Glee’s Naya Rivera Dead At 33

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Credit: LA Times

The body of Naya Rivera, best-known for her role as Santana Lopez on Glee, was found on Monday, July 13 at Lake Piru, confirmed the Ventura County Sheriff’s department. Rivera was 33.

Rivera was reported missing on Wednesday, July 8 while boating on the lake with her young son. The pair did not return their rented boat, which raised concerns. Then Rivera’s son Josey Dorsey was found sleeping in the boat with Rivera nowhere in sight. The rescue mission had turned into a recovery mission as the days past. Hopefully, however, Rivera’s family and friends can have some closure.

It is tentatively believed that Rivera’s death was due to an accidental drowning. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department had stated that they have not found a sign of suicide or foul play involved with the tragedy. According to what the Sheriff’s office said of Dorsey’s testimony, it sounds like Rivera made sure he was able to get to safety during the incident that led to her death.

Rivera had been steadily working in Hollywood since she was a young child appearing series like The Fresh Prince of Bel Air and The Bernie Mac Show. Her biggest break, however, was in the television series Glee where she appeared in all six seasons as the character of Santana Lopez.

Following Glee‘s ending, she had roles on Devious Maids and the former YouTube Red (now Starz) series Step Up: High Water.

The cast of Glee gathered at the shore of the lake after a body was announced as discovered but before it was public knowledge that it was Rivera to hold hands. Seven years ago to the day, Cory Monteith, who played Finn Hudson on the series, died of a drug overdose at the age of 31.

Glee cast members took to Twitter to share their heartbreak over Rivera’s tragic demise.

 

Rivera is survived by her parents: Yolanda and George Rivera, her younger brother Mychal, younger sister Nickayla, and her 4-year-old son Josey Hollis Dorsey.

Bec Heim
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