Actress Naya Rivera, ‘Glee’ TV star and ‘fierce talent,’ dies at 33

Former “Glee” star Naya Rivera has died at 33. Actress Naya Rivera, best known for playing a sharp-tongued cheerleader and glee club member on Fox’s hit musical comedy-drama “Glee,” was found dead Monday morning after an extensive search at Lake Piru in Ventura County. Naya Rivera, left, and Kevin McHale on “Glee.” Rivera played popular and conniving cheerleader Santana Lopez, who joins the school’s glee club as a spy for cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester but soon finds herself developing an interest in music while dancing and singing around the halls of McKinley High School. If you were friends with Naya Rivera, you simply can’t,” wrote “Glee” castmate Chris Colfer on Instagram after the Ventura sheriff held his press conference. Our hearts are with her loved ones.” Naya Marie Rivera was born and raised in Santa Clarita and began her Hollywood career at age 4 with a role in the 1991 Eddie Murphy-created CBS sitcom “The Royal Family.” Rivera went on to appear on the television shows “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” “The Bernie Mac Show” and “8 Simple Rules,” before landing her role on “Glee” by auditioning with Destiny Child’s version of “Emotions.” Rivera’s performance on “Glee” garnered attention in the show’s third season with her character’s coming-out storyline, which involved Santana being publicly outed by a rival glee club member.