Naya Rivera

**Naya Marie Rivera** (January 12, 1987 – July 8, 2020) was an American actress, model and singer. She was known for her role as Santana Lopez on the Fox television series _Glee_ (2009–15).

She died on July 8, 2020 at the age of 33 in Lake Piru in Fillmore, California. Her body was not found until July 13. Police said that she had probably drowned in the lake.

## Career

As a baby, she appeared in Kmart commercials before she began acting.

Her career began with her debut role as Hillary Winston on the short-lived CBS sitcom _The Royal Family_ at the age of 4 (1991–1992). She appeared in minor roles as a teenager in 2000s television programs. She later became well known for his role as Santana Lopez on the Fox television series _Glee_ (2009–2015).

Rivera was signed to Columbia Records as a solo artist in 2011 and released a single in 2013, "Sorry", featuring rapper Big Sean.

Rivera made her feature movie debut as Vera in the horror movie _At the Devil's Door_ (2014), and recurred as Blanca on the third season of the Lifetime television series _Devious Maids_ in 2015.

In 2016, she published a memoir with TarcherPerigee, _Sorry Not Sorry: Dreams, Mistakes, and Growing Up_.

In 2018, it was announced that she would be taking the role of school administrator Collette Jones in the YouTube Red series _Step Up: High Water_.

## Personal life

Rivera was born in Santa Clarita, California. She was raised in Los Angeles.

From 2014 to 2018, she was married to Ryan Dorsey. The two divorced. She was also in a relationship with Big Sean from 2013 to 2014. They were briefly engaged.

Rivera dedicated her time to many charitable organizations including GLAAD, Stand Up to Cancer, The Trevor Project, The Elephant Project, and The Sunshine Foundation.

She was bisexual.

## Legal troubles

In late November 2017, Rivera was arrested and charged in Kanawha County, West Virginia with domestic battery against her future ex-husband Dorsey after she allegedly hit him in the head and face. In January 2018, the domestic battery charge was dismissed at the request of Dorsey.

## Filmography

|Year|Title|Role|Notes||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|1991–1992|_The Royal Family_|Hillary Wilson|Main role; 15 episodes||
|1992–1993|_Family Matters_|Gwendolyn|Recurring role (season 4); 3 episodes||
|1993|_The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air_|Cindy|Episode: "Bundle of Joy" (Season 3, episode 16)||
|1995|_Live Shot_|Ann|Episode: "Another Day, Another Story" (Season 1, episode 2)||
|1996|_Baywatch_|Willa|Episode: "Scorcher" (Season 7, episode 5)||
|1997–1999|_Smart Guy_|Tanya|Episodes: "Baby, It's You and You and You" (Season 1, episode 7); "Never Too Young" (Season 3, episode 22)||
|2002|_Even Stevens_|Charlene|Episode: "Short Story" (Season 3, episode 9)||
|2002–2006|_The Bernie Mac Show_|Donna|Recurring role; 11 episodes||
|2003|_Soul Food_|Lauryn|Episodes: "Truth Consequences" (Season 4, episode 4); "Nobody's Child" (Season 4, episode 9)||
|2004|_8 Simple Rules_|Nice girl|Episode: "Halloween" (Season 3, episode 6)||
|rowspan="2"|2008|_Girlfriends_|Karin|Episode: "Stand and Deliver" (Season 8, episode 13)|
|_CSI: Miami_|Rachel Calvado|Episode: "Power Trip" (Season 7, episode 9)|||
|2009–2015|_Glee_|Santana Lopez|Main role (seasons 2–5); recurring role (seasons 1, 6); 99 episodes - also performer||
|2015|_Devious Maids_|Blanca Alvarez|Recurring role (season 3); 5 episodes||
|2016|_American Dad!_|Lolo Fuentes (voice)|Episode: "The Unincludeds" (Season 11, episode 11)||
|2018–2019|_Step Up: High Water_|Collette Jones|Main role (seasons 1–2); 20 episodes||

|Year|Title|Role|Notes|
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
|2002|_The Master of Disguise_|Captain America Kid|Cameo appearance|
|2009|_Frankenhood_|Hottie|Cameo appearance|
|2011|_Glee: The 3D Concert Movie_|Santana Lopez|Concert film|
|2013|_The Naughty List_|Sparkle (voice)|English dub|
|2014|_At the Devil's Door_|Vera|Feature film debut|
|2017|_Mad Families_|Felipa Jonas||

## Disappearance and death

On July 8, 2020, Rivera became a missing person after her four-year-old son was found alone in Rivera's rented boat at Lake Piru in Fillmore, California. The following day, Ventura County sheriff's department said that Rivera most likely drowned and died.

On July 13, 2020, a body was found. The sheriff of Ventura County said in a press conference that the body found was most likely Rivera. Rivera was 33 years old.

## Infobox (musical artist)

- **embed**: yes
- **background**: solo_singer
- **instrument**: Vocals
- **label**: Columbia Records, Columbia


## Infobox (person)

- **name**: Naya Rivera
- **image**: Naya Rivera, Heather Morris & Jenna Ushkowitz (4852417639) (cropped).jpg
- **caption**: Rivera in 2010
- **birth name**: Naya Marie Rivera
- **birth place**: Santa Clarita, California, Santa Clarita, California, United States, U.S.
- **death place**: Fillmore, California, Fillmore, California, U.S.
- **years active**: 1991–2020
- **partner**: Big Sean (2013–14)
- **children**: 1
- **relatives**: Mychal Rivera