Naya Rivera's 'Glee' Co-Stars, Ryan Dorsey Share Heartwarming Tributes On Late Star's 35th Birthday

Naya Rivera's "Glee" co-stars paid tribute to the late actress on her 35th birth anniversary Wednesday.

Ryan Dorsey, who was married to Rivera from 2014 to 2018, also issued a touching statement to celebrate her birthday.

Heather Morris uploaded an old polaroid image on her Instagram Stories showing her in a funny pose with Rivera and captioned it, "Happy Birthday Nay. I thought about keeping this private and only for me, but it's one of the only personal photos I have of us."

Morris, who played Brittany Pierce in the musical series added, "Miss you so much angel."

Rivera, who shot to fame for portraying Santana Lopez in "Glee" from 2009 to 2015, died in July 2020 after drowning in California's Lake Piru. She was 33 years at the time. Rivera was declared missing for a total of five days before her body was found on July 13. Authorities said the actress tried to save her son, Josey, by placing him back on the boat before she died.

Kevin McHale, who played the role of Artie Abrams in the series, also penned a tribute to the beloved actress saying, "Happy birthday, my little _. I miss you every single day."

Similarly, Jenna Ushkowitz, who starred as Tina Cohen-Chang in the show, shared a black-and-white selfie with Rivera on her Instagram Stories and wrote, "Happy birthday Snixx."

A fan shared Ushkowitz's Instagram Stories on Twitter.

Dorsey, who shared six-year-old Josey with Rivera, said he still finds it hard to believe that the actress is dead.

"At least once a day I find myself shaking my head, like it's still unbelievable, so surreal that she's gone. She'd be freaking out today, I could almost hear her: 'OMG, I'm almost 40!'," he told People. "It's hard to write this, tears coming out my eyes. Unf---ing real."

The 38-year-old said Josey is much like Rivera in certain ways.

"He has this unique literal laugh-out-LOUD cackle of laugh when he's watching TV that's kind of obnoxiously endearing like hers was, but his even more so. No matter your mood, it would make anyone smile if you heard it."