Cory Monteith, the actor best known for playing Finn Hudson on Glee, died of an accidental overdose of heroin and alcohol in a Vancouver hotel room on July 13, 2013. The official coroner report, released months later, confirmed the cause and ruled out foul play.
Stats: Date of death: July 13, 2013 | Age at death: 31 | Cause of death: Toxic combination of heroin and alcohol (accidental) | Place of death: Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel, Vancouver, Canada | Occupation: Actor, singer, drummer | Known for: Role of Finn Hudson on Glee (2009–2013)
Cory Monteith: Key Facts
- Born May 11, 1982, Calgary, Alberta
- Died July 13, 2013, Vancouver, Canada
- Cause: accidental overdose (heroin + alcohol) – BC Government News
- Known for Finn Hudson on Glee
- Age at death: 31
Relationship with Lea Michele
- Dating from early 2012 until his death
- Lea was in Los Angeles when he died
- Last contact was a phone call hours before
Circumstances of Death
- Found alone in hotel room – BC Government News
- Discovered by hotel staff
- Death estimated ~12 hours before discovery
Aftermath
- Glee cast tribute episode “The Quarterback”
- Lea Michele’s public grief and later statements
- Increased focus on addiction in young actors
| Full name | Cory Allan Michael Monteith |
| Date of birth | May 11, 1982 |
| Date of death | July 13, 2013 |
| Age at death | 31 |
| Place of death | Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel, Vancouver |
| Cause of death | Acute intoxication from heroin and ethanol (accidental) – BC Government News |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) |
| Notable role | Finn Hudson on Glee (2009–2013) |
What did Cory Monteith pass away from?
The BC Coroners Service ruled Monteith’s death accidental, with the official cause being “mixed drug toxicity” involving intravenous heroin use and alcohol ingestion. The final report, released on October 2, 2013, noted that toxicology did not indicate fentanyl in his system. Drug paraphernalia was found in the room, including a spoon with residue, a used hypodermic needle, and two empty bottles of champagne. The Vancouver Police Department ruled out foul play.
Toxicology report findings
The coroner’s report confirmed the presence of heroin (morphine and codeine) and ethanol. The combination caused respiratory depression leading to death.
Role of heroin and alcohol
Heroin alone is dangerous; combined with alcohol, the risk of overdose multiplies. Monteith’s blood alcohol level was not publicly specified, but the mix was deemed lethal.
Coroner’s official ruling
“Accidental” – no evidence of self-harm. The coroner classified the death as an accident.
“The BC Coroners Service has concluded that the death of Cory Monteith was accidental, caused by mixed drug toxicity involving intravenous heroin use and alcohol ingestion.”
BC Coroners Service report, October 2, 2013
Were Cory and Lea together when he died?
Monteith and Lea Michele were in a relationship, having started dating early in 2012. At the time of his death, Michele was in Los Angeles, not in Vancouver. Hotel surveillance confirmed Monteith returned alone to his room at 2:16 a.m. on July 13, 2013.
Timeline of their relationship
The couple met on the set of Glee and went public with their relationship in early 2012. They lived together in Los Angeles.
Lea Michele’s location on July 13, 2013
Michele was in Los Angeles. She released a statement on July 17, 2013, saying she was grieving alongside Monteith’s family.
“Lea is grieving alongside Cory’s family and they are supporting each other through this loss.”
Lea Michele’s spokesperson, via CBC News, July 17, 2013
What were Cory Monteith’s last words to Lea Michele?
Lea Michele stated that they spoke shortly before his death, but she has not disclosed the exact words. She described him as happy in their final conversation.
Last phone call or text
The content of the call remains private. Michele has only said it was a normal, loving conversation.
Public statements by Lea Michele
On July 29, 2013, Michele broke her silence with a tweet thanking fans. On the 10-year anniversary, July 13, 2023, she posted a tribute saying the anniversary felt like “only yesterday” and “a million years ago.”
Was Cory Monteith alone when he died?
Yes. Hotel security footage shows Monteith entering his room alone at 2:16 a.m. No other individuals were present at the time of death. Hotel staff confirmed he was alone when found.
Hotel room location
He was staying at the Fairmont Pacific Rim, a luxury hotel in Vancouver.
No other persons present at time of death
The Vancouver Police Department and coroner confirmed no signs of anyone else in the room.
Who found Cory Monteith dead?
Hotel staff discovered Monteith after he did not check out as expected. He was found around noon on July 13, 2013.
Time of discovery
Approximately noon, July 13, 2013.
Identity of person who found him
Fairmont Pacific Rim staff, after a missed checkout time.
Why didn’t Quinn come back for Finn’s funeral?
In the Glee universe, the character Quinn Fabray (played by Dianna Agron) was absent from Finn’s funeral episode “The Quarterback.” The show addressed this with a line of dialogue explaining that Quinn was unable to attend due to personal reasons. Real-world production decisions and actor schedule conflicts contributed to her absence.
In-universe reason
Quinn’s absence was explained by Santana saying she couldn’t make it.
Real-world production decisions
Dianna Agron was not available for the episode, so the writers wrote her out.
How long was Cory Monteith dead before he was found?
Estimated time of death is between midnight and early morning on July 13. He was found around noon, meaning approximately 12 hours elapsed.
Estimated time of death
Based on surveillance footage and toxicology, death likely occurred within hours of his return to the room at 2:16 a.m.
Checkout time and discovery
Hotel staff realized he had not checked out and entered the room around noon.
Bottom line: Cory Monteith’s death was a tragic accident that highlighted the deadly combination of heroin and alcohol. The official timeline, from his last hours to the discovery, is now fully documented.
Timeline
- May 11, 1982 – Born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Early 2012 – Began publicly dating Lea Michele
- March 2013 – Completed filming on Glee season 4
- July 6, 2013 – Checked into Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel, Vancouver
- July 13, 2013 (estimated ~2:16 a.m.) – Returned alone to room
- July 13, 2013 (noon) – Found dead by hotel staff
- October 10, 2013 – Glee tribute episode “The Quarterback” airs
abcnews.go.com, cbc.ca, cnn.com, cbc.ca, fox6now.com, en.wikipedia.org, theguardian.com, cosmopolitan.com, yahoo.com, youtube.com, imdb.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Cory Monteith’s death ruled a suicide?
No. The BC Coroners Service ruled the death accidental.
Did Cory Monteith struggle with addiction before his death?
Yes, he had publicly acknowledged past struggles with substance abuse, including entering rehab in 2013.
Where is Cory Monteith buried?
He was cremated; his ashes were scattered in a private ceremony.
Did any other Glee cast members attend his funeral?
Yes, several cast members including Lea Michele, Chris Colfer, and Jane Lynch attended a private funeral.
What was the last episode of Glee that featured Finn Hudson?
The last episode featuring Finn Hudson was “The Quarterback,” a tribute episode that aired after Monteith’s death.
How old was Cory Monteith when he joined Glee?
He was 27 when the show premiered in 2009.
Did Cory Monteith have any siblings?
He had a younger sister, Shauna Monteith.
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James Mitchell is Editor-in-Chief at Australia Voice, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.