Naya Rivera's 10-year-old son Josey lands first movie role 6 years after 'Glee' star's death
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Late actress Naya Rivera's 10-year-old son Josey Hollis Dorsey is all set to start his acting career as he will reportedly be seen in the feature film, 'The Burning Valley'.
Following in his parents' footsteps, Josey will work alongside his actor father Ryan Dorsey, who was Rivera's ex-husband.
Josey Hollis Dorsey lands first movie role in 'The Burning Valley'
The child, however, had earlier done stage acting as he appeared in a West Virginia theater production of 'Seussical Jr.' in 2024. Though Ryan has not said anything about the new project, 'The Burning Valley' writer-director Evan Coury spoke with The Tribune-Review, a newspaper based in Pennsylvania.
“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 explained.
Coury further added that through his film, he wants “to encapsulate the history of our region through one guy’s personal experience.”
Naya Rivera's son was with her when she drowned
Meanwhile, Josey has gotten the film opportunity six years after losing his actress mother, who died in 2020 at the age of 33. She died from an accidental drowning in Lake Piru in Ventura County, California.
At the time, Ventura County Sheriff Bill Ayub said, “He and Naya swam in the lake together. It was during that time that her son described being helped onto the boat by Naya. ... He told investigators he looked back and saw her disappear under the surface of the water.”
The 'Glee' star had Josey in September 2015 after she and Ryan got married in 2014. But Rivera filed for divorce in 2016.
Ryan Dorsey calls son Josey Hollis Dorsey 'a happy kid'
Now, after her death, the 43-year-old actor has been raising their son.
In 2025, Ryan told PEOPLE, “You can only give him a hug and tell him, 'I know, life is not fair. Bad things happen and there's no reason for it, and you just have to do your best to be a good person.”
“It's hard trying to explain things that you can't really make sense of no matter what age you are. I'm not a big believer in everything happens for a reason because I can't ever think of a reason why he doesn't have his mom,” he said.
He, however, also added that though they have their difficult moments, Josey is "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,” the 'Khali The Killer' actor stated.
