Who Is Ryan Dorsey? 5 Things to Know About Naya Rivera’s Ex-Husband

Credit: INFphoto.com

Who Is Ryan Dorsey? 5 Things to Know About Naya Rivera’s Ex-Husband

A dad and a dreamer. Ryan Dorsey may have made headlines for his on-again, off-again relationship with Naya Rivera over the years, but the West Virginia native has his fair share of acting credits under his belt. Dorsey and Rivera surprised fans when they tied the knot in July 2014 — months after the Glee star split from ex-fiancé Big Sean — but she later revealed that the twosome actually dated before she met the rapper. Not long after their nuptials, Us Weekly broke the news that they welcomed their first child together, a son named Josey. “Naya was born to be a mother and is doing really great so far,” a source told Us in 2015. “Ryan has amazing paternal instincts and has been waiting on them both hand and foot. They are so excited to be first-time parents.” While Dorsey and Rivera later split (and finalized their divorce in June 2018), they remained dedicated to Josey. “It’s always going to have its challenges logistically, but Josey is our priority. We’re his parents,” Rivera told Momtastic in 2017. “If everybody looks at it that way it alleviates some of the drama. Doing what’s best for Josey is really what it all boils down to.” As the exes continued to coparent, news broke that Rivera was missing after she rented a motorized pontoon boat with Josey, now 4, at Lake Piru near Los Angeles. [jwplayer 6HgC8LrJ-l3ahXupL] “It is believed that Naya and her son were swimming in the lake near the boat and as they were getting back into the boat, her son made it into the boat and Naya went underwater and did not resurface,” the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department told Us in a statement on Wednesday, July 8, confirming they launched a “large-scale search and rescue operation” for Rivera. Josey, for his part, was found safe on the boat. “He’s in good health,” Captain Eric Buschow said in a statement. “The family is going through a very traumatic time right now.” The search for Rivera resumed in the early hours of Thursday, July 9. Dorsey has yet to publicly comment on the situation. Scroll through for what we know about Dorsey and his relationship with Rivera:

Credit: INFphoto.com

Who Is Ryan Dorsey? 5 Things to Know About Naya Rivera’s Ex-Husband

A dad and a dreamer. Ryan Dorsey may have made headlines for his on-again, off-again relationship with Naya Rivera over the years, but the West Virginia native has his fair share of acting credits under his belt. Dorsey and Rivera surprised fans when they tied the knot in July 2014 — months after the Glee star split from ex-fiancé Big Sean — but she later revealed that the twosome actually dated before she met the rapper. Not long after their nuptials, Us Weekly broke the news that they welcomed their first child together, a son named Josey. “Naya was born to be a mother and is doing really great so far,” a source told Us in 2015. “Ryan has amazing paternal instincts and has been waiting on them both hand and foot. They are so excited to be first-time parents.” While Dorsey and Rivera later split (and finalized their divorce in June 2018), they remained dedicated to Josey. “It’s always going to have its challenges logistically, but Josey is our priority. We’re his parents,” Rivera told Momtastic in 2017. “If everybody looks at it that way it alleviates some of the drama. Doing what’s best for Josey is really what it all boils down to.” As the exes continued to coparent, news broke that Rivera was missing after she rented a motorized pontoon boat with Josey, now 4, at Lake Piru near Los Angeles. [jwplayer 6HgC8LrJ-l3ahXupL] “It is believed that Naya and her son were swimming in the lake near the boat and as they were getting back into the boat, her son made it into the boat and Naya went underwater and did not resurface,” the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department told Us in a statement on Wednesday, July 8, confirming they launched a “large-scale search and rescue operation” for Rivera. Josey, for his part, was found safe on the boat. “He’s in good health,” Captain Eric Buschow said in a statement. “The family is going through a very traumatic time right now.” The search for Rivera resumed in the early hours of Thursday, July 9. Dorsey has yet to publicly comment on the situation. Scroll through for what we know about Dorsey and his relationship with Rivera:

Credit: Dan Steinberg/Invision/AP/Shutterstock

He’s From West Virginia

Dorsey once described himself on his official website as "the kid from the coal mining valley of West Virginia [who] had dreams of being a baseball player but high school fate derailed those plans and landed him on the stage, where he fell in love with a new dream."

The Chesapeake native was named Cosmopolitan's West Virginia Bachelor in 2011.

Credit: Stewart Cook/Variety/Shutterstock

He’s an Actor

Dorsey’s acting credits include roles on Justified, The Vampire Diaries, Pitch, Yellowstone and Stumptown. Most recently, he had a guest role in ABC’s The Rookie.

Credit: Matt Baron/Shutterstock

He Dated Naya Years Before Their Surprise Nuptials

“By the time we sort of reconnected, I was like, gosh, there’s a reason why you keep coming back in my life and we keep coming back together,” Rivera wrote of Dorsey in her 2016 book, Sorry Not Sorry.

Credit: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP/Shutterstock

His Marriage to Naya Had Ups and Downs

Rivera and Dorsey initially called it quits in November 2016. While they later reconciled (and the actress withdrew her divorce petition), their relationship made headlines in 2017 when Rivera was arrested for domestic battery after an alleged altercation with Dorsey.

“This is a difficult time for everyone in the family especially for Naya and I,” Dorsey tweeted in November 2017. “This isn’t some reality show, this is our life, and I ask that everyone especially ‘the media’ please respect our privacy and treat us/this situation how you would want a loved one to be treated. Perhaps with kindness, respect, without judgement, and as negative a situation like this is, with positivity and love. Thanks.”

Less than a month after the incident, Rivera filed for divorce for a second time. The domestic battery charges against the Devious Maids star were subsequently dismissed after Dorsey opted not to press charges.

Their divorce was finalized in June 2018.

Credit: Courtesy of Ryan Dorsey/Instagram

He’s a Dedicated Dad

Back in November 2017, Rivera described Dorsey as a “sensitive” man, noting they have very different parenting styles.

“I’m really A-type. I know that Josey really likes [a] schedule. I’m not crazy like we can’t deviate, but I think Josey listens to me a little bit more,” she told Us at the time. “He’s a Cancer. Josey will get him. Josey will get him good.”

More recently, Dorsey opened up about how much he loves his son in a Father’s Day tribute last month.

“Tomorrow, next week, next month, next year is never promised,” he wrote on June 21 via Instagram. “Be grateful for yours if they’re still around - especially during these crazy times we’re all living through✌️❤️🙏 Josey I love you so much, you are the sunshine & joy of my life, proud to be your daddy💛.”