Lea Michele Pays Tribute to Cory Monteith on the 9th Anniversary of His Death

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo: J.B Nicholas / Splash News

Lea Michelehas shared a sweet tribute toCory Monteithon the ninth anniversary of hisdeath.

The actress, 35, shared a photo viaInstagram StoryWednesday of herself and Monteith filming an episode ofGleein New York City in 2011.

The pair, who played Rachel Berry and Finn Hudson on the FOX hit, smile lovingly at each other in the snap. Monteith, then 28, is dressed sharply in a tux, while Michele carries a mixed bouquet of flowers that pops against her light blue dress. She kept the tribute simple, with a single heart emoji below the photo.

Lea Michele/Instagram

Michele dated Monteith off screen from 2012 until he died unexpectedly on July 13, 2013, at the age of 31.

She has beenmarried to Zandy Reichsince 2019, and the couple welcomedson Ever Leoin August 2020

Monteith died in 2013 of a heroin overdose. He was found at Vancouver’s Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel. The overdose came just a few months after Monteith was released from a rehabilitation center in April 2013.

“We are so saddened to confirm that the reports on the death of Cory Monteith are accurate,” his rep said in a statement. “We are in shock and mourning this tragic loss.”

FOX via Getty

Monteith played Finn Hudson onGleefrom 2009 until his death. He isn’t the only actor from the television series to meet an untimely death.Naya Rivera, who played Santana Lopez on the series,drowned in a California lakein 2020. Herbody was recoveredfrom the water on the 7th anniversary of Monteith’s death.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or go tosuicidepreventionlifeline.org.

source: people.com