How did Cory Monteith die? Cause of death revisited as Lea Michele recalls going to Met Gala with Glee star

It’s been 12 years since late Glee star Cory Monteith died, and memories of the late actor are still pouring in, especially for those who knew him best. His former castmate and girlfriend, Lea Michele, recently reminisced on one of those memories.

Michele talked about the time when they attended the Met Gala in 2012. In a recent episode of Gloves Off with Nicky Campbell, Lea Michele said it was “so much fun,” explaining how surreal it was for the pair to be there together.

"It was one of those moments that we were like, ‘What are we doing here?’ That we’re these uncool kids … what are we doing here?" She siad.

A little over a year later, in July 2013, Monteith died at the age of 31. The Canadian-born actor was discovered in his room at the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel in Vancouver. A coroner’s report later concluded that the cause of death was a toxic cocktail of heroin and alcohol (People Magazine).

According to reports, traces of other substances were found in his system, and his death was ruled accidental. While Monteith had been open about his past substance abuse, which began in his teen years, many thought he had turned a corner after checking himself into rehab just months before his death.

Cory Monteith had been doing fine and even in good spirits during a dinner with friends a few days before the fatal overdose. But reports speculated that the cause of death may have been influenced by his substance abuse and the drawbacks of being famous.

"Fame was hard for him. It was something he knew he deserved but something he never quite knew how to handle." An inside source told People.

More about Cory Monteith's early career and legacy

Cory Allan Monteith was born on May 11, 1982, in Calgary and raised on Vancouver Island, where he set himself on the road to fame after he overcame his early struggles with drugs, entering rehab at 19.

According to The Canadian Encyclopedia, he then moved to Vancouver to study and pursue acting after his recovery. Cory Monteith's early work included roles in the Canadian television series Smallville, Stargate: Atlantis, and Kyle XY. Monteith also had a role in the Canadian thriller film Killer Bash (2005) and Final Destination 3 (2006).

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It was with Glee that Monteith found his big break, being cast as Finn Hudson after auditioning with an unusual audition reel and using household objects as drums. He did not have any formal training in singing, nor did he have any experience in public performing, but the judges were supposedly very impressed with him.

Apart from his acting career, Cory Monteith also sang in the Canadian band Bonnie Dune and was an occasional writer for the music criticism site McRoth's Residence. He was also a supporter of LGBTQ+ acceptance and the “Straight But Not Narrow” campaign.

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