Cory Monteith, who played Finn Hudson on Fox’s “Glee,” was found dead in Vancouver, Canada, police said Saturday night. Social media site Twitter was ablaze with users expressing their condolences. Mark Salling, was the first “Glee” co-star to respond to his death.
Monteith was cast for “Glee” in 2009 and had appeared on the show since. He was 31.
Vancouver police’s Acting Chief Doug LePard said there was no foul play when he died, and he was alone. His family was notified around an hour before a press conference was held about his death.
Hotel staff discovered his body when he failed to meet the checkout time, LePard said in a press conference, according to a transcript.
“Mr. Monteith checked into the hotel in July 6th and was due to check out of the room today. There were others with Mr. Monteith in his room earlier last night, but video and fob key entries show him returning to his room by himself in the early morning hours and we believe he was alone when he died,” he said. “When he missed his check-out time, staff went to the room at noon and found his body.”
Hotel video and access records were secured as part of a police investigation, LePard said, adding there would be an autopsy on Monday to determine the cause of death.
“All indications are that there was no foul play,” he said.
In late March, it was reported that he admitted himself voluntarily into a substance abuse program and completed it in late April. He previously received substance abuse treatment when he was 19. His girlfriend and “Glee” co-star Lea Michelle said at the time: “I love and support Cory and will stand by him through this. I am grateful and proud he made this decision.”
On Twitter, users grieved over his death.
The first “Glee” co-star to respond was Mark Salling, who plays Noah “Puck” Puckerman. He simply wrote “no” on his Twitter account.
The actor who plays the principal on the show, Iqbal Theba, later wrote: “OMG!! My Cory…”
When Canadian broadcaster CTV originally broke the story, some users tweeted at Monteith to respond.
“Is Cory Monteith really dead?.. Or is everyone making this up??” wrote user SydnieAllstar.
“CORY MONTEITH CANT BE DEAD NO,” wrote another.
Another wrote: “Cory Monteith better not be dead…. I refuse to believe it.”
“Cory Monteith was a beautiful man,” user Naomi Romero wrote.
The Vancouver Police Department sent out its condolences to Monteith’s fans and family.
“Condolences to the family, friends, castmates and millions of fans of Cory Monteith,” it tweeted.
Monteith’s final tweets were about the recent “Sharknado” film on the SyFy channel.
“Oh. IT’S A SHARK TORNADO,” he wrote.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this headline incorrectly said Grievances were expressed on Twitter, instead of Grief.
