Cory Allan Michael Monteith (May 11, 1982 – July 13, 2013) was a Canadian actor and musician, best known for his role of Finn Hudson on the Fox television series Glee.

Monteith, born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, was the youngest son of Ann McGregor, an interior decorator, and Joe Monteith, a military man who served in the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. He had an older brother named Shaun. Monteith's parents divorced when he was seven, and he and his older brother were raised by their mother in Victoria, British Columbia. Dealing with the intermittent absence of his father, and feeling like an outsider among his peers, he started to display signs of a troubled youth; Monteith – once a promising student, who, at age 5, could read at a fourth-grade level – began delving into drugs and alcohol, which in turn affected his studies and school attendance.

After attending 16 different schools, including alternative programs for troubled teens, he eventually quit school at the age of 16. By that time, his drug and alcohol addiction had increased and Monteith turned to petty crimes, such as stealing money from friends and family, in order to fund his addictions. The turning point in Monteith's life came when his mother and a group of friends staged an intervention, and he was sent to rehab at 19. Looking back, Monteith stated, "I'm lucky on so many counts—I'm lucky to be alive." He eventually received his high school diploma in 2011 from an alternative school he had attended in his youth in Victoria, British Columbia.

Prior to breaking into show business, Monteith worked various jobs, including Wal-Mart people greeter, taxicab driver, school bus driver, and roofer.

Career

Monteith began his acting career in Vancouver, British Columbia. He played minor roles in Final Destination 3, Whisper, and Deck the Halls. He had a recurring role in Kyle XY. He also made guest appearances in such Canadian-filmed television serials asSmallville, Supernatural, Flash Gordon, Stargate Atlantis and Stargate SG-1. In 2005, he appeared in Killer Bash about a tormented geek's soul that was taking revenge on his murderer's children by taking over a girl's twin body. The following year he made a brief appearance in Urban Legend: a Bloody Mary. In 2007, he starred in the MTV series Kaya. In April 2010, Monteith was cast in the romantic comedy movie Monte Carlo. On August 8, 2010, he co-hosted the Teen Choice Awards. Monteith hosted the Gemini Awards in Toronto on November 13, 2010. In December 2010, it was announced that Monteith would be starring in and co-producing a new untitled workplace-caper comedy for Fox 2000. In January 2011, he shot the film Sisters&Brothers with Dustin Milligan, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 11, 2011. In 2011, he filmed a PSA for Straight But Not Narrow, an online PSA organization aimed at changing the minds of young, straight guys and girls in their attitude and viewpoint towards the LGBT community. In 2012, he co-hosted the 23rd GLAAD Media Awards in New York City with co-starNaya Rivera.

Glee Cory Monteith at the 2010 GLAAD Media Awards

In 2009, Monteith was cast in the Fox series Glee. Monteith portrayed Finn Hudson. When Glee was being cast, Monteith's Vancouver agent, Elena Kirschner, submitted a video of him drumming with some pencils and Tupperware containers. Series creator (Ryan Murphy) took notice of the video, but pointed out that he had to be singing, as auditioning actors for Glee with no theatrical experience were required to prove they could sing and dance as well as act. Monteith submitted a second, musical tape, in which he sang "a cheesy, '80s music-video-style version" of REO Speedwagon's "Can't Fight This Feeling". He then attended a mass audition in Los Angeles; his vocal skills were considered weak, but he later performed very well with one of Glee's casting directors, who said that his audition captured the most elusive quality of Finn's, his "naive, but not stupid sweetness". Monteith said of his casting process, "I was like a lot of kids, looking for something to be interested in. Something to be passionate about. All you need is permission. Not only for Glee, but for anything in life."[17]

Finn is the star quarterback of his high school football team, and risks alienation from his friends by joining the school’s glee club. He is a popular jock at the top of the school’s social hierarchy, but when forced to join the glee club, he finds he loves it. His storylines have seen him struggle with his decision to stay in the club, which is at the bottom of the social ladder, while he maintains his popular reputation and the respect of the other jocks. The character must deal with his attraction to both head cheerleader Quinn Fabray(Dianna Agron) and glee club star singer Rachel Berry (Lea Michele), and his storylines increasingly focus on his relationship with them both.

Monteith felt that Finn has had to grow up a lot during his time on the show. The actor said, "Finn started off as the stereotypical dumb jock but as the show has gone on, Finn’s not dumb anymore, really, he’s just a little naïve." Early reviews of Finn from television critics were mixed; Todd VanDerWerff of The A.V. Club said that he and Michele were "both agreeable and a little desperate for an outlet" in the pilot episode. Commenting on the fifth episode of the first season, Eric Goldman of IGN wrote, "We got to see a bit of a darker side to Finn [...] it's good to see this, because up until now, Finn's been a bit too straight-laced to totally invest in." In the second season's eighth episode, "Furt", Tim Stack of Entertainment Weekly noted "It's been a while since we’ve gotten some Finn focus, and I think I just missed Cory Monteith. But I also forgot what a good, natural actor he can be." Monteith as Finn won the 2011 Teen Choice Award for Choice TV: Actor Comedy, and was nominated in the same category in 2010. Although he was not a singer before being cast as Finn, Monteith has sung lead or joint lead on a large number of songs on the show.

