Ryan Dorsey: life after the tragedy with Naya Rivera, son, and career
14 february 2025 в 07:13
Actor Ryan Dorsey, who was briefly married to the late «Glee» star Naya Rivera, attracted additional public attention due to his relationship with Rivera and their son Josey. His name made headlines again in 2020 when Rivera was declared missing after a boating trip, and their then 4-year-old son Josey Hollis Dorsey was found alone on a boat on Lake Piru during the summer of 2020.
After her disappearance, Dorsey was unfairly accused by many. When it was later revealed that Rivera tragically died from an accidental drowning at Lake Piru in Ventura County, California, Dorsey and his surviving son had to cope with immense grief over their loss.
In an interview with PEOPLE, published on February 12, 2025, Dorsey shared that life has not been easy for him and his son Josey, who is now 9 years old. Despite all the difficulties, they are overcoming their grief together and discussing the incidents, although Dorsey admitted that he still finds it difficult to «really look at her photos».
Born in Charleston, West Virginia, Dorsey realized he wanted to become an actor in his senior year of high school, according to IMDB. He enrolled at Western Carolina University with plans to join the football program while studying theater. Dorsey eventually dropped out of school and returned home before packing his bags and heading to New York. He was accepted into the New York Conservatory of Dramatic Arts and soon after began his acting career.
Fans of the shows «Justified» and «Ray Donovan» know Dorsey as Earl and Dime Bag, respectively. Hailing from West Virginia, he has also appeared in TV series such as the short-lived «Pitch», «Yellowstone», «The Fugitive», and «Stumptown». Dorsey’s work has mainly been on the small screen, although he has also appeared in several short films and in the movie «Halley Killer».
Rivera and Dorsey became friends after he moved to the West Coast in 2010. They had a brief romance, and they remained close friends even when she was in a romantic relationship with Big Sean. After the rapper and Rivera broke up in 2014, she and Dorsey became more than just friends.
Rivera and Dorsey got married on July 19, 2014, in a secret ceremony in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The wedding took place after a brief two-month engagement. They welcomed their son Josey in 2015.
Rivera was arrested on November 26, 2017, and charged with misdemeanor domestic violence after she allegedly hit Dorsey when he took their son for a walk. The domestic violence charge was dropped in January 2018, reportedly because Dorsey did not want to press charges against her. Rivera filed for divorce in December 2017, and the couple officially divorced in June 2018. They agreed to joint custody of their son.
Dorsey is raising his son Josey on his own. Therefore, in 2023, he made the decision to return to his home state of West Virginia to work remotely and cut expenses.
«I'm a single parent, I’m the only one making money for Josey», - he explained to the publication. «Everyone thinks that if she was successful, and if I’m on TV, you have a lot of money, but no one really knows the financial situation. I didn’t leave Los Angeles because we had a lot of money».
«When we lived in Los Angeles for two years after Naya’s death, I was auditioning in the garage, rent was $ 6000 a month, and it wasn’t really doing anything for Josey’s future», - he added. «It didn’t make sense to stay because COVID changed our industry, and all my auditions were on video, and I can audition in the garage anywhere. West Virginia is a completely different place. There’s not as much to do here, but you feel safe, and there’s no traffic»
After her disappearance, Dorsey was unfairly accused by many. When it was later revealed that Rivera tragically died from an accidental drowning at Lake Piru in Ventura County, California, Dorsey and his surviving son had to cope with immense grief over their loss.
In an interview with PEOPLE, published on February 12, 2025, Dorsey shared that life has not been easy for him and his son Josey, who is now 9 years old. Despite all the difficulties, they are overcoming their grief together and discussing the incidents, although Dorsey admitted that he still finds it difficult to «really look at her photos».
Born in Charleston, West Virginia, Dorsey realized he wanted to become an actor in his senior year of high school, according to IMDB. He enrolled at Western Carolina University with plans to join the football program while studying theater. Dorsey eventually dropped out of school and returned home before packing his bags and heading to New York. He was accepted into the New York Conservatory of Dramatic Arts and soon after began his acting career.
Fans of the shows «Justified» and «Ray Donovan» know Dorsey as Earl and Dime Bag, respectively. Hailing from West Virginia, he has also appeared in TV series such as the short-lived «Pitch», «Yellowstone», «The Fugitive», and «Stumptown». Dorsey’s work has mainly been on the small screen, although he has also appeared in several short films and in the movie «Halley Killer».
Rivera and Dorsey became friends after he moved to the West Coast in 2010. They had a brief romance, and they remained close friends even when she was in a romantic relationship with Big Sean. After the rapper and Rivera broke up in 2014, she and Dorsey became more than just friends.
Rivera and Dorsey got married on July 19, 2014, in a secret ceremony in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The wedding took place after a brief two-month engagement. They welcomed their son Josey in 2015.
Rivera was arrested on November 26, 2017, and charged with misdemeanor domestic violence after she allegedly hit Dorsey when he took their son for a walk. The domestic violence charge was dropped in January 2018, reportedly because Dorsey did not want to press charges against her. Rivera filed for divorce in December 2017, and the couple officially divorced in June 2018. They agreed to joint custody of their son.
Dorsey is raising his son Josey on his own. Therefore, in 2023, he made the decision to return to his home state of West Virginia to work remotely and cut expenses.
«I'm a single parent, I’m the only one making money for Josey», - he explained to the publication. «Everyone thinks that if she was successful, and if I’m on TV, you have a lot of money, but no one really knows the financial situation. I didn’t leave Los Angeles because we had a lot of money».
«When we lived in Los Angeles for two years after Naya’s death, I was auditioning in the garage, rent was $ 6000 a month, and it wasn’t really doing anything for Josey’s future», - he added. «It didn’t make sense to stay because COVID changed our industry, and all my auditions were on video, and I can audition in the garage anywhere. West Virginia is a completely different place. There’s not as much to do here, but you feel safe, and there’s no traffic»
© Smirnova Olga
