Cory Monteith's Tragic Death 8 Years Ago And How He Bravely Battled ...

Cory Monteith's tragic death 8 years ago and how he bravely battled demons until the end

Glee star Cory Monteith died nearly eight years ago in a hotel room after overdosing on a lethal cocktail of heroin and booze

Comments3amLouise Lavigueur13:15, 11 May 2021Updated 13:15, 11 May 2021Cory Monteith found dead in hotel room

It’s been nearly eight years since Glee star Cory Monteith’s death and today should have been the tragic actor's 39th birthday.

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Best known for playing Finn Hudson in the hit show, the Canadian-born actor left a haunting legacy when he was found dead in a hotel room aged just 31, after taking a lethal combination of heroin and alcohol.

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Ooff-screen, the star who shot to fame on the American musical comedy-drama had battled substance misuse since his early teens and left school at just 16.

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After he was kicked out of dozens of schools his family intervened at 19 and a stint in rehab his acting career kicked off and a number of minor movie roles followed.

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He landed the dream role in the Fox series by chance after in his own words ‘ a cheesy ‘80s music video-style version of REO Speedwagon’s Can’t Fight This Feeling in 2009.

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The show was an overnight success and turned him into a global star and a teen icon.

Following his role on Glee, Corey's film work included the movie Monte Carlo and a starring role in Sisters & Brothers.

But behind closed doors Cory was battling his demons and despite a three-month stint in rehab just months before his death he continued to struggle.

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Tragically he was found dead in a hotel room in Canada on July 13, 2013 by staff at Vancouver’s luxury Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel after he failed to check out of his room on the 21st floor.

Cops said the 31-year-old had been out with friends the night before.

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At the time police Constable Brian Montague said: "There was evidence in the room that was consistent of an drug overdose." Cory's official cause of death is listed as "mixed drug toxicity, involving intravenous heroin use combined with the ingestion of alcohol".

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When he died he left behind his girlfriend, and Glee co-star Lea Michele.

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Lea told Us Weekly at the time: “I only have happy memories of Cory. He was not his addiction — unfortunately, it won.

“But that wasn’t who he was. Cory made me feel like a queen every day. From the minute he said, ‘I’m your boyfriend,’ I loved every day, and I thank him for being the best boyfriend and making me feel so beautiful.”