Naya Rivera, best known for her recurring role in TV series Glee and Step Up: High Water, is dead at 33. Her death was announced by the Ventura County sheriff’s office at a press conference on July 13th, which previously announced that human remains had been recovered earlier that morning and confirmed the remains as Rivera’s in an afternoon press conference.
Rivera was reported missing on Wednesday, following a boat trip with her four-year-old son in California’s Lake Piru in Ventura County. CBS Los Angeles reported at the time that another boater had raised the alarm after seeing Rivera’s child asleep in a boat by himself.
Ventura County Sheriff’s department later confirmed that Rivera was the missing person, after launching a search and rescue operation. On Wednesday, the department tweeted that the search would continue first thing on Thursday.
Though Rivera is best known for her role as Santana Lopez on musical comedy series Glee, which aired on Fox from 2009-2015, she started acting at a very young age, appearing as recurring character Hillary Winston in The Royal Family when she was four years old. She went on to work steadily throughout her childhood, with more recurring parts in Family Matters and The Bernie Mac Show. Rivera was cast in Glee in her early twenties.
Former Glee cast members shared their grief and remembered Rivera on Twitter. Jane Lynch, who played Coach Sue Sylvester, and Iqbal Theba, who played Principal Figgins posted reactions before the press conference confirmed Rivera’s death to the public.
Rest sweet, Naya. What a force you were. Love and peace to your family.
— Jane Lynch (@janemarielynch) July 13, 2020
Alex Newell, who played Unique Adams, also posted in support of Rivera’s family and son.
Now more than ever we must lift her family and friends up especially Josey! My heart is sent to them… Josey you are truly loved by every single person who loves your mommy! I love you Naya!
— Alex Newell (@thealexnewell) July 13, 2020
Vanessa Lengies (Sugar Motta), expressed her grief as well.
So much grief today. Grateful for our love and connection. Holding everyone tight. Family for lifetimes.
— Vanessa Lengies (@littlelengies) July 13, 2020
Glee star Chris Colfer posted a tribute on Instagram, referring to his decade of friendship with Rivera: “Her brilliance and humor were unmatched. Her beauty and talent were otherworldly. She spoke truth to power with poise and fearlessness…Naya was truly one of a kind, and she always will be.”
Rivera’s last social media post, which was posted the day before she went missing, shows her hugging her four-year-old son. The caption reads “just the two of us.”