Naya Rivera Dead at 33: "Glee" Cast, Celebrities Celebrate Her Life

On July 13, news broke that actor Naya Rivera, known for portraying silver-tongued cheerleader Santana Lopez on FOX’s Glee, had been pronounced dead at age 33 less than a week after her disappearance at California's Lake Piru. Now, Glee cast members and other celebrities are remembering her and her legacy.

Naya was first reported missing on July 9 after authorities found her 4-year-old son, Josey Hollis Dorsey, alone aboard a boat adrift on the lake. With Josey safe, the search for Naya began, and fans, friends, and family soon started praying for the star until her death was confirmed on July 13, coinciding with the seventh anniversary of the death of fellow Glee star Cory Monteith.

While details around Naya’s death are still emerging, celebrities and fans alike are using social media to share their favorite moments with the late actor. From her Glee costars to international stars like Ricky Martin, many are taking to Twitter and Instagram to keep Naya’s memory alive and share words of encouragement to her family.

Fellow Glee star/McKinley High cheerleader Dianna Agron shared a long tribute to Naya and their work together. “Naya and I fell into stride with such ease, she was my first friend and ally on our show,” she wrote. “⁣I’ve been revisiting Naya’s performances on our show and it has brought me great joy. To work with her was a gift. There was a great deal to absorb - her work ethic, her fearlessness, her talent - supreme. Naya had a laugh that would envelop you and hold you captive. She was mesmerizing. That twinkle in her eye, her luminous smile. Naya lead with truth, humor, wit. I loved her for all of these reasons."

Jenna Ushkowitz also took to Instagram to share a black and white photo of herself and Naya. “Naya, you were a force and everyone who got to be around you knew it and felt the light and joy you exuded when you walked into a room. You shined on stage and screen and radiated with love behind closed doors,” Jenna wrote in her post remembering her costar and friend. “I was lucky enough to share so many laughs, martinis and secrets with you. I can not believe I took for granted that you'd always be here. Our friendship went in waves as life happens and we grow, so I will not look back and regret but know I love you and promise to help the legacy of your talent, humor, light and loyalty live on.”

Chris Colfer also shared a black and white picture with Naya from the pair's Glee days. “How can you convey all your love and respect for someone in one post? How can you summarize a decade of friendship and laughter with words alone?” he wrote in his post. “[Naya] inspired and uplifted people without even trying. Being close to her was both a badge of honor and a suit of armor. Naya was truly one of a kind, and she always will be.”

Demi Lovato — who played Santana's girlfriend, Dani, during the show's fifth season — also took to Instagram to pay tribute to Naya. “The character you played was groundbreaking for tons of closeted queer girls (like me at the time) and open queer girls, and your ambition and accomplishments were inspiring to Latina women all over the world. My heart goes out to your loved ones at this time,” Demi wrote.

Glee star Kevin McHale also shared a throwback black and white picture with Naya alongside a heartfelt letter for the late actor. “My Naya, my Snixxx, my Bee. I legitimately can not imagine this world without you,” Kevin wrote. “7 years ago today, she and I were together in London when we found out about Cory. We were so far away, but I was so thankful that we had each other. A week ago today we were talking about running away to Hawaii. This doesn’t make sense. And I know it probably never will.” Kevin also shared a message on Twitter remembering Cory and Naya. “I'm not religious by any means, but you'd be hard-pressed to convince me that Cory didn't help find our girl today,” he added.

Alex Newell chose to share a lighthearted interview segment he did with Naya in the past. “My heart is broken… I truly had soo much fun filming this little segment... we both clearly didn’t wanna be there but made the most of it!” Alex wrote in the accompanying caption. 

NeNe Leakes shared a carousel of memories shared with Naya on the Glee set and beyond. “I was praying for a miracle! I wanted you to come home to your baby so bad. This hurts! I will hold the memories close to my heart and remember the good times, the laughs and the way we would cut up on set,” she wrote.

Meanwhile, Amber Riley shared one of Naya's most recent videos with her son, Josey Hollis Dorsey. “My favorite duet partner. I love you. I miss you. I don’t have words right now, just lots of feelings. Rest In Peace Angel, and know that your family will never have to worry about anything,” Amber wrote.

Harry Shum Jr., who played Mike Chang on Glee, also took to social media to share a letter for Naya. “I'm failing miserably to process this news. I always imagined old future senior moments where we would hear your infectious laughter down the hall knowing that our funny bone was in for a treat,” he wrote. “To many people, myself included, you were the life of the party. Not only able to rock when fun was to be had after a long day but that shining friend that was always willing to listen, offer sympathy, perspective and at times, give much-needed levity to any situation.”

