Glee star Cory Monteith dies aged 31

Hollywood and Glee fans alike are mourning the premature loss of star Cory Monteith, whose body was discovered in his hotel room in Vancouver on Saturday afternoon. 

Monteith, who played Finn Hudson on the popular television series Glee, was only 31 and had previously struggled with substance abuse problems; however his cause of death hasn’t yet been confirmed. 

Monteith was born in Alberta, Canada and grew up in Victoria, British Columbia, well away from the harsh glare of Hollywood’s lights. The divorce of his parents led to feelings of inadequacy and a troubled childhood, which eventually manifested into experimenting with drugs and alcohol. He spent most of his teen years in and out of different schools and rehabilitation centres. 

His rise to stardom was a steady one, with recurring roles on popular shows such as Kyle XY and Smallville. He landed the spot on Glee, a comedy musical series about American teenagers in a high school drama group, in 2009, despite not having any of the prerequisite theatrical singing and dancing skills. 

His role as Finn saw him tackle high school issues that regular teenagers were experiencing, all set to a catchy soundtrack. He showed huge development whilst on the show, not only in his singing and dancing but in his acting abilities too. However, he couldn’t escape his addiction and checked himself into rehab again in April. 

This loss will be felt by everyone who knew and loved him, particularly his girlfriend and Glee co-star Lea Michele. Support and condolences have been pouring in for Michele, along with Monteith’s family and friends. The unexpected and early loss of such a promising, talented young man has shocked the world. 

Jessica Spiro