In May 2010, the cast of Glee went on a two-week live tour with stops in Los Angeles, Phoenix, Chicago and New York City. The cast performed hits from the show and several skits between songs. The following May, the cast went on a second, longer tour with mostly new songs and all-new skits, performing for four weeks in the U.S. and Canada, and eleven days in England and Ireland.

Personal life

Monteith was in a relationship with his Glee co-star, American actress Lea Michele, until his death. On March 31, 2013, it was announced that Monteith had voluntarily admitted himself into a treatment facility for substance addiction. He had previously received substance abuse treatment over a decade earlier, when he was nineteen. His treatment was completed on April 26, 2013.

Death

On July 13, 2013, at the age of 31, Monteith was found dead in his room at The Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel in Vancouver, British Columbia. Although Vancouver police said that the cause of death was not immediately apparent, foul play was ruled out. An autopsy is scheduled for July 15 His publicist said, "We are so saddened to confirm that the reports on the death of Cory Monteith are accurate. We are in shock and mourning this tragic loss."

Filmography

Films Year Film Role Notes 2005 Killer Bash Douglas Waylan Hart TV film 2006 Bloody Mary Paul Zuckerman   2006 Kraken: Tentacles of the Deep Michael TV film 2006 Deck the Halls Madison's date   2006 Final Destination 3 Kahill Cameo 2007 Hybrid Aaron Scates TV film 2007 White Noise: The Light Scooter guy   2007 Gone Davis Calder Short film 2007 The Invisible Jimmy   2007 Whisper Teenage boy   2007 Wannabe Macks Stu   2008 The Boy Next Door Jason TV film 2011 Breaking the Girl     2011 Monte Carlo Owen   2011 Sisters & Brothers Justin Montegan   2011 Glee: The 3D Concert Movie Finn Hudson   2013 All The Wrong Reasons James Ascher Post-production 2013 McCanick Simon Weeks Post-production Television Year Title Role Notes and awards 2004 Stargate Atlantis Genii Private Episode "The Storm" 2005 Young Blades Marcel Le Rue Episode "To Heir Is Human" 2005 Supernatural Gary Episode "Wendigo" 2005 Smallville Frat Cowboy Episode "Thirst" 2005 Killer Instinct Windsurfer Bob Episode "Forget Me Not" 2006 Whistler Lip Ring Episode "The Burden of Truth" 2006 Stargate SG-1 Young Mitchell Episode "200" 2006 Kyle XY Charlie Tanner Recurring role (7 episodes, 2006—2007) 2007 Flash Gordon Ian Finley Episode "Life Source" 2007 Kaya Gunnar Lead role (10 episodes) 2008 Fear Itself James Episode "New Year's Day" 2009 Mistresses Jason   2009 The Assistants Shane Baker 2 episodes 2009–2013 Glee Finn Hudson Lead role WON — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (shared with Glee cast) Teen Choice Award for Choice TV: Actor Comedy (2011) Nominated — Teen Choice Award for Choice TV: Breakout Star Male (2009) Nominated — People's Choice Award for Favorite TV Comedy Actor (2012) 2010 The Simpsons Flynn Voice role, Episode "Elementary School Musical" 2011 The Cleveland Show Finn Hudson Voice role, Episode "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Roberta?" 2012 The Glee Project Himself Guest Star (Season 2, Episode 3 "Vulnerability") 2013 2013 Kids' Choice Awards Himself Presenter

Awards

Awards won

• The 16th Screen Actors Guild Awards for the year 2009
  • Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
• Hollywood Style Awards 2010
  • Male Future Style Icon Award
• 2011 Teen Choice Awards
  • Choice TV: Actor Comedy
• Do Something Awards 2012
  • TV Star: Male

Nominations

 

• 2009 Teen Choice Awards
  • Choice TV: Actor Breakout Star Male
• The 17th Screen Actors Guild Awards for the year 2010
  • Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
• 2010 Teen Choice Awards
  • Choice TV: Comedy Actor
  • Choice Smile
• 2011 Teen Choice Awards
  • Summer: Movie Star – Male
• The 18th Screen Actors Guild Awards for the year 2011
  • Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
• 2012 People's Choice Awards
  • Favorite TV Comedy Actor
• The 19th Screen Actors Guild Awards for the year 2012
  • Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

***

Cory Allan Michael Monteith (May 11, 1982 – July 13, 2013) was a Canadian actor and musician, best known for his role of Finn Hudson on the Fox television series Glee.

