History Creator / NayaRivera

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 [[UsefulNotes/UnionsInHollywood Screen Actors Guild]] Award (2010); a Gay People's Choice Award (2010) and a People's Choice Award (2014); the [[UsefulNotes/GiffoniHonorees Giffoni Award]] (2013); and three [=ALMA=] Awards -- two for music, one for acting (2011 & 2012).

* AmazingFreakingGrace: Rivera delivered a gorgeous version for ''Series/StepUp''

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 TheNineties and the aughts. 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 ''Series/{{Glee}}'' and more subsequent Latina roles after being cast as Santana Lopez, utilising her Latina half. 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 Music/BigSean, and their sudden break-up that led to her marriage to old friend Ryan Dorsey in 2014 (and Sean's equally polemic relationship with Music/ArianaGrande). During this time, she also released her debut single ("Sorry") with Creator/ColumbiaRecords. She has a son (Josey Hollis) with Dorsey, and had published an autobiography.

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 nineties and the aughts. 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 ''Series/{{Glee}}'' and more subsequent Latina roles after being cast as Santana Lopez, utilising her Latina half. 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 Music/BigSean, and their sudden break-up that led to her marriage to old friend Ryan Dorsey in 2014 (and Sean's equally polemic relationship with Music/ArianaGrande). During this time, she also released her debut single ("Sorry") with Creator/ColumbiaRecords. She has a son (Josey Hollis) with Dorsey, and had published an autobiography.

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 Creator/CoryMonteith was found dead, serving as a tragic coincidence.

Tragically, Naya disappeared while out on a boating trip on Lake Piru with her son on July 8, 2020. An unknown person called the authorities upon seeing her son (four years old at the time) alone on board the boat. Fortunately, the child was unharmed and quickly brought to other family members, but he reported that he and his mother had gone swimming in the lake, and she never got back into the boat. He had a life jacket on, but she had not been wearing one.

This quickly led to a search of the lake and the surrounding areas for Naya, and the hashtag [=#PrayForNaya=] going viral as fans and friends hoped for her safe return. Unfortunately, the police found nothing, and it was soon concluded that she had likely died via accidental drowning. They believe that she and her son got flipped overboard by a current and [[MamaBear she used her last bit of energy to get him back on before she drowned]]. Her body was found on July 13, 2020, seven years to the date her ''Glee'' co-star Creator/CoryMonteith was found dead, serving as a tragic coincidence.

* ''Series/{{Girlfriends}}'', Karin (2008)

* FanNickname: "Nay-Nay" and "Snixx" were nicknames of her own that fans took to referring to her as.

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 ''Series/{{Glee}}'' or ''Series/DeviousMaids'', or her relationship with Music/BigSean. Or the [[Advertising/{{MAndMs}} M&M's commercials]]. She is also a song- and screen-writer. Rivera has also been known professionally as Naya Marie.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/naya_rivera_and_marchesa_fall_2011_rtw_embroidered_cocktail_dress_and_capelet_gallery.jpg]]

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: She campaigned to play Anita in the [[Film/WestSideStory2021 2021 remake]] of ''Theatre/WestSideStory'', having sung both of her songs on ''Glee''. Ultimately, Ariana [=DeBose=] was cast instead.

This quickly led to a search of the lake and the surrounding areas for Naya, and the hashtag [=#PrayForNaya=] going viral as fans and friends hoped for her safe return. Unfortunately, the police found nothing, and it was soon concluded that she had likely died via accidental drowning. They believe that she and her son got flipped overboard by a current and she used her last bit of energy to get him back on before she drowned. Her body was found on July 13, 2020, seven years to the date her ''Glee'' co-star Creator/CoryMonteith was found dead, serving as a tragic coincidence.

* MamaBear: A very tragic case. As far as the police are concerned, she gave her life for her son Josey. They went swimming in the lake and left the boat untethered and they drifted from it. She wasn’t wearing a life jacket. [[HeroicSacrifice They think Naya used every last ounce of strength to catch up to the boat and get Josey back on board, but then had no energy left to save herself and drowned.]]
* PlatonicLifePartners: She was very close with Creator/KevinMcHale (her "little bee") and Creator/HeatherMorris from ''Series/{{Glee}}'', but only in a friendly way.

