Cory Monteith, a star of the very-LGBT friendly hit TV series “Glee,” was found dead in his Vancouver, Canada, hotel room around noon yesterday. On “Glee” he played the character of Finn Hudson, boyfriend on and off screen to Lea Michele, who plays Rachel Berry, the daughter of a same-sex couple. Monteith co-hosted last year’s GLAAD Media Awards in New York City with “Glee” co-star Naya Rivera. He was 31-years old, and born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
“The actor was found at noon Saturday on the hotel’s 21st floor, Vancouver police said in a news conference,” The Hollywood Reporter notes:
He checked into the hotel July 6, and was expected to check out Saturday. When Monteith missed his checkout time at noon, hotel staff went to his room and discovered his body.
Police said Monteith was with other people Friday night. An examination of hotel video footage showed him returning to his room alone early Saturday morning. Police believe he was alone when he died. No cause of death was given and no foul play is suspected, police said. Police are questioning the people he was with Friday night.
In March, Monteith voluntarily checked himself into rehab for substance abuse. He previously checked into rehab when he was 19. It was unclear why the Calgary native had checked into the Vancouver hotel. He was a frequent visitor to Vancouver during hiatus.
Glee executive producers, producers 20th Century Fox Television and Fox Broadcasting Co. said in a statement: “We are deeply saddened by this tragic news. Cory was an exceptional talent and an even more exceptional person. He was a true joy to work with and we will all miss him tremendously. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones.”
Monteith also had a recurring role in Kyle XY, and appeared in Smallville, Supernatural, Flash Gordon, Stargate Atlantis, and Stargate SG-1.
In 2011, Monteith recorded this PSA for the Straight But Not Narrow campaign:
//www.youtube.com/embed/vL7hLzDDbak
Here’s Monteith at the 2012 GLAAD Awards, with Naya Rivera:
//www.youtube.com/embed/cyo5Q76-wVI
Here’s Montheith’s last tweet:
oh. IT’S A SHARK TORNADO.
— Cory Monteith (@CoryMonteith) July 12, 2013
Celebrities respond on Twitter to Monteith’s passing:
I HAVE NO WORDS! MY HEART IS BROKEN CORY WAS NOT ONLY A HELL OF A FRIEND HE WAS ONE AMAZING MEN THAT I WILL HOLD CLOSE TO MY HEART FOREVER
— Dot-Marie Jones (@dotmariejones) July 14, 2013
Goodbye my amazing and beautiful friend. The lights in my world just grew dimmer. The world just lost one of our best. I love u so much…
— Adam Shankman (@adammshankman) July 14, 2013
RIP CoryMontieth. You will be loved. Always.
— Kristin Chenoweth (@KChenoweth) July 14, 2013
What I will remember about Cory Monteith is that he was talented, funny and absolutely kindhearted. We lost a gentleman. RIP
— Cheyenne Jackson (@cheyennejackson) July 14, 2013
This is such sad news about @CoryMonteith – what an absolutely tragic loss of a very talented young man.
— zooey deschanel (@ZooeyDeschanel) July 14, 2013
My thought love & prayers are going out to the friends & family of Cory Monteith my he rest in peace!
— Kelly Osbourne (@KellyOsbourne) July 14, 2013
Rest in peace Cory Monteith. Sad, very very sad http://t.co/V3ViLYBOOt
— mia farrow (@MiaFarrow) July 14, 2013
#RIPCoryMonteith, a lovely human being who moved mountains to make the world a better place http://t.co/L3EzZT874b
— richardbranson (@richardbranson) July 14, 2013
Beautiful man! Why did you leave us so soon? Rest with the angels, Cory Monteith.
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) July 14, 2013
Our thoughts are with Lea Michele and Monteith’s friends and family today. Rest in peace.
Image, top, by Cory Monteith via Twitter: Comic Con, posted one year ago today, in 2012.