'Glee' star Cory Monteith found dead in Vancouver hotel

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- The cause of "Glee" actor Cory Monteith's death remained unclear Monday, and authorities in Canada said it could take several days before toxicology test results are in.

Vancouver police Sgt. Randy Fincham said there's nothing to indicate the death was due to illicit drug use.

Monteith, 31, was found dead in his Vancouver, British Columbia, hotel room on Saturday, according to police, who have ruled out foul play.

Police said Monteith had been out with people earlier, but video and electronic records from the hotel indicated he returned to his room by himself early Saturday. He was believed to be alone when he died.

Monteith's passing recalls the lives of Heath Ledger, Corey Haim and River Phoenix - actors who battled substance abuse and died in their 20s and 30s. Monteith talked bluntly about struggling with addiction since he was a teenager, calling it a serious problem and telling Parade magazine in 2011 he was "lucky to be alive."

Monteith admitted himself to a treatment facility in April for substance addiction and asked for privacy as he took steps toward recovery, a representative said at the time. Lea Michele, Monteith's "Glee" co-star and real-life girlfriend, told People magazine that she loved and supported him and was proud he was seeking help. It was not Monteith's first time in rehab. He also received treatment when he was 19.

The Fox network and the producers of "Glee," including 20th Century Fox Television, called Monteith an exceptional performer "and an even more exceptional person." Michele asked for privacy upon hearing the news of his death.

A makeshift memorial emerged outside the Vancouver hotel. #RipCoryMonteith and #StayStrongLea became trending topics on Twitter.

In England, what was supposed to be a weekend celebration of "Glee" turned into an impromptu memorial after news of Monteith's death rocked a fan convention.

"The news was devastating. No one had any idea what to say or do," said Chloe Harvey, an 18-year-old fan from Portsmouth, England. "It just shows how much of a truly amazing guy Cory was that everyone was so shocked and emotional about the news."

"Glee," with its catchy song-and-dance numbers and high-profile guest stars like Gwyneth Paltrow and Britney Spears, became an instant hit when it debuted in 2009 and made celebrities of Montieth and the rest of the relatively unknown cast.

Monteith served as the show's resident hunk with a heart of gold. He played Finn Hudson, a football quarterback with two left feet who found more camaraderie in the choir room than on the football field. After his character graduated high school, Hudson sought out to find himself before settling on what he wanted to do with his life: become a teacher and mentor.

Several "Glee" cast members took to Twitter to express their feelings.

"I have no words! My heart is broken," Dot-Marie Jones, who plays football coach Shannon Beiste, said in a post on her Twitter account Saturday night. She called Monteith a "hell of a friend" and an "amazing" man.

Noah Puckerman actor Mark Salling said Sunday he was "going through a million memories and emotions today."

Lauren Potter, who plays Becky Jackson, the cheerleader with Down Syndrome, tweeted that she feels "totally heartbroken right now."

"I love Cory so much this hurts my heart," she wrote. "I hope my Glee family is OK right now. I love them all. Cory was always so nice to me. I have so many good memories."

Harry Shum Jr., who portrays dancer Mike Chang on the show, expressed disbelief on Twitter.

"This tragic news still doesn't seem real to me," said Shum. "I love you, Cory."

John Stamos, who appeared as a guest star on several episodes of "Glee" tweeted: "Heartbreaking. RIP Cory. We talked about how lucky he felt to be alive-and sober. We talked about playing drums. Glad i knew you Cory." Monteith played drums in a California-based indie rock band Bonnie Dune.

Matthew Morrison, who plays glee club coach Will Schuester, issued condolences before performing at a Sunday afternoon show at the cabaret 54 Below in New York, according to the New York Times. The newspaper said he changed his opening number to sing an a cappella rendition of "What I Did for Love" from the musical, "A Chorus Line," which was featured during the second season of "Glee."

"You guys came to see a show, I came to perform a show, so that's what we'll do," he said, according to the newspaper. "And we'll do it in Cory's honor."

The Times said Morrison went on with a set of show tunes and jazz standards, dancing on stage and quipping with the audience about the infamous drug-den history of the space under the 1970's club, Studio 54, where the performance took place.

Fox and the producers of "Glee," including 20th Century Fox Television, called Monteith an exceptional performer "and an even more exceptional person. He was a true joy to work with and we will all miss him tremendously."

"We are in shock and mourning this tragic loss," his representatives at Viewpoint Public Relations in Los Angeles said in a statement.

Monteith, who turned 31 on May 11, starred in "Glee" as a high school football player who puts his status and popularity at risk to join the glee club and its outcast members.

The show, with its pop music-based song-and-dance numbers and high-profile guest stars including Gwyneth Paltrow, became an immediate hit and made stars of its relatively unknown cast.

The series, which debuted in 2009, is in its fourth season.

On his Twitter account, Monteith described himself as "tall, awkward, canadian, actor, drummer, person."

He had recently shot a Canadian film called "All the Wrong Reasons," slated to be released later this year with actors Kevin Zegers, Karine Vanasse and Emily Hampshire.

In a 2010 interview with The Associated Press, Monteith was upbeat about life. He said that if "Glee" were to be canceled he would be OK.

"I've never been afraid of working," he said. "I've never been afraid of auditioning for jobs. Obviously, I've never been afraid of anonymity. I was happy (before 'Glee'). I'm happy now. I guess I'm well adjusted."

Monteith was among the "Glee" actors who remained series regulars as their characters graduated high school and moved on to other adventures. However, in real life Montieth dropped out of high school in Vancouver after his parents divorced.

According to his biography on Fox's website, Monteith was born in Calgary, Alberta, and moved to Vancouver Island as a child. Before turning to acting, he held a variety of jobs including Wal-Mart greeter, school bus driver, roofer and cab driver.

"Thanks for always being kind Cory. You came a long way from hanging on the beaches in Vancouver with the gang pre-Glee," tweeted Gerard Funk, an actor from Vancouver who joined the "Glee" cast last year.

Monteith's TV credits included roles on the series "Kaya" and "Kyle XY" and guest appearances on "Smallville," ''Supernatural," ''Stargate," ''Flash Gordon" and "Interns." His film credits included "Final Destination 3," ''The Invisible," ''Deck the Halls" and "Whisper."

His big break came when he submitted an audition tape to the "Glee" producers in Los Angeles and then raced straight down the Pacific Coast in his car from Vancouver when he was invited to meet them in person.

"I nailed it. I knew I nailed it," Monteith recalled about his audition in an interview with Canadian TV columnist Bill Brioux. "When you walk in to the room, the heads of Fox ... of course it's a little unnerving. Then you realize they're all waiting for you. It's kind of flattering in a way."

Monteith was an avid supporter of Project Limelight, a Vancouver charity that offers a theater and arts programs to at-risk youth. He dined with Project Limelight co-founder Maureen Webb at a Vancouver restaurant just days before his death.

In a Globe and Mail interview last year, Monteith credited Webb for suggesting that he enroll in acting classes when he was 19 years old and going down a "very dark path."

He kept in touch with Webb and made a video to support Project Limelight when the charity was launched last year.

"I think kids really need a place to go and feel like they belong," Monteith said in the video posted on Project Limelight's website. "When I was a kid, I struggled a lot with who I was and where my life was going and what I was interested in. And I was fortunate to have the arts inspire me."

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