Actor Ryan Dorsey, who was briefly married to late Glee star Naya Rivera, garnered further public attention through his relationship with Rivera and their son, Josey. His name made headlines again in 2020 when Rivera was reported missing after a boating trip, with only their then 4-year-old son, Josey Hollis Dorsey, found alone on the boat in Lake Piru during the summer of 2020.
After her disappearance, many unfairly pointed to Dorsey. When it was later revealed that Rivera had tragically died from an accidental drowning at Lake Piru in Ventura County, California, Dorsey, alongside his surviving son, had to cope with the immense grief of their loss.
In an interview with PEOPLE published on February 12, 2025, Dorsey shared that life hasn’t been easy for him and his son, Josey, now 9 years old. Despite the challenges, they are working through their grief together and talking about the events, although Dorsey admitted he still struggles with not being able to “really look at pictures of her.”
Find out more about Dorsey below.
1. Ryan Dorsey Is Also an Actor
Born in Charleston, West Virginia, Dorsey learned he wanted to be an actor in his senior year in High School, according to IMDB. He enrolled in Western Carolina University with plans to walk-onto the football program while studying theatre. Dorsey ultimately dropped out and moved back home before packing up his bags for New York City. He was accepted into the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts and kicked off his acting career shortly afterward.
Fans of Justified and Ray Donovan know Dorsey as Earl and Dime Bag, respectively. The West Virginia native has also appeared in television series like the short-lived Pitch, Yellowstone, Runaways, and Stumptown. Dorsey’s work is mainly on the small screen, though he has appeared in a few shorts and in the film, Khali the Killer.
2. He Was Married to Naya from 2014 to 2018
Rivera and Dorsey became friends after he relocated to the West Coast in 2010. They had a bit of a fling, and remained close friends, even as she was romantically involved with Big Sean. After the rapper and Rivera broke it off in 2014, she and Dorsey became more than just friends.
Rivera and Dorsey were married on July 19, 2014, in a secret ceremony in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The nuptials came after a brief, two-month engagement. They welcomed their son Josey in 2015.
3. Their Divorce Followed a Public Dispute
Rivera was arrested on Nov. 26, 2017, and charged with misdemeanor domestic battery after she allegedly hit Dorsey while taking their son for a walk. The domestic battery charge would be dismissed in Jan. 2018, after Dorsey reportedly did not want to go through with prosecuting her. Rivera filed for divorce in Dec. 2017 and the couple finalized their split in June 2018. The two amicably agreed on joint custody of their son.
4. He Moved to West Virginia with His Son, Josey
Dorsey has been raising his son, Josey, on his own. So, in 2023, he made the decision to move back to his home state of West Virginia to work remotely and reduce expenses.
“I’m a single parent, I’m the only one earning money for Josey,” he explained to the outlet. “Everyone thinks that if she was successful, and if I’m on TV, that you have a bunch of money, but no one really knows the financial situation. I didn’t leave L.A. because we were just sitting on a bunch of money.”
“When we were living in L.A. for the two years after Naya’s death, I was auditioning in my garage, rent was $6,000 a month, and it’s like, I’m getting nothing for Josey’s future,” he added. “It didn’t make sense to stay because COVID changed our industry to where all my auditions were on tape, and I can audition in a garage anywhere. West Virginia is just a completely different place. There’s not much to do, but it feels safe and there’s no traffic.”
5. He Stayed Close with Naya’s Family
Despite relocating to West Virginia, Dorsey said he frequently returns to L.A. to visit Rivera’s family and for work commitments.
He shared his strong bond with Rivera’s family, saying, “I love her family so much: her dad, her mom, her sister, her brother, we all get along so good and we’re all still close. We’re, obviously, even closer now, and we stay at grandma’s. He’s really close to both sides of his family, and we make sure of that.”