* RomanceOnTheSet: She had a short-lived fling with ''Glee'' co-star Mark Salling, as well as a longer relationship with the series' co-writer Matthew Hodgson.

'''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 ''Series/{{Glee}}'' or ''Series/DeviousMaids'', or her relationship with Music/BigSean. Or the [[Advertising/{{MAndMs}} M&M's commercials]]. She is also a song- and screen-writer. Rivera has also been known professionally as Naya Marie.

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 ''Series/{{Glee}}'' or ''Series/DeviousMaids'', or her relationship with Music/BigSean. Or the [[Advertising/{{MAndMs}} M&M's commercials]]. She is also a song- and screen-writer. Rivera has also been known professionally as Naya Marie.

* AwardSnub: She was never nominated as an actress on any major platform for her work on ''Series/{{Glee}}''.

* AwardSnub: Was never nominated as an actress on any major platform for her work on ''Series/{{Glee}}''.

* PlatonicLifePartners: Wass very close with Creator/KevinMcHale (her "little bee") and Creator/HeatherMorris from ''Series/{{Glee}}'', but only in a friendly way.

* RomanceOnTheSet: Had a short-lived fling with ''Glee'' co-star Mark Salling, as well as a longer relationship with the series' co-writer Matthew Hodgson.
* {{Typecasting}}: As the cute black girl when young. Since then, she played several different kind of Hispanic.

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 nineties and the aughts. 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 ''Series/{{Glee}}'' and more subsequent Latina roles after being cast as Santana Lopez, utilising her Latina half. 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 Music/BigSean, and their sudden break-up that led to her marriage to old friend Ryan Dorsey in 2014 (and Sean's equally polemic relationship with Music/ArianaGrande). During this time, she also released her debut single ("Sorry") with Creator/ColumbiaRecords. She has a son (Josey Hollis) with Dorsey, and has published an autobiography.

* MamaBear: A very tragic case. As far as the police are concerned, she gave her life for her son Josey. They went swimming in the lake and left the boat untethered and they drifted from it. She wasn’t wearing a life jacket. [[HeroiceSacrifice They think Naya used every last ounce of strength to catch up to the boat and get Josey back on board, but then had no energy left to save herself and drowned.]]

* MamaBear: A very tragic case. As far as the police are concerned, she gave her life for her son Josey. They went swimming in the lake and left the boat untethered and they drifted from it. She wasn’t wearing a life jacket. They think Naya used every last ounce of strength to catch up to the boat and get Josey back on board, but then had no energy left to save herself and drowned.

She has 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 [[UsefulNotes/UnionsInHollywood Screen Actors Guild]] Award (2010); a Gay People's Choice Award (2010) and a People's Choice Award (2014); the [[UsefulNotes/GiffoniHonorees Giffoni Award]] (2013); and three [=ALMA=] Awards -- two for music, one for acting (2011 & 2012).

* AwardSnub: Though she has her helping of awards, was never nominated as an actress on any major platform for her work on ''Series/{{Glee}}''.
* FanNickname: "Nay-Nay" and "Snixx" are nicknames of her own that fans have taken to referring to her as.

* PlatonicLifePartners: Is very close with Creator/KevinMcHale (her "little bee") and Creator/HeatherMorris from ''Series/{{Glee}}'', but only in a friendly way.

* {{Typecasting}}: As the cute black girl when young. Since, she has played several different kind of Hispanic.

* MamaBear: A very tragic case. As far as the police are concerned, she gave her life for her son Josey. They went swimming in the lake and left the boat untethered and they drifted from it. She wasn’t wearing a life jacket. They think Naya used every last ounce of strength to catch up to the boat and get Josey back on board, but then had no energy left to save herself and drowned. Since four year olds aren’t the best witnesses, there’s no way to know for certain what exactly happened.