Share

Coroner: Glee star's death was accidental

Montreal -Cory Monteith, the Canadian star of the wildly popular TV musical series Glee, died of an accidental overdose of heroin and alcohol, the British Columbia coroner's office said on Wednesday.

The office earlier had released the drugs involved at the time of his death but had not stated if the death was believed a suicide or an accident.

"Coroner Claire Thompson concluded that Mr Monteith, aged 31, died of mixed drug toxicity, involving intravenous heroin use combined with the ingestion of alcohol," coroner's office spokesperson Barb McLintock said.

"The death has been ruled accidental," the statement added.

Monteith, who had struggled in the past with substance abuse and checked into a rehab facility in April, was found dead on 13 July in his Vancouver hotel room.

Monteith starred on Glee as Finn Hudson, a star high school football player who joined a motley crew of students in the glee club.

In the most recent season, he returned as a graduate coaching new singers.

Off-screen, Monteith dated his co-star Lea Michele, with whom he sang the show's signature cover of Journey's Don't Stop Believin'.

Before shooting to huge fame on the Fox hit musical show, Monteith had played minor roles in TV series such as Smallville and Kyle XY.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE