Josey Dorsey, the 10-year-old son of the late actress Naya Rivera, is stepping into the world of acting, six years after his mother's tragic drowning death. He is set to star alongside his father, Ryan Dorsey, in the independent film "The Burning Valley." Josey, who will turn 11 on September 17, is listed in the film's credits as 'Boy,' while his father is listed as 'Father.'
"The Burning Valley" is written and directed by Evan Curry and is filming in the Pennsylvania Rust Belt, utilizing its industrial landscape and the Allegheny River for its setting. The film's narrative centers on a steelworker who loses his job, embarking on a journey through his hometown. Curry described the project as a "small, poetic film about deindustrialization with an emotional truth," aiming to capture the region's history through a personal story.
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This acting opportunity follows Josey's previous involvement in a theater production of "Seussical Jr." in West Virginia, where he resides with his father. His IMDb page for "The Burning Valley" confirms his role, alongside his father's. IMAGE6:
Naya Rivera, best known for her role as Santana Lopez on the Fox series "Glee," died on July 8, 2020, from accidental drowning at Lake Piru in Ventura County, California. She was 33 years old. At the time of her death, she was on a boat excursion with her then-four-year-old son, Josey.
According to investigators, Rivera likely exhausted herself helping Josey back onto the rented pontoon boat after a swim before she disappeared under the water. Her body was recovered from the lake five days later. Ryan Dorsey has previously shared details about what Josey remembered from the day of the incident, recalling a windy day and his mother's insistence on swimming despite his hesitation. He also recounted Josey's memory of his mother's last words and his own fear of a spider on a rope that he believes could have been used as a life raft.
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