‘GLEE’ STAR FOUND DEAD
Cory Monteith, who shot to fame in the TV series “Glee” but was beset by addiction struggles, is dead at 31.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Cory Monteith, the handsome young actor who shot to fame in the hit TV series “Glee” but was beset by addiction struggles so fierce that he once said he was lucky to be alive, was found dead in a hotel room, police said. He was 31.
The Canadian- born Monteith, who played star quarterback-turnedsinger Finn Hudson on the Fox TV series about a high school glee club, was found dead in his room on the 21st floor of the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel on Vancouver’s waterfront at about noon Saturday, according to police.
Acting Vancouver Police Chief Doug LePard said there was no indication of foul play.
Vancouver police said Sunday that an autopsy is expected to take place on Monday to determine the cause of death.
Monteith’s body was found by hotel staff who entered his room after he missed his check-out time, LePard said. Monteith had checked into the hotel on July 6.
“We do not have a great deal of information as to cause of death,” said British Columbia Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe. She said further tests would be needed to determine how Monteith died.
“The exact nature of those examinations will depend on investigative findings within the next day or two as information is gathered from medical records and discussions with family take place,” she said.
Lea Michele, Monteith’s “Glee” co-star and real-life girlfriend, was asking for privacy after receiving news of his death, said her representative, Molly Kawachi of ID-PR .
“We ask that everyone kindly respect Lea’s privacy during this devastating time,” Kawachi said in in an email.
“Glee” cast members and other celebrities took to Twitter to express their feelings.
“I have no words! My heart is broken,” Dot-Marie Jones, who plays football coach Shannon Beiste on “Glee,” said in a post on her Twitter account Saturday night.