After the tragic news about Cory's death broke, shocked celebrities and co-stars started bombing
social media paying tribute to their friend and colleague. They were calling him amazing,
talented, kind and… happy. He DID look happy. But there was some hardly visible sadness
in his eyes that could give out the trials he had been going through in an attempt to
get a better life for himself and for his closed ones.
Today we take a look at the real story of life and death of Glee star Cory Monteith.
It was evident from his early childhood, that Cory was destined for something big. At the
age of 5 he could already read at a fourth-grade level. However, two years later there occurred
something that apparently seriously shattered his world: Cory's parents got divorced. After
that, he barely saw his dad due to military service.
Cory himself revealed in a candid interview shortly before he died, that his problems
with alcohol and drugs started when he was about 12. The teenager was skipping school
to get drunk and smoke pot. By the age of 16, he had attended 12 different schools,
including alternative programs for troubled teens.
The actor admitted he was out of control, taking (quote) "anything and everything, as
much as possible".
Afraid that he could die, his mom initiated a serious intervention when Cory was 19.
“That’s when I first went to rehab. I did the stint but then went back to doing
exactly what I left off doing… I stole a significant amount of money from a family
member. I knew I was going to get caught, but I was so desperate I didn’t care. It
was a cry for help. I was confronted and I said, ‘Yeah, it was me.’ It was the first
honorable, truthful thing that had come out of my mouth in years.”
At some point Monteith started questioning himself why he was doing all those things
and got determined to turn his life around. That was the moment when he started working
hard, taking acting classes and in general rebuilding his life.
Aged 26, he was already cast in the Fox series Glee as Finn Hudson that instantly became
his breakout role. Soon Monteith also reunited with his father, for the first time in 17
years. His dad reached out to him on Facebook and Cory immediately got on a plane and rushed
to him. The actor characterized it as a good time, adding:
"At some point, you realize your parents are human. They make the best decisions they can
with the options available to them.”
Looking ahead, after Cory's tragic passing, his father, Joe Monteith said tearfully in
an exclusive interview with People, that he was waking up heartbroken every morning, missing
his son and wishing he could have said goodbye.
But back to the good days when nothing foretold troubles… Cory's love interest on Glee was
American actress Lea Michele. When the filming started, both were in other relationships,
but there seemed to be some chemistry between the two from the very beginning. Cory confessed
that he was really nervous when he first met Lea because he thought she was very talented.
Meanwhile, Michele was praising her co-star for being such a great inspiration and motivation
for her.
It started with a beautiful friendship that lasted for years. And finally, in 2012, after
tons of rumours and months of speculations, the new couple officially emerged. Everyone
was sure it was one of those love stories made in heaven. Lea, who was 4 years younger
than Cory. said:
"He makes me feel like I can do anything. For the first time in my life, I feel really,
really settled and happy. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.”
They were inseparable and seemed to be having the time of their lives. Cory couldn't look
happier, as well.
In March 2013, it was announced that Monteith voluntarily admitted himself into a treatment
facility for substance addiction. The news emerged out of the blue for everyone. But
not for Lea - who had been there for Cory all the time. Some sources even claimed that
it was Michele who insisted on him seeking treatment. The actress publicly confirmed
she stood by his decision, revealing she was ‘grateful and proud’ that her boyfriend
was seeking help.
Upon the completion of his one-month program, the actor was spotted in Los Angeles International
Airport together with Lea. He was friendly with people around him and appeared in great
moods.
And we all thought we knew how things were going to be then: they lived happily ever
after. Except they didn't. Several months later Cory Monteith was found dead in a hotel
room in Vancouver. Cause of death: alcohol and heroin overdose. Experts said that his
death appeared to have been accidental, as due to his rehab treatment, a previously tolerated
drug concentration level now became toxic and fatal. The bitter irony was that his attempt
to stay off drugs was responsible for his lowered tolerance to the drug.
On July 12, the 31-year-old posted his last tweet about a movie, and the next day he was
already gone.
When Lea learned about Cory's death, she immediately called his mother screaming in awe: "Is it
true, is it true about Cory?" But the actor's mom didn't even know the truth yet… She
asked: "What about Cory?" And a moment later the police knocked on her door to break the
horrible news.
Just before his death, Monteith had been making plans for the future and even talking about
starting a family. His mom told People: “Cory wanted a wife and kids. He would have made
a beautiful father. He had accomplished so much. He was ready to step out of Hollywood
and really live. He had so much to look forward to.”
Michele issued a statement only a week later, tweeting: "Thank you all for helping me through
this time with your enormous love & support. Cory will forever be in my heart."
Following the actor's passing, it was announced that Finn's own death would occur in the third
episode of the fifth season, titled "The Quarterback".
In 2014, Lea shared that she had a feeling that it was the insane love of Cory and their
love for each other that kept her going even after his death.
“There’s just something about knowing he’s watching everything I’m doing and
feeling like I have to do everything now not just for me but for him. I also have a safety
net below me — if I fall or if it’s too much, my friends and family will be there
to catch me.”
The Glee star even has a tattoo in memory of Cory on her left leg, it simply says "Finn"
- the name of the late actor's character from the musical series.
Even now, 7 years after Cory's death, Michele confesses that she gets emotional watching
him in old episodes of Glee. Describing one of the moments that gives her shivers, she
says:
"One of them was when [Monteith] took [McHale] out of that port-a-potty. There were so many
moments that you see the whole arc of a character for a whole season in one moment. Him taking
[him] out of that bathroom, and you see Finn's heart. Oh my God."
Lea married in 2019 and is expecting her first child now. Fans are happy she has moved on
with her life and they still appreciate how she respects Cory's memory by posting photos
on her social media accounts to pay tribute to her late love.
One of such posts of her showing a throwback picture of the lovebirds was captioned:
"Hard to believe it's been 4 years... We miss you C... love you more"
Meanwhile, Cory's mom opened up only years later about her life since losing her son.
She said in a rare interview with People magazine:
"I still can't pick up the pieces. My world totally stopped. And I'm a different person
than I was before."
Talking about her youngest son, Ann McGregor said that Cory had always tried to protect
her from troubles:
"He tried to keep everything from me, because he loved me and wanted to protect me. He was
just always so curious. And the darker world just drew him in."
Mrs McGregor believes that her son was not ready for the Hollywood world and adds that
drugs were his way of checking out.
Devastated and heartbroken, this woman still found strength to keep the memory of her son
alive. Through charity.
Cory was an outspoken supporter of the fight against youth homelessness. His dedication
helped raise over $200,000 for at-risk youth programs in Canada. He felt that he had a
responsibility to help those who needed it because he believed that we all deserve a
chance.
For the last five years, Cory’s Law; set up by his mom and a few close friends, has
celebrated his birthday by raising funds for various youth performing arts charities in
and around Vancouver, something Cory was very passionate about due to the opportunities
the arts gave him. So even now, after passing, he continues making a difference.
The actor used his fame for the benefit of things that he thought mattered the most in
life. Not only did he help financially, but he also never missed a chance to show up in
person and get involved whenever possible.
This video is in memory of actor Cory Monteith, gone too soon.