Nearly five years ago, Ryan Dorsey faced an unimaginable tragedy that forever altered the course of his life. On July 8, 2020, the actor learned that Naya Rivera, his former wife and mother of their son, was missing after a boating incident at Lake Piru in California. The Glee star, who was just 33 years old, was last seen in the water by their then four-year-old son, Josey.
The search for Rivera by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office lasted several days, culminating in the heartbreaking confirmation of her accidental drowning on July 13. Rivera had used her last bit of energy to save Josey, ensuring his safety before she succumbed to the water. The loss was devastating, described by Dorsey as a “never-ending nightmare” for their family.
In an exclusive interview with Us Weekly, Dorsey opened up about his journey as a single father, raising Josey in the years following Rivera’s death. Reflecting on that fateful day, he recounted, “I remember laying there with [Josey] in a state of shock. Looking at this beautiful boy and grateful that he’s OK. When he woke up, he said, ‘Dad, what are you doing here?’ I said, ‘I came to be with you.’ He told me, ‘They can’t find Mommy. I hope they find her, but I think she might be dead.’ I was devastated for him, for me, for everyone.”
Overcome with grief, Dorsey made the decision to leave Los Angeles, returning to his hometown of Charleston, West Virginia, where he began the process of rebuilding their lives. Today, nearly five years later, he describes their life as “surreal” yet filled with joy.
Dorsey is dedicated to being the best father he can be to Josey, who has been receiving support from a grief counselor to help him navigate the loss of his mother. Now nine years old, Josey is thriving in school and expressing his creativity through local theater performances and piano lessons. Dorsey shares, “I see how creative [Josey] is. He’s been playing piano for a year, and he is getting better at that. It’s been awesome to watch him go from poking around on one finger to playing with two hands. He’s starting to really hit the notes when he’s singing. He said to me the other day, ‘Dad, I think I might want to be a musician. My mom is a singer, so why not me?’ I just thought that was a beautiful thing.”
Dorsey ensures that Josey maintains a strong connection with Rivera’s family, frequently arranging FaceTime calls and visits with her parents and siblings in Los Angeles. He emphasizes the importance of keeping Rivera’s memory alive in Josey’s life, encouraging him to share his thoughts and feelings about his mother whenever he feels the need. “Josey will always have a lot of memories [of his mother],” Dorsey explains. “He’s still telling stories about when we went to this place or that place. We have a lot of videos. Your iPhone will remind you, ‘Three years ago on this date,’ and I’ll say, ‘Hey, do you remember this?’ He’s like, ‘Yeah, I remember.’”
As Josey prepares to celebrate his 10th birthday in September, Dorsey honors Rivera’s legacy by continuing the birthday traditions she started when their son was a baby. This year’s celebration is set to be a big one, with themes like Ninja Turtles or Star Wars to mark the milestone.
Looking ahead, Dorsey expresses hope that one day, when the time is right, Josey might have a stepmother to love and care for him. However, he emphasizes that the most crucial aspect is ensuring Josey’s continued health and happiness as he carries forward Rivera’s legacy. “Josey is going to be her legacy,” Dorsey states with conviction. “I don’t know what he’s going to do, but I think he’s going to do great things.”
Dorsey’s reflections on his journey as a father and the love he continues to foster for Rivera’s memory serve as a poignant reminder of resilience, hope, and the enduring bond of family in the face of unimaginable loss.