Vancouver Police have confirmed that Vancouverite and Glee lead star Cory Monteith was found dead earlier today at Downtown Vancouver’s Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel.
According to the VPD during this evening’s news conference, the young celebrity checked in to the Fairmont on July 6. He was due to leave today when room service staff discovered his body at midday in his 21st floor guest room. Police arrived within minutes of the hotel’s 911 call and paramedics advised that he was clearly deceased.
There were others with Monteith in his room on Friday night, but hotel security video and fob key entries show him returning to his room by himself in the early morning hours of Saturday. Police believe he was alone when he died.
In March 2013, Monteith announced that he had admitted himself into a treatment facility for drug addiction, and he completed his treatment after a month’s stay. He also had a previous battle with substance abuse when he was 19, telling Parade Magazine in 2011 that “he was lucky to be alive.” He added that he would take “anything and everything.”
Although Vancouver Police state there was no foul play, calling it a sudden death, an investigation with the BC Coroners Service is still ongoing to determine the exact cause. Hotel video and room access records have been secured and an autopsy is scheduled for Monday. Monteith was just 31 years old when he passed today.
In the news conference, VPD Deputy Chief Doug LePard stated, “I want to pass on our condolences to the family, friends, castmates and millions of fans of Mr. Monteith.”
“As was the case in countless homes, I watched Glee regularly with my daughters and I know there will be shock and sadness in many households with the news of his tragic death.”
He had been dating fellow Glee star Lea Michele, who played the character Rachele Berry and was known to be highly supportive of her long-term boyfriend’s struggle against substance abuse.
Shortly after the news conference, Fox Broadcasting and Glee executive producers released their own joint 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.”
On Twitter, Monteith described himself as “tall, awkward, canadian, actor, drummer, person”. Raised in Victoria, British Columbia, he began his acting career in Vancouver and although born in Calgary, Alberta, he was a Vancouverite at heart. He spent much of his break periods from Glee in the city and was also known to be a very loyal Vancouver Canucks fan.
Monteith played minor roles in Final Destination 3, Whisper and Deck the Halls. He had a recurring role in Kyle XY, and he also made guest appearances in such Canadian-filmed television serials as Smallville, Supernatural, Flash Gordon, Stargate Atlantis and Stargate SG-1.
In 2009, Monteith was cast in the Fox hit series Glee. Monteith portrays Finn Hudson. When Glee was being cast, Monteith’s Vancouver agent, Elena Kirschner, submitted a video of him drumming with some pencils and Tupperware containers. Series creator (Ryan Murphy) took notice of the video, but pointed out that he had to be singing, as auditioning actors for Glee with no theatrical experience were required to prove they could sing and dance as well as act.
Monteith submitted a second, musical tape, in which he sang “a cheesy, ’80s music-video-style version” of REO Speedwagon’s “Can’t Fight This Feeling”. He then attended a mass audition in Los Angeles; his vocal skills were considered weak, but he later performed very well with one of Glee’s casting directors, who said that his audition captured the most elusive quality of Finn’s, his “naive, but not stupid sweetness”.
Monteith said of his casting process,
“I was like a lot of kids, looking for something to be interested in. Something to be passionate about. All you need is permission. Not only for Glee, but for anything in life.”
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