Cory Monteith, “Glee” star and on- and off-air boyfriend of Lea Michele, was found dead in his Vancouver, B.C. hotel around noon Saturday.
Monteith, 31, was a relatively unknown Canadian actor until he landed the role on Fox’s musical drama “Glee” as Finn Hudson, a star quarterback who risks his popularity by joining the school’s Glee club. He and Michele have been dating since early 2012, US Magazine reports; onscreen, Michele played Rachel Berry, Finn’s on-again/off-again girlfriend.
Michele supported Monteith in his ongoing struggle with drug addiction, including when he checked himself into a rehabilitation facility for the second time in April. According to NPR, his body was found when he missed the downtown Fairmount Pacific Rim checkout time. The city police department statement read:
“Mr. Monteith checked into the hotel on July 6th and was due to check out of the room today. There were others with Mr. Monteith in his room earlier last night, but video and fob key entries show him returning to his room by himself in the early morning hours and we believe he was alone when he died.
“When he missed his check-out time, staff went to the room at noon and found his body.”
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