Naya Rivera’s formerGleecastmates are celebrating her on what would have been her 35th birthday.
On Wednesday, Rivera’s friends and costars from the Fox hit shared tributes for the actress, whodiedin July 2020 at age 33. Rivera was beloved for portraying Santana Lopez onGlee, which aired from 2009 to 2015.
Heather Morrisposted an old polaroid image of the pair, which she said she once considered never sharing publicly.
“Happy Birthday Nay,” Morris, 34, wrote on her Instagram Story. “[I] thought about keeping this private and only for me, but it’s one of the only personal photos I have of us.”
The star, who played Brittany Pierce, added, “Miss you so much angel.”
In Kevin McHale’s tribute, he shared a throwback photo of Rivera. “Happy birthday, my little 🐝,” the 33-year-old, who portrayed Artie Abrams,tweeted. “I miss you every single day.”
Also, Jenna Ushkowitz, who played Tina Cohen-Chang, shared a black-and-white selfie of the pair on her Instagram Story. “Happy birthday Snixx,” Ushkowitz, 35, wrote, adding a red heart emoji.
In July 2020, Rivera took her now-6-year-old sonJosey— whom she shared withex-husband Ryan Dorsey— to Lake Piru in Ventura County, California, where they rented a pontoon boat. After she didn’t return the boat on time, staff later discovered the boat with Josey sleeping on board while in his life jacket.
TheStep Up: High Wateractress wasmissing for five daysbefore her body was found.
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While authorities were searching for Rivera, herGleecastmatesgathered at the site where she went missing. Footage of the group captured them standing hand-in-hand while facing Lake Piru.
Rivera’s death was laterruled an accidental drowning.
On Tuesday, Dorsey — who wasmarriedto Rivera from 2014 to 2018 —issued a statement to PEOPLEhonoring the late star.
Naya Rivera.David Livingston/Getty Images
“At least once a day I find myself shaking my head, like it’s still unbelievable, so surreal that she’s gone. She’d be freaking out today, I could almost hear her: ‘OMG, I’m almost 40!'” he added. “It’s hard to write this, tears coming out my eyes. Unf—ing real.”
source: people.com
