Naya Rivera
Naya Rivera (1987–2020) was a singer and actress whose voice fans know from Santana Lopez on Glee, “Sorry” and the posthumous “Prayer for the Broken.”
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Latest
Naya’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus her backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
- FOXGlee2009–2015 · Santana Lopez
- Prayer for the Broken2023 · Posthumous single with the Glee cast
- Sorry2013 · Debut single featuring Big Sean
Columbia Records - Sorry Not Sorry2016 · Memoir
Tarcher - Batman: The Long Halloween, Part One2021 · Voice of Catwoman / Selina Kyle
DC - YouTube RedStep Up: High Water2018–2019 · Collette Jones
Overview
- Born
- January 12, 1987 · Santa Clarita, California
- Remembering Naya
- Died July 8, 2020, aged 33
- Work
- Singer, actress and memoir author
- Breakout
- Santana Lopez on Glee, 2009–2015
Mini bio
How it started.
Naya began appearing in commercials as a baby. At four, she landed a role on The Royal Family, then built a television career that included Family Matters, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and The Bernie Mac Show.
The voice fans found on Glee.
As Santana Lopez, she moved from sharp comic moments to performances that revealed the character’s vulnerability. Her portrayal of Santana’s relationship with Brittany became especially meaningful to LGBTQ viewers. Fans also followed her into solo music, including the Big Sean collaboration “Sorry.”
Beyond the choir room.
She wrote the memoir Sorry Not Sorry, played Collette Jones in Step Up: High Water and recorded the voice of Catwoman for Batman: The Long Halloween. Naya died in July 2020. Her recorded work remains part of her legacy, including the 2023 charity release “Prayer for the Broken,” which she had recorded in 2012.
Creditschronological, newest first
Music
- 2023Prayer for the Broken (feat. Glee Cast)Lead vocals; posthumous release
- 2013Sorry (feat. Big Sean)Lead artist
Film & TV
- 2021Batman: The Long Halloween, Parts One and TwoVoice of Catwoman / Selina Kyle
- 2018–2019Step Up: High WaterCollette Jones
- 2009–2015GleeSantana Lopez
Books
Awards
Quotes
Having people not like you is a risk you have to take to be realNaya Rivera, Sorry Not Sorry publisher excerpt
In an excerpt shared by her publisher, she reflected on being herself and accepting that she would not get along with everyone.
Trivia
- Her first television acting role came at four years old in The Royal Family.
- She played Santana for all six seasons of Glee.
- “Prayer for the Broken” was recorded in 2012, eleven years before its charity release.
- Snixxmas grew from the name of her annual holiday party into a fundraiser held in her memory.
Find Naya
Explore her music and the profiles she shared with fans.
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