11 Years Since Cory Monteith’s Passing: What To Know

The Glee community continues to mourn the loss of Cory Monteith, now 11 years after his passing from a drug overdose. The actor, who left us at the age of 31, was beloved for his role as Finn Hudson, the high school athlete and heartthrob on Glee.

On July 13, 2013, the world was stunned to learn that Monteith had been found unconscious in a Vancouver hotel room. His death was later determined to be caused by drug toxicity, the result of a lethal combination of heroin and alcohol. This tragic news sent shockwaves across the globe and deeply affected his girlfriend and co-star at the time, Lea Michele. She expressed her sorrow and gratitude for the support she received through a heartfelt Instagram post, stating, “Thank you all for helping me through this time with your enormous love & support. Cory will forever be in my heart.” The couple was reportedly planning to get engaged, according to an insider who spoke to People.

Monteith had been open about his struggles with addiction. His battle began alarmingly young; he was just 13 years old when he was first exposed to drugs. Throughout his life, he made three attempts at rehab. His mother, Anne McGregor, opened up about his vulnerability, telling People, “He was a very vulnerable young man all the way through his life…I raised him to be honest and open and I raised him with love. But I did not teach him about the other side of the world. There’s a bad side out there.” McGregor’s words poignantly captured the dichotomy of her son’s life and the challenges he faced.

Monteith himself spoke candidly about his addiction struggles. In a 2011 interview with CBC, he reflected on public perceptions, “People have always made a lot of assumptions. You see this young All-American quarterback on the show, and you immediately make assumptions…But at the same time, I felt like I had to step in at some point and relate to people my experience and relate to people the truth of my life and where I come from.” His honesty aimed to break down the disconnect between his on-screen persona and his real-life challenges.

Eleven years after his untimely passing, his former castmates and fans continue to feel his absence, made even more poignant by the later loss of another co-star, Naya Rivera. Jane Lynch, who played the role of Sue Sylvester on Glee, reflected on the sense of loss during the Critics Choice Real TV Awards, telling E! News, “Just such youth…They were so excited, as we all were. We knew that we were breathing rarefied air when the show became such a big hit.” Her words underscore the lingering impact of Monteith’s death on those who worked with him and the world that loved him.

Source: People, E! News