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.
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.
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.
