2009.
Her younger brother Mychal Rivera played tight end for the Tennessee Volunteers and later the Oakland Raiders in the NFL.
Rivera had 6 tattoos, including a small bow on her neck, the word Love in Hebrew on her wrist, a cross on her lower back, a peace sign on her ankle, and a shooting star on her foot.
She created a celebratory dance known as The Naya Dance.
At age 17, she worked as a greeter at Abercrombie & Fitch and later sold memberships at Lake Elizabeth Golf & Ranch Club.
Rivera revealed in her memoir Sorry Not Sorry that she had an abortion in 2010 with Ryan Dorsey.
She signed her autograph as a heart followed by her first name.
In 2016, she wrote her memoir Sorry Not Sorry: Dreams, Mistakes & Growing Up.
Rivera confirmed in her memoir that actor Tahj Mowry was her first boyfriend; they dated from 2000 to 2004.
In December 2011, Rivera became the new face of Proactiv Solution.
In 2002, she appeared in the music video for B2K’s Why I Love You.
Rivera held the #1 rank on AfterEllen’s Hot 100 list in 2012.
Her younger sister Nickayla Rivera is a model.
Her first concert was seeing No Doubt.
Her mother Yolanda was a former model.
As a teenager, Rivera loved The Simple Life and wanted to be like Paris Hilton; she got a dog named Kally.
In 2012, she ranked #27 on the Maxim Hot 100 list.
In 2011, she ranked #1 on AfterEllen’s Hot 100 list.
Rivera was the daughter of George Rivera.
In 2010, she ranked #61 on the Maxim Hot 100 list.
She was a lifelong liberal Democrat.
Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Naya Rivera.
Celebrities similar to Naya Rivera — same craft, ranked by reach.
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