The Stars Of "Glee" Posted Emotional Tributes To Naya Rivera To Mark Her 34th Birthday

    "I can't write a sappy monologue because it's just too hard."

    Ben Henry
    by Ben Henry

    BuzzFeed Staff

    The stars of Glee came together on Tuesday to mark what would've been Naya Rivera's 34th birthday, posting heartfelt and emotional tributes to the late actor on social media following her death back in July.

    Gregg Deguire / WireImage

    "Happy Birthday my angel," Heather Morris, who played the role of Brittany in the hit TV show, wrote in a caption on Instagram. "I can't write a sappy monologue because it's just too hard...but I love you and I can't describe how much I miss you."

    Posting a picture of the Glee cast at a party, Kevin McHale wished Naya happy birthday, adding: "No one else could get us to be this messy in public."

    "What I imagine you doing up there right now," Harry Shum Jr. wrote on Instagram. "Shinin' brighter than a star. Happy birthday baby gurl. We miss you."

    Chris Colfer also posted a picture alongside Naya on social media, simply saying, "Miss you," alongside a heart emoji.

    Chris Colfer @chriscolfer

    Happy birthday, babe. Miss you. ❤️

    Reply Retweet Favorite
    Twitter: @chriscolfer

    And Darren Criss shared a picture of Naya on the set of Glee to mark the occasion too.

    Darren Criss @DarrenCriss

    ✨

    Reply Retweet Favorite
    Twitter: @DarrenCriss

    Naya's ex-husband, Ryan Dorsey, also shared a birthday message dedicated to the actor, posting a picture of the two of them alongside their five-year-old son, Josey.

    Naya's body was found in a Californian lake last summer after being reported missing from a rented pontoon boat that she'd taken out onto the water with her son.

    Gregg Deguire / Getty Images

    Josey was found by other boaters on the lake, alone and asleep wearing a life jacket. After being questioned by authorities, the then four-year-old revealed that they'd been swimming when Naya pushed him up onto the boat before disappearing under the surface of the water. This led to the belief that she had "mustered enough energy to get her son back into the boat, but not enough to save herself."

    A frantic search for the actor ensued, finally resulting in Naya's body being recovered some five days later. She was 33. Naya was laid to rest on July 24 at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles in a small private service.