Cory Monteith

Cory Allan Michael Monteith was a Canadian actor and musician best known for playing Finn Hudson on the Fox musical comedy-drama series Glee. Throughout his career, Monteith starred in over eighteen television dramas and seventeen feature films, achieving commercial success with films such as Final Destination 3, Monte Carlo, and Sisters & Brothers. For his performance on Glee, he won a Screen Actors Guild Award and a Teen Choice Award.

Monteith was born in Calgary, Alberta, on May 11, 1982, to Ann McGregor, an interior decorator, and Joe Monteith, a soldier. Following his parents' divorce when he was seven years old, he and his older brother were raised by their mother in Victoria, British Columbia. Monteith experienced social difficulties and began struggling with substance abuse at age 13. After attending 16 different schools, including alternative programs, he dropped out at age 16. At age 19, he entered a rehabilitation program following an intervention by his family and friends. He later received his high school diploma in 2011 from an alternative school he had attended in his youth. Prior to acting, Monteith worked various jobs, including roofer, taxicab driver, mechanic, school bus driver, and Walmart Canada greeter.

Monteith began taking acting classes with Anthony Meindl in Vancouver after receiving encouragement from Maureen Webb. He made his screen debut in 2004 on the television series Stargate Atlantis. Over the next several years, he secured recurring and guest roles on series such as Smallville, Supernatural, Stargate SG-1, Flash Gordon, and Kyle XY, alongside starring as Gunnar in the 2007 MTV series Kaya. His early film credits included minor appearances in projects such as Final Destination 3, Whisper, Deck the Halls, Killer Bash, and Bloody Mary.

In 2009, Monteith achieved widespread recognition when he was cast as Finn Hudson, a high school football quarterback who joins the school's glee club, on Glee. Although he was not a singer prior to being cast, Monteith sang lead or joint lead on numerous songs throughout his four seasons on the show. Outside of Glee, Monteith co-starred in the romantic comedy Monte Carlo in 2011 and the drama Sisters & Brothers. He also hosted the Gemini Awards in 2010 and co-hosted both the Teen Choice Awards and the GLAAD Media Awards.

In 2010, Monteith joined the Canadian indie rock band Bonnie Dune as a drummer, backup vocalist, and songwriter. He performed with the group across the United States, contributing to their EP Miramar. Monteith also took on dramatic feature roles in independent films, including All the Wrong Reasons and McCanick, both of which premiered posthumously in 2013.

Monteith was involved with several charitable endeavors, acting as an ambassador for Virgin Unite and supporting organizations such as Project Limelight, Chrysalis, The Trevor Project, and Straight But Not Narrow. Beginning in early 2012, he was in a relationship with his Glee co-star Lea Michele. In March 2013, Monteith sought treatment for substance addiction, completing the program in April 2013. On July 13, 2013, Monteith was found dead in a Vancouver hotel room at the age of 31. An official coroner's report concluded his death was accidental, caused by a mixed drug toxicity of heroin and alcohol.