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1[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/naya_rivera_and_marchesa_fall_2011_rtw_embroidered_cocktail_dress_and_capelet_gallery.jpg]]
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3Naya 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 was also a song- and screen-writer. Rivera has also been known professionally as Naya Marie.
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5Born 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 [[TurnOfTheMillennium 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 ''Series/{{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 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.
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7She 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 [[MediaNotes/GiffoniHonorees Giffoni Award]] (2013); and three [=ALMA=] Awards -- two for music, one for acting (2011 & 2012).
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9Commonly associated with Creator/HeatherMorris, Creator/KevinMcHale, Creator/DiannaAgron, Creator/LeaMichele, Creator/MaxAdler, and Creator/ChrisColfer.
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11Tragically, 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. Rivera's death was ruled as accidental drowning.
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13!!Filmography
14* ''The Royal Family'', Hillary Winston (1991-92)
15* ''Series/TheFreshPrinceOfBelAir'', Cindy (1993)
16* ''Series/FamilyMatters'', Gwendolyn (1992-93)
17* ''The Sinbad Show'', party extra (1993)
18* ''Live Shot'', Ann (1995)
19* ''Series/{{Baywatch}}'', Willa (1996)
20* ''Series/SmartGuy'', Kelly/Tanya (1997-1999)
21* ''The Jersey'', background (1999)
22* ''House Blend'', Chloe (TV Movie, 2002)
23* ''Series/EvenStevens'', Charlene (2002)
24* ''Film/TheMasterOfDisguise'', Captain America kid (2002)
25* [=B2K=] music videos "Why I Love You", "1:47" (2002)
26* Music video for "Supermassive Black Hole" with 2Cellos (2002)
27* ''Soul Food'', Lauryn (2003)
28* ''Series/EightSimpleRules'', Nice Girl (2004)
29* ''Series/TheBernieMacShow'', Donna (2002-2006)
30* ''Series/Girlfriends2000'', Karin (2008)
31* ''Series/CSIMiami'', Rachel Calvado (2008)
32* ''Frankenhood'', "Hottie" (2009)
33* ''Nuthin' But A Glee Thang'' (2011)
34* ''Glee: The 3D Concert Movie'', Santana Lopez (2011)
35* ''The Naughty List'', Sparkle (2013)
36* ''At The Devil's Door'', Vera (2014)
37* ''Series/{{Glee}}'', Santana Lopez (2009-15)
38* ''Series/DeviousMaids'', Blanca Alvarez (2015)
39* ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'' , Lolo Fuentes (2016) (voice)
40* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheLongHalloween'' Selina Kyle[=/=]ComicBook/{{Catwoman}} (2021, PosthumousCredit)
41
42!!Theatre
43* ''U Don't Know Me'' as Keila in Los Angeles (2006)
44* ''U Don't Know Me'' National Tour as Keila (2006-07)
45
46!!Hosting
47* ''Pajama Rama'' (2002-04)
48* ''Series/TheGleeProject'' (2012)
49* ''Fashion Police'' (2013)
50* ''Series/TheView'' (2014-16)
51
52!!Discography
53* ''[[Music/{{Glee}} Glee Discography]]''
54* "Sorry (feat. Music/BigSean)" (2013)[[note]]From an unreleased album.[[/note]]
55
56!!Tropes associated with Naya Rivera:
57
58* AmazingFreakingGrace: Rivera delivered a gorgeous version for ''Series/StepUp''.
59* HeroicSacrifice: 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 [[MamaBear 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.
60* ReactionShot: 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.
61* {{Typecasting}}: As the cute black girl when young. Since then, she played several different Latina characters.
62* WhatCouldHaveBeen: She campaigned to play Anita in the [[Film/WestSideStory2021 2021 film adaptation]] of ''Theatre/WestSideStory'', having sung both of her songs on ''Glee''. Ultimately, Creator/ArianaDeBose was cast instead.

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