‘Glee’ Star Cory Monteith Dead at 31
On “Glee,” Cory Monteith played the sweet-voiced, All-American, high school quarterback and co-captain who dated the head cheerleader. But the star, found dead of a drug overdose at age 31, was lucky to have lived through his own high school years.
[Related: More on the death of ‘Glee’ Star Cory Monteith]
The actor came clean about his drug addictions in 2011. In the years following his parents’ divorce, Monteith did drugs and alcohol (“anything and everything, as much as possible”), stealing from friends and family to support his habits, and cycling in out and of 12 schools.
“I’m not Finn Hudson,” Monteith he told Parade magazine. “I’m lucky on so many counts – I’m lucky to be alive.” He hoped the confession wouldn’t make kids think addiction and dropping out would be a path to stardom, but instead would inspire people on the verge of giving up. “Get real about what you want and go after it. If I can, anyone can.”
In April, Monteith voluntarily checked into a treatment facility. He had to be written out of the final two episodes of season four, but many of his co-stars tweeted public support of his move, including “Glee” co-creator Ryan Murphy.
I am so proud of Cory Monteith and love and support him 100%.— Ryan Murphy (@MrRPMurphy) April 1, 2013
Two months earlier, Monteith had urged his Twitter followers to read about the White House’s moves to reform the nation’s drug policy, moving it away from a law enforcement issue to a public health issue.
I couldn’t agree more. pls read and RT “@richardbranson: “Toward a Smarter Drug Policy” http://t.co/3w1HAilbZy via @HuffPostPol ” — Cory Monteith (@CoryMonteith) February 25, 2013
[Related: Cory Monteith in Rehab: What We Know About His History of Addiction]