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Naya Rivera’s Son Josey, 10, Lands First Movie Role Alongside Dad Ryan Dorsey 6 Years After Her Death
Naya Rivera’s son is officially following in her footsteps.
The Glee alum and ex Ryan Dorsey’s son Josey Hollis Dorsey will make his big screen debut in writer-director Evan Coury's upcoming feature film The Burning Valley, E! News can confirm.
Ryan, 43, told E! News that Josey's new gig makes him a "very proud dad."
The 10-year-old—whose mom died six years ago at the age of 33—will play a role called "Boy" alongside his father, with Ryan set to play a character named Sam Pope, per the film's IMDb page.
Evan shared that the film will focus on the period of deindustrialization.
"The movie is about a steelworker who loses his job when the mill announces a shutdown,” he told The Tribute-Review in an interview published Aug. 26. “It sets him on a journey as he wanders through his Rust Belt town."
Evan added, "My hope is to encapsulate the history of our region through one guy’s personal experience."
Josey's film debut follows his appearance in a local West Virginia theater production of Seussical Jr. in 2024, KTVB reported at the time.
While Ryan tends to keep Josey out of the public eye, he did share some insight into his life in West Virginia—the Yellowstone alum's home state where the father-son duo moved in 2023—while celebrating his 10th birthday last year.
“120 months…521.78 weeks 3,652 days gone by in a flash….,” Ryan wrote on Instagram last September alongside a photo of him and Josey smiling and Josey smiling big for the camera as he held up a throwback picture of himself. “Our sweet baby boy @joseydorsey is 10.”
Gushing about his son’s qualities, the Justified actor added, “I cannot believe how fast you’ve become the strong, curious, funny, bright and intelligent 10 year old that you are today. I love you more than all the stars in the galaxy. I’m so proud to be your Dad, my guy!!"
The Big Sky actor has also spoken about how he is keeping Naya’s memory alive for Josey. And one of those ways is through music as Josey has taken up piano lessons.
Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images
"I said, 'Your mom would definitely have you playing,'” Ryan said during a February 2025 interview with Good Morning America, “and I said, 'She’s always watching you.'"
He is also making sure that Josey—who was with his mom at the time of her death—has positive memories of his mother and a clear vision of the legacy she left behind.
"I’m grateful that he has memories of his mom still," Ryan added. "And luckily, his mother was on television, so she’s gonna live [on] forever."
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