Ryan Dorsey Commemorates Naya Rivera on Her 36th Birthday

Naya Rivera would have turned 36 years old today.

Her ex-husband Ryan Dorsey paid tribute to her on Instagram with a set of photos of her and their son Josey.

“A little easier with each little bit of time that passes by to look at pictures…but I still don’t have the answers to the questions to the why’s our sweet boy asks from time to time. I never will,” the 39-year-old wrote. “Doing the best we can. Fly high.”

It was discovered that Rivera drowned in California’s Lake Piru after being reported missing on July 8, 2020. She had gone out onto the body of water with her son, who was 4 years old at the time. Josey was later discovered by himself on a boat in the lake. The actress’ body was found on July 13.

Four months after Naya’s tragic death, Dorsey sued Ventura County and Lake Piru’s management for wrongful death on behalf of his son. Dorsey alleged that the Glee star’s death could have been avoided if she hadn’t rented a boat that fell short of Coast Guard safety standards and California law, such as not having flotation devices on board. The lawsuit was settled with confidential terms in February 2022.