Naya Rivera’s Son Josey Dorsey Is Making His Film Debut
Naya Rivera’s son Josey Hollis Dorsey is taking a major step into acting.
The 10-year-old is set to make his film debut in The Burning Valley, an upcoming drama written and directed by Evan Coury. Josey will appear alongside his father, actor Ryan Dorsey, in the independent feature currently filming in Pennsylvania.
The new role marks Josey’s first known film credit. It also comes six years after the death of his mother, Glee star Naya Rivera, who died in 2020 at age 33.
For Ryan Dorsey, the opportunity is an especially meaningful milestone. A representative for the actor told People that he is a “very proud dad” and said Josey has been working hard and growing as an actor.
What Role Will Josey Dorsey Play in The Burning Valley?
According to the film’s current cast information, Josey is listed in the role of “Boy”, while Ryan Dorsey is credited as Sam Pope. The two will portray characters connected as father and son.
The movie comes from filmmaker Evan Coury, who is making his feature directorial debut.
Rather than focusing on the entertainment industry, The Burning Valley is rooted in the struggles of a declining industrial community.
Coury told Pennsylvania’s Tribune-Review that the story centres on a steelworker whose life changes after a mill announces its shutdown. The character then begins a personal journey through his Rust Belt town.
The filmmaker has said he hopes the movie captures the history of the region through one person’s experience.
Filming began in Pennsylvania in August, with production taking place in communities northeast of Pittsburgh.
Josey’s Acting Journey Started Before His Movie Debut
Although The Burning Valley will be Josey Dorsey’s first film role, it is not his first experience performing.
In 2024, Josey appeared in a West Virginia production of Seussical Jr. He was 8 at the time. The stage appearance gave him an early opportunity to explore acting before moving into film.
Josey and his father moved from Los Angeles to West Virginia in 2023. Ryan has previously spoken about encouraging his son to explore different interests rather than pushing him toward one particular career.
That approach has included music and other activities. In a 2025 interview with Good Morning America, Ryan discussed Josey’s piano lessons and the connection they have to his late mother.
Ryan Dorsey Has Worked to Keep Naya Rivera’s Memory Alive
Josey’s move into acting carries an emotional connection to his mother’s own career.
Naya Rivera became widely known for playing Santana Lopez on Glee. She also appeared in television projects including Devious Maids and Step Up: High Water.
Rivera died in July 2020 after drowning at California’s Lake Piru during a boating outing with Josey, who was 4 at the time. Officials later determined her death was an accidental drowning.
Since then, Ryan has spoken publicly about raising their son and preserving positive memories of Rivera.
In 2025, he told Good Morning America that Josey was taking piano lessons and connected the activity to his mother’s musical interests. Ryan also emphasised that Rivera would continue to be part of Josey’s life through his memories of her and her work.
A New Chapter for Josey Dorsey
Josey’s upcoming appearance in The Burning Valley represents a different kind of milestone from his earlier stage work.
He will now be working on a feature film with his father while taking on a role in a story centred on family, work and the effects of industrial decline.
The project is still in production, so details about its eventual release and wider distribution have not yet been fully announced.
For now, the film gives Josey an opportunity to establish his own experience in front of the camera while continuing a connection to the entertainment world his parents know well.