Melissa Benoist, known for playing Marley Rose on Glee's fourth and fifth seasons, also honored Naya on social media. Sharing a black and white picture of the actor Melissa wrote, “I was so intimidated by [Naya], yet she had a way of disarming that just made you want to be around her, hear what she had to say (because it would undoubtedly be the sharpest and most real thing you would hear all day). She was kind and open to me when she didn’t have to be, when I was a naive, clueless and insecure newcomer. Bravely authentic, genuinely kind, incredibly talented and deeply loved by so many.”

Glee star Darren Criss chose Twitter as the platform to pay tribute to Naya. “Naya made me laugh like no one else on that set. I always said it while we were working together and I’ve maintained it ever since. Her playful, wicked sense of humor never ceased to bring a smile to my face,” he wrote in the post.

Jane Lynch echoed Darren's sentiment with a simple post that read, “Rest sweet, Naya. What a force you were. Love and peace to your family.” Kristin Chenoweth, Laura Potter, and Josh Sussman also tweeted love to their Glee costar.

Another Glee actor, Becca Tobin, known for portraying Kitty Wilde, shared a snapshot of Santana and Kitty from the show, writing, “Naya was insanely talented, breathtakingly gorgeous, and one of the wittiest people I’ve ever met, but the legacy she left behind for me is her kindness.”

Damian McGinty, who appeared as a guest star on Glee after winning The Glee Project, shared two tributes for the star. “Grateful to have known you and worked with you and your talent. RIP Naya,” he wrote on Twitter before retweeting the clip of a scene the pair shared together and adding, “I was a newcomer to acting. She was the real deal and every scene we did together she was a mixture of terrifying and hilarious. A brilliant combo. Great, but really sad memories.” On Instagram, Damian honored both Naya and Cory with a black and white image of the two.

Ashley Fink, who portrayed Lauren Zizes on Glee, shared a small clip of a moment shared with Naya while on tour. “I know this is blurry but it’s one of my favorite memories. Naya and I held hands during every Glee tour performance and I looked forward to it every. single. time. We would always try to make each other laugh by doing something silly and different each show,” she wrote. “It doesn’t seem possible that such a one of a kind, beautiful, smart, witty, hilarious force of nature could be gone so soon.”

While she did not write anything, Lea Michele did share some black and white snapshots of Cory Monteith, Naya, and the Glee cast to her Instagram Stories.

Outside of the Glee world, many other celebrities also shared words of love and appreciation for Naya, including musician Bebe Rexha. “This is an absolute nightmare. I had the pleasure of having dinner with her once after a recording session we did together and she was an absolute sweetheart,” Bebe wrote about Naya on Twitter. “My heart goes out to her family and friends. I hope I’m lucky enough to meet you up in heaven.”

Longtime RuPaul's Drag Race judge Ross Mathews also shared a small tribute for Naya, who appeared as a guest judge on the show in 2017; as did the RuPaul's Drag Race official Twitter account.

Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin shared a black and white picture with Naya to his Instagram, and Kehlani chose to share a small message on Twitter. “The reason ‘Songbird’ by Fleetwood Mac is one of my favorite songs ever is because of the Glee soundtrack version,” Kehlani wrote about Naya. “She transformed it. Rest Easy Naya Rivera.”

Siblings Tia and Tamera Mowry also paid homage to the star, sharing heart-stirring messages and reminiscing about their memories shared with Naya and brother Tahj Mowry, who also posted a sweet letter in the wake of her disappearance. “My sweet Naya. I love you. Will always love you. I’ll never forget your sweet smile, your amazing voice, and your warmth and love that has always welcomed me,” Tamera wrote in her post. “I knew as early as 9 years old you were going to grace us with so much talent and so much beauty. I’m so grateful to have been blessed with your presence for over 20 years. You took my breath away and always will. Another angel has gained her wings. My heart goes out to the Rivera family.”

How to Get Away with Murder star Viola Davis also paid homage to Naya by resharing one of the actor's latest Instagram posts with her son. Meanwhile, Riverdale star Lili Reinhart took to Twitter to say a few words about Naya, whom she had admired growing up. “It feels strange to cry and mourn the loss of someone you never knew. But I grew up watching Glee and Naya Rivera was such a beautiful talent. My heart breaks for her son,” Lili wrote. Frozen voice actor Josh Gad chose to reshare a snapshot of the Glee cast as they congregated on Lake Piru to remember Naya and Cory.

Actor Danielle Fishel Karp, Becky G, and Mandy Moore also took to Twitter to send strength to Naya's loved ones. Chloe x Halle, Janel Parrish, Ashley Benson, and sisters Aly & AJ also left short messages on their social channels for Naya.

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