“Glee” star Naya Rivera is being remembered for her remarkable career and heroic final act to save her son, six years after her tragic accidental drowning.

Her ex-husband, Ryan Dorsey, previously revealed that their son, Josey Dorsey, who was with Rivera when she died, initially didn’t want to get into the water, but she encouraged him.

Earlier this year, Dorsey said he believes Rivera would be “smiling down” at how much their son has grown, while revealing that they continue honoring her memory through a special “Mommy Garden.”

Naya Rivera Saved Her Son Before Drowning

Naya Rivera’s death at age 33 shocked Hollywood because of the heartbreaking circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

The late actress had taken a boat ride on California’s Lake Piru with her then-four-year-old son, Josey Dorsey, whom she shared with ex-husband Ryan Dorsey.

When the boat was not returned on time, staff launched a frantic search. They eventually found Josey alone onboard and reported Rivera missing.

Her body was recovered five days later, and authorities ruled her death an accidental drowning. Josey later told police that his mother had lifted him back onto the boat in a final effort to save him before she disappeared beneath the water.

Ryan Dorsey Reflects On Raising Son Without Rivera

Today, Josey is being raised by his father, actor Ryan Dorsey, alongside Rivera’s close-knit family.

Ryan occasionally shares updates about his son’s growth on social media and recently told Page Six that Josey has embraced his mother’s musical side by learning to play the piano.

He said he believes Rivera would be “smiling down” on them as he praised how much their son has grown since witnessing her final moments.

“He’s been taking piano lessons for a little over a year now, and he’s getting pretty good. It’s the one thing I connected with his mom,” Ryan said during a Zoom interview, adding that Rivera always “regretted” giving up piano.

How Josey Helps Keep Naya Rivera’s Memory Alive

Ryan also revealed that he and Josey keep Rivera’s memory alive through a “Mommy Garden” in their backyard.

“There’s roses and flowers and all these things that come back every year,” he explained. “And [Josey] waters it when it needs to be watered and kind of takes care of that. It kind of looks like a wishing well. So, we put that up for her.”

He also shared that Josey often reminds him of Rivera through little habits and mannerisms.

“He does certain things — little laughs and voices that I don’t even know that he knows that she used to do — well, I tell him — that remind me of silly things that she used to do and say,” Ryan recalled. “And he talks a lot, so he reminds me of her.”

‘Glee’ Turned Naya Rivera Into A Television Icon

Although her life was cut tragically short, Rivera left an enduring mark on Hollywood.

After beginning her career as a child model and actress, she landed a role on the CBS sitcom “The Royal Family,” appearing from 1991 to 1992.

She later appeared in shows including “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” “Family Matters,” “Baywatch,” and “Even Stevens” before landing the breakthrough role that defined her career.

Rivera rose to prominence as Santana Lopez on “Glee.” As the series progressed, Santana’s romance with fellow cheerleader Brittany Pierce, played by Heather Morris, became one of television’s most celebrated LGBTQ+ storylines.

Rivera later said the role meant so much to her because of its impact on viewers.

“I get so many stories of people that the storyline truly touched them and hit home for them,” she told The Hollywood Reporter. “It’s created a fan base for me that I never thought I’d have. It’s really cool to see how it’s evolved, and it’s given me the greatest fan base in the entire world.”

Josey’s Final Memory Of Naya Still Haunts Ryan Dorsey

Ryan has previously reflected on the heartbreaking details Josey shared about the day Rivera died, raising questions about how close they may have come to avoiding the tragedy.

According to Ryan, Josey told him he was hesitant about getting into the water, but Rivera reassured him, saying, “Don’t be silly!”

“Something he’s said over and over is that he was trying to find a life raft, and there was a rope, but there was a big spider on the rope, and he was too scared to throw it,” Ryan said.

“I keep reassuring him, buddy, that rope wasn’t going to be long enough,” he continued. “It just rocks my world that he had to witness her last moments.”

In a previous interview with PEOPLE, Ryan also revealed that Josey told him, “the last thing she said was his [her son’s] name, and then she went under, and he didn’t see her anymore.”

He added that holidays remain especially difficult for Josey, who often cries while looking through the “book of memories” they created together.

“You can only give him a hug and tell him, ‘I know, life is not fair. “ Bad things happen, and there’s no reason for it, and you just have to do your best to be a good person,” Ryan recalled.

The ‘Glee’ Actress Remembered Six Years After Tragic Death first appeared on The Blast