Naya Rivera has died. The actress who as best known for playing the role of Santana Lopez on the hit musical series Glee passed away at the age of 33 following a tragic drowning accident. TMZ reports that her body was recovered from Lake Piru on Monday morning.
Naya Rivera dead at 33
According to CNN, Rivera was declared missing on July 8 after she had rented a boat and headed out on Lake Piru in California with only her 4-year-old son, Josey Hollis Dorsey.
When the boat didn’t return in time, a search began. Rivera’s son was found sleeping alone in the boat, and there was no sign of his mother. The little boy later told police that his mother had been swimming but did not return to the boat.
A dive team and overhead search began, although their search was suspended until morning light.
Naya one a fan favorite among Glee fans. Her character, Santana Lopez, became a LGBTQ icon when she came out on the show and eventually went on to marry her best friend, Brittany, played by actress Heather Morris.
Following the news of Rivera’s disappearance, Morris took to social media to ask for prayers for her former TV wife, asking fans to help bring the actress home safely.
Rivera’s former Glee co-star, Demi Lovato, whom her character shared a short on-screen romance with, also asked for prayers via her Instagram story after the news of her presumed death hit the media.
In addition to her acting and singing chops, Rivera often made headlines for her person relationships. The actress has famously dated rapper Big Sean, as well as her former co-star Mark Salling in the past. She shared her son with her former husband, Ryan Dorsey.
Glee cast tragedies are piling up
Rivera’s death is the latest in a string of shocking deaths that have plagued the cast of Glee. The show’s male lead, Cory Monteith, who played Finn Hudson on the show, was shocking found dead in his hotel room in Vancouver, Canada on July 13, 2013 following a drug overdose.
Naya’s former boyfriend, Mark Salling, who portrayed the character of Noah “Puck” Puckerman, was embattled in a child pornography case before he committed suicide on January 30, 2018.
The legacy of the beloved show continues to grow more heartbreaking with Rivera’s passing.
Naya Rivera’s family, friends, and fans are all completely devastated over the terrible tragedy of her death and have taken to social media to express their sympathy and love for the actress during this difficult time for those whom she was close with.
