Naya Marie Rivera (January 12, 1987 - July 8, 2020) was an American actress, singer, and model. Depending on your age, tastes and locations, she can be best known for her work as a child star, her roles on Glee or Devious Maids, or her relationship with Big Sean. Or the M&M's commercials. She was also a song- and screen-writer. Rivera has also been known professionally as Naya Marie.
Born in California in 1987, she was signed to the talent agency that represented her mother at a young age. Being half-black and predominantly displaying these characteristics in childhood, she consistently took lead and recurring black roles in The '90s and the 2000s. In the late aughts, Rivera's lead roles diminished and she instead took up work as a nanny, a Hooters girl and a greeter at Abercrombie & Fitch, before returning to acting by auditioning for Glee. She subsequently won more Latina roles, after being cast as Santana Lopez, utilising the Latina half of her heritage. Though initially in the background, her character was well liked and then promoted after the first season, despite well-publicised professional disagreements during the making of the show. Rivera also featured in the news for her documented relationship with rapper Big Sean, and their sudden break-up that led to her marriage to old friend Ryan Dorsey in 2014 (and Sean's equally polemic relationship with Ariana Grande). During this time, she also released her debut single ("Sorry") with Columbia Records. She has a son (Josey Hollis) with Dorsey, and had published an autobiography.
She had two younger siblings, her brother Mychal Rivera an Oakland Raiders tight end and sister the model Nickayla Rivera. She was first nominated for her acting in 1991, and has since won a Screen Actors Guild Award (2010); a Gay People's Choice Award (2010) and a People's Choice Award (2014); the Giffoni Award (2013); and three ALMA Awards — two for music, one for acting (2011 & 2012).
Commonly associated with Heather Morris, Kevin McHale, Dianna Agron, Lea Michele, Max Adler, and Chris Colfer.
Tragically, Naya disappeared while out on a boating trip on Lake Piru with her son on July 8, 2020. Her body was found five days later on July 13, seven years to the date her Glee co-star Cory Monteith was found dead, serving as a tragic coincidence. Rivera's death was ruled as accidental drowning.
Filmography
- The Royal Family, Hillary Winston (1991-92)
- The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Cindy (1993)
- Family Matters, Gwendolyn (1992-93)
- The Sinbad Show, party extra (1993)
- Live Shot, Ann (1995)
- Baywatch, Willa (1996)
- Smart Guy, Kelly/Tanya (1997-1999)
- The Jersey, background (1999)
- House Blend, Chloe (TV Movie, 2002)
- Even Stevens, Charlene (2002)
- The Master of Disguise, Captain America kid (2002)
- B2K music videos "Why I Love You", "1:47" (2002)
- Music video for "Supermassive Black Hole" with 2Cellos (2002)
- Soul Food, Lauryn (2003)
- 8 Simple Rules, Nice Girl (2004)
- The Bernie Mac Show, Donna (2002-2006)
- Girlfriends (2000), Karin (2008)
- CSI: Miami, Rachel Calvado (2008)
- Frankenhood, "Hottie" (2009)
- Nuthin' But A Glee Thang (2011)
- Glee: The 3D Concert Movie, Santana Lopez (2011)
- The Naughty List, Sparkle (2013)
- At The Devil's Door, Vera (2014)
- Glee, Santana Lopez (2009-15)
- Devious Maids, Blanca Alvarez (2015)
- American Dad! , Lolo Fuentes (2016) (voice)
- Batman: The Long Halloween Selina Kyle/Catwoman (2021, Posthumous Credit)
Theatre
- U Don't Know Me as Keila in Los Angeles (2006)
- U Don't Know Me National Tour as Keila (2006-07)
Hosting
- Pajama Rama (2002-04)
- The Glee Project (2012)
- Fashion Police (2013)
- The View (2014-16)
Discography
- Glee Discography
- "Sorry (feat. Big Sean)" (2013)note
Tropes associated with Naya Rivera:
- Amazing Freaking Grace: Rivera delivered a gorgeous version for Step Up.
- Heroic Sacrifice: While we can't say for sure what happened, police believe (going by what her four-year-old son was able to tell them) that she tried to swim back to the boat against the current and successfully used the last of her energy to get her son on it, but was too exhausted to pull herself up or fight the current.
- Reaction Shot: Possibly something that got her promoted from the background on Glee, the use of her reactions as gifs in replacement for a response on the Internet is phenomenal. No list or forum would be complete without them.
- Typecasting: As the cute black girl when young. Since then, she played several different Latina characters.
- What Could Have Been: She campaigned to play Anita in the 2021 film adaptation of West Side Story, having sung both of her songs on Glee. Ultimately, Ariana DeBose was cast instead.