Monteith, born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, was the youngest son of Ann McGregor, an interior decorator, and Joe Monteith, a military man who served in the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. He had an older brother named Shaun. Monteith's parents divorced when he was seven, and he and his older brother were raised by their mother in Victoria, British Columbia. Dealing with the intermittent absence of his father, and feeling like an outsider among his peers, he started to display signs of a troubled youth; Monteith – once a promising student, who, at age 5, could read at a fourth-grade level – began delving into drugs and alcohol, which in turn affected his studies and school attendance.

After attending 16 different schools, including alternative programs for troubled teens, he eventually quit school at the age of 16. By that time, his drug and alcohol addiction had increased and Monteith turned to petty crimes, such as stealing money from friends and family, in order to fund his addictions. The turning point in Monteith's life came when his mother and a group of friends staged an intervention, and he was sent to rehab at 19. Looking back, Monteith stated, "I'm lucky on so many counts—I'm lucky to be alive." He eventually received his high school diploma in 2011 from an alternative school he had attended in his youth in Victoria, British Columbia.

Prior to breaking into show business, Monteith worked various jobs, including Wal-Mart people greeter, taxicab driver, school bus driver, and roofer.

Career

Monteith began his acting career in Vancouver, British Columbia. He played minor roles in Final Destination 3, Whisper, and Deck the Halls. He had a recurring role in Kyle XY. He also made guest appearances in such Canadian-filmed television serials asSmallville, Supernatural, Flash Gordon, Stargate Atlantis and Stargate SG-1. In 2005, he appeared in Killer Bash about a tormented geek's soul that was taking revenge on his murderer's children by taking over a girl's twin body. The following year he made a brief appearance in Urban Legend: a Bloody Mary. In 2007, he starred in the MTV series Kaya. In April 2010, Monteith was cast in the romantic comedy movie Monte Carlo. On August 8, 2010, he co-hosted the Teen Choice Awards. Monteith hosted the Gemini Awards in Toronto on November 13, 2010. In December 2010, it was announced that Monteith would be starring in and co-producing a new untitled workplace-caper comedy for Fox 2000. In January 2011, he shot the film Sisters&Brothers with Dustin Milligan, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 11, 2011. In 2011, he filmed a PSA for Straight But Not Narrow, an online PSA organization aimed at changing the minds of young, straight guys and girls in their attitude and viewpoint towards the LGBT community. In 2012, he co-hosted the 23rd GLAAD Media Awards in New York City with co-star Naya Rivera.

Glee

Cory Monteith at the 2010 GLAAD Media Awards

In 2009, Monteith was cast in the Fox series Glee. Monteith portrayed Finn Hudson. When Glee was being cast, Monteith's Vancouver agent, Elena Kirschner, submitted a video of him drumming with some pencils and Tupperware containers. Series creator (Ryan Murphy) took notice of the video, but pointed out that he had to be singing, as auditioning actors for Glee with no theatrical experience were required to prove they could sing and dance as well as act. Monteith submitted a second, musical tape, in which he sang "a cheesy, '80s music-video-style version" of REO Speedwagon's "Can't Fight This Feeling". He then attended a mass audition in Los Angeles; his vocal skills were considered weak, but he later performed very well with one of Glee's casting directors, who said that his audition captured the most elusive quality of Finn's, his "naive, but not stupid sweetness". Monteith said of his casting process, "I was like a lot of kids, looking for something to be interested in. Something to be passionate about. All you need is permission. Not only for Glee, but for anything in life."

Finn is the star quarterback of his high school football team, and risks alienation from his friends by joining the school’s glee club. He is a popular jock at the top of the school’s social hierarchy, but when forced to join the glee club, he finds he loves it. His storylines have seen him struggle with his decision to stay in the club, which is at the bottom of the social ladder, while he maintains his popular reputation and the respect of the other jocks. The character must deal with his attraction to both head cheerleader Quinn Fabray(Dianna Agron) and glee club star singer Rachel Berry (Lea Michele), and his storylines increasingly focus on his relationship with them both.

Monteith felt that Finn has had to grow up a lot during his time on the show. The actor said, "Finn started off as the stereotypical dumb jock but as the show has gone on, Finn’s not dumb anymore, really, he’s just a little naïve." Early reviews of Finn from television critics were mixed; Todd VanDerWerff of The A.V. Club said that he and Michele were "both agreeable and a little desperate for an outlet" in the pilot episode. Commenting on the fifth episode of the first season, Eric Goldman of IGN wrote, "We got to see a bit of a darker side to Finn [...] it's good to see this, because up until now, Finn's been a bit too straight-laced to totally invest in." In the second season's eighth episode, "Furt", Tim Stack of Entertainment Weekly noted "It's been a while since we’ve gotten some Finn focus, and I think I just missed Cory Monteith. But I also forgot what a good, natural actor he can be." Monteith as Finn won the 2011 Teen Choice Award for Choice TV: Actor Comedy, and was nominated in the same category in 2010. Although he was not a singer before being cast as Finn, Monteith has sung lead or joint lead on a large number of songs on the show.

