Glee star Cory Monteith passed away this past summer due to an overdose of heroin along with prolonged alcohol use. The star, 31, was found dead in his hotel room at the Fairmont Pacific Rim in downtown Vancouver.

Throughout his teenage years, Monteith grappled with alcohol and drug addictions. In 2011, Cory Monteith revealed to Parade magazine that he was an “out-of- control” teen. Monteith said he drank, smoked pot, and skipped school at age 13 in Victoria, British Columbia, after his parents divorced. Over the next few years, his drug use escalated quickly and he entered rehab at age 19.

     Although Monteith dealt with substance abuse, he also enjoyed a successful acting career. On the hit show Glee, he played Finn Hudson, a jock who joined the school glee club in season 1 and graduated in season 3. He also starred in films like Monte Carlo and All the Wrong Moves, and other TV series like Kyle XY and Kaya. In 2011, Cory Monteith won a Teen Choice Award for Favorite TV Comedy Actor.

Several Glee co-stars publicly expressed their grief following his death. Monteith’s girlfriend and co-star, Lea Michele, acknowledged his passing at the 2013 Teen Choice Awards. With the rest of the Glee cast, she accepted the TV Comedy Award on behalf of the show and said “He was very special to me, and also to the world. We were very lucky to witness his incredible talent, his handsome smile and his beautiful, beautiful heart”. Several other co-stars, like Darren Criss, Naya Rivera, and Amber Riley, also grieved with Michele.

Other celebrities expressed their condolences on a variety of social media sites. On Twitter, famous singer-songwriter Katy Perry tweeted “Rest in peace Cory. My heart goes out to his family and loved ones. Our prayers are with you”. Member of boy band, *NSYNC, Lance Bass posