Naya Rivera was an American actress and singer, best known for her role as Santana Lopez on the popular television series Glee. Born on January 12, 1987, in Santa Clarita, California, she began her career as a child actress, appearing in various television shows before gaining fame in Glee. In addition to her acting career, Rivera released music and was involved in various charitable activities. Tragically, she passed away on July 8, 2020, while swimming in Lake Piru in California, leading to an outpouring of tributes from fans and colleagues alike.