In May 2010, the cast of Glee went on a two-week live tour with stops in Los Angeles, Phoenix, Chicago and New York City. The cast performed hits from the show and several skits between songs. The following May, the cast went on a second, longer tour with mostly new songs and all-new skits, performing for four weeks in the U.S. and Canada, and eleven days in England and Ireland.

Personal life

Monteith was in a relationship with his Glee co-star, American actress Lea Michele, until his death. On March 31, 2013, it was announced that Monteith had voluntarily admitted himself into a treatment facility for substance addiction. He had previously received substance abuse treatment over a decade earlier, when he was nineteen. His treatment was completed on April 26, 2013.

Death

On July 13, 2013, at the age of 31, Monteith was found dead in his room at The Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel in Vancouver, British Columbia. Although Vancouver police said that the cause of death was not immediately apparent, foul play was ruled out. An autopsy is scheduled for July 15 His publicist said, "We are so saddened to confirm that the reports on the death of Cory Monteith are accurate. We are in shock and mourning this tragic loss."

Filmography

Films Year Film Role Notes 2005 Killer Bash Douglas Waylan Hart TV film 2006 Bloody Mary Paul Zuckerman   2006 Kraken: Tentacles of the Deep Michael TV film 2006 Deck the Halls Madison's date   2006 Final Destination 3 Kahill Cameo 2007 Hybrid Aaron Scates TV film 2007 White Noise: The Light Scooter guy   2007 Gone Davis Calder Short film 2007 The Invisible Jimmy   2007 Whisper Teenage boy   2007 Wannabe Macks Stu   2008 The Boy Next Door Jason TV film 2011 Breaking the Girl     2011 Monte Carlo Owen   2011 Sisters & Brothers Justin Montegan   2011 Glee: The 3D Concert Movie Finn Hudson   2013 All The Wrong Reasons James Ascher Post-production 2013 McCanick Simon Weeks Post-production Television Year Title Role Notes and awards 2004 Stargate Atlantis Genii Private Episode "The Storm" 2005 Young Blades Marcel Le Rue Episode "To Heir Is Human" 2005 Supernatural Gary Episode "Wendigo" 2005 Smallville Frat Cowboy Episode "Thirst" 2005 Killer Instinct Windsurfer Bob Episode "Forget Me Not" 2006 Whistler Lip Ring Episode "The Burden of Truth" 2006 Stargate SG-1 Young Mitchell Episode "200" 2006 Kyle XY Charlie Tanner Recurring role (7 episodes, 2006—2007) 2007 Flash Gordon Ian Finley Episode "Life Source" 2007 Kaya Gunnar Lead role (10 episodes) 2008 Fear Itself James Episode "New Year's Day" 2009 Mistresses Jason   2009 The Assistants Shane Baker 2 episodes 2009–2013 Glee Finn Hudson Lead role WON — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (shared with Glee cast) Teen Choice Award for Choice TV: Actor Comedy (2011) Nominated — Teen Choice Award for Choice TV: Breakout Star Male (2009) Nominated — People's Choice Award for Favorite TV Comedy Actor (2012) 2010 The Simpsons Flynn Voice role, Episode "Elementary School Musical" 2011 The Cleveland Show Finn Hudson Voice role, Episode "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Roberta?" 2012 The Glee Project Himself Guest Star (Season 2, Episode 3 "Vulnerability") 2013 2013 Kids' Choice Awards Himself Presenter

Awards

Awards won

• The 16th Screen Actors Guild Awards for the year 2009
  • Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
• Hollywood Style Awards 2010
  • Male Future Style Icon Award
• 2011 Teen Choice Awards
  • Choice TV: Actor Comedy
• Do Something Awards 2012
  • TV Star: Male

Nominations

 

• 2009 Teen Choice Awards
  • Choice TV: Actor Breakout Star Male
• The 17th Screen Actors Guild Awards for the year 2010
  • Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
• 2010 Teen Choice Awards
  • Choice TV: Comedy Actor
  • Choice Smile
• 2011 Teen Choice Awards
  • Summer: Movie Star – Male
• The 18th Screen Actors Guild Awards for the year 2011
  • Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
• 2012 People's Choice Awards
  • Favorite TV Comedy Actor
• The 19th Screen Actors Guild Awards for the year 2012
  • Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series