Biography
Naya Marie Rivera is an American actress, singer and model born in Valencia, California, on January 12, 1987. She is widely recognized for her role as Santana Lopez in the popular television series “delighted,” in which her role as a strong, witty cheerleader showcased her acting and singing talents.
Rivera’s career began in childhood, appearing in many commercials and shows such as “The youthful prince of Bel-Air” And “Family problems.”
Her talents extended to music; she released her debut album, “So sorry,” in 2013, which featured her hit single “Delighted.” In addition to her entertainment career, Rivera is known for her advocacy of social issues, especially those affecting the Latino community, and her representation of diverse characters in media. communication.
Tragically, Naya Rivera passed away on July 8, 2020 in a drowning accident at Lake Piru in California. Her legacy continues through her work and her son, Josey Hollis Dorsey, whom she shared with her ex-husband, Ryan Dorsey.
American actress and singer
Naya Rivera |
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 Naya Rivera: History ‧ Bio ‧ Photos |
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| Wiki Info & About Data | |
| Real name: | Naya Marie Rivera |
| Stage name: | Naya Rivera |
| Born: | January 12, 1987 (33 years old) |
| Place of birth: | Santa Clarita, California, USA |
| Died: | July 8, 2020 (33 years old), Lake Piru, California, USA |
| Nationality: | American |
| Education: | Study at home |
| Height: | 1.65 m |
| Parents: | George Rivera, Yolanda Previtire |
| Siblings: | Nickayla Rivera, Mychal Rivera |
| Couple: | Big Sean (b. 2013–2014), Ryan Dorsey (b. 2014–2018) |
| Boyfriend • Partner: | David Spade (2017), Matthew Hodgson (2011-2013), Douglas Booth (2011), Cory Monteith (2009), Mark Salling (2007-2010), Tahj Mowry (2000-2004) |
| Children: | Josey Hollis Dorsey |
| Job: | Actress • Media personality |
| Net worth: | 5 million USD (USD) |
Early Life & Education
Naya Rivera was born on January 12, 1987 in Valencia, California, into a family with strong ties to the entertainment industry, allowing her early exposure to acting.
She is of Puerto Rican and African American descent, identifies as Afro-Latina, and was raised in a Christian family. Her parents, Yolanda Lynne (née Previtire) and George Rivera made significant contributions to her career path; Yolanda is a former model and television writer, while George is involved in music, producing and acting.
Naya has a younger sister, Nickayla Rivera, who also pursues acting, and an older brother, Mychal Rivera, an American football player. Due to her commitment to acting, Naya was homeschooled for most of her studies, allowing her to balance her studies with her career. This setup is standard for child actors, providing the flexibility to work on set while continuing to study.
Career
Naya Rivera had a dynamic career that included acting, singing and modeling, leaving a lasting impact, primarily through her television work. She began acting at a young age, appearing in commercials and shows like “Royal Family,” “Family problems,” And “The youthful prince of Bel-Air.”
However, her breakthrough role was Santana Lopez in the hit series “delighted.” Initially a recurring character, Santana quickly became a central character thanks to Rivera’s beautiful portrayal, blending sharp intelligence, fierce attitude, and impressive vocal talent. This performance cemented Santana as an iconic character on the show.
Based on her success on “delighted,” Rivera explores music, releases debut single “So sorry” in 2013, followed by unusual songs reflecting her personal experiences. Her music allows fans to connect with her on a deeper, more personal level. In addition to her work in the entertainment industry, she also ventured into modeling, appearing in many magazines and campaigns showcasing her beauty and style.
Rivera has been a vocal advocate for social issues, especially those affecting the Latinx community and women, using her influence to push for better representation and opportunity in Hollywood. Afterward “delighted,” she continued to work on a variety of projects, though none had quite the same cultural impact as her role as Santana Lopez. She still interacts with fans through reality TV, social networks and shares her journey as a mother and her passion for fitness.
Social Media
- Instagram: Naya Rivera (@nayarivera)
- Facebook: Naya Rivera
Personal life
Naya Rivera married actor Ryan Dorsey in July 2014 in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Their relationship faced many challenges, as Rivera filed for divorce in November 2016, briefly reconciled but ultimately filed for divorce again in December 2017.
Their divorce was finalized in June 2018. Although separated, they remained committed to co-parenting their son Josey Hollis Dorsey, born in 2015. Josey frequently appeared on Rivera’s social media, reflecting reflects her dedication to motherhood.
Standing at around 5 feet 2 inches tall, Rivera’s dating history includes notable relationships. She briefly dated Ryan Dorsey before marrying him, reconnecting after her engagement to rapper Big Sean ended in April 2014. Their engagement took place just six months after they started dating in October 2013.
Earlier in her career, Rivera was linked to her “delightedco-star Mark Salling, although this relationship is less publicized. In 2017, she was briefly involved with comedian David Spade, who attracted attention through public appearances rather than detailed coverage.
Rivera’s romantic history includes engagement to Big Sean (2013-2014) and relationships with David Spade (2017), Matthew Hodgson (2011-2013), Douglas Booth (2011), Cory Monteith (2009) , Mark Salling (2007-2010) and Tahj Mowry (2000-2004).
Cause of death
Naya Rivera’s death is believed to be due to accidental drowning. This conclusion was drawn from autopsy and toxicology reports released by the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office after her body was found in Lake Piru, California.
According to the report, Rivera had small amounts of prescription drugs and alcohol in her system, but these were not considered to be the direct cause of her drowning.
The circumstances suggest she may have been caught in the current or exhausted while ensuring her son’s safety by returning him to their boat before she went under.
Net worth
Naya Rivera’s net worth was estimated to be around $5 million at the time of her death in July 2020. This figure was accumulated through her extensive entertainment career, which began in her childhood and reached its peak with her role as Santana Lopez in the television series “delighted.”
Rivera’s sources of income include acting, music (where she released an album and single), book writing (with her memoir “Sorry No sorry“), and various modeling and endorsement deals. Her participation in “delighted” significantly increased her earnings, with reports suggesting she earned around $40,000 per episode at her peak with the show.
Job content
Below is a list of Naya Rivera’s notable works in television, film, music and other media:
Television
- “Glee” (2009-2015) – As Santana Lopez
- “The Royal Family” (1991) – Young Marquesa
- “Family Matters” (1996) – Various roles
- “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” (1991-1992) – Various roles
- “Smart Guy” (1997) – Many different roles
- “The Wizard of Waverly Place” (2008) – Guest appearance
- “Devious Maids” (2013) – Guest appearance
- “Step Up: High Water” (2018) – Judge (TV special)
- “The Following” (2014) – Guest appearance
- “Jane the Virgin” (2015) – Guest appearance
Film
- “Let’s Carry On: Fight to the End” (2009) – Lindsay
- “Master of Disguise” (2002) – Young Jennifer Baker
- “The Flamingo Rising” (2001) – Young Marshall
- “She’s Out of My League” (2010) – Cameo
Music
- “Sorry” (2013) – Debut album
- Singles: “Sorry”, “Happiness”, “Vida Loca”, “Girlfriend”
Book
- “Sorry Not Sorry: Dreams, Mistakes and Growth” (2015) – Memoir
Reality TV/Other Programs
- “Dancing with the Stars” (2020) – Contestant
- “The Choice” (2017) – Gameshow contestant
Voice acting:
- “Batman: The Dark Knight Returns” (2012-2013) – Carrie Kelley / Robin
Music videos
- She has appeared in various music videos, including for artists such as Big Sean, in which she was featured in “Guap.”
Be a model
- Naya also dabbled in modeling, appearing in magazines and campaigns throughout her career.
