Glee star Naya Rivera’s son to make film debut six years after her death
Naya Rivera and her son Josey (Image: Getty Images)
Josey Hollis Dorsey, the 10-year-old son of late Glee star Naya Rivera, has landed his first film role alongside his dad Ryan Dorsey.
The film, The Burning Valley, is written and directed by Evan Coury and is currently filming in Pennsylvania. According to IMDb, Josey’s character is called “Boy”, while his dad is playing Sam Pope.
Coury described the story as rooted in the Rust Belt. “The movie is about a steelworker who loses his job when the mill announces a shutdown. It sets him on a journey as he wanders through his Rust Belt town,” he said, speaking to Pittsburgh’s Tribune Review. “My hope is to encapsulate the history of our region through one guy’s personal experience,” he added.
A representative for Dorsey told People that he “is a very proud dad”, adding: “Josey has been working very hard and has shown incredible growth as an actor.”
Josey’s screen debut follows a 2024 stage appearance in a local theatre production of Seussical Jr. in West Virginia.
The youngster is also reportedly signed on to appear in Julia Fox’s coming-of-age film, Fairy Boy.
Rivera’s legacy
Rivera drowned at Lake Piru in California on 8 July 2020, aged 33, and her death was ruled accidental drowning, with the star saving her son’s life in her final moments.
In November 2020, Dorsey brought a wrongful death lawsuit against the county and the area’s water management district on Josey’s behalf, with the family and estate reaching a private settlement in 2022.
In a 2025 interview with People, Dorsey described Josey as “such a happy kid”. “He wakes up happy, all energy. I’m trying to be the best parent that I can be and raise a good little man. He gives me a reason to keep going with my life,” he said.
Rivera’s role as lesbian character Santana Lopez on Glee made her a lasting pop-culture figure, particularly among LGBTQ+ audiences, and cast tributes have continued in the years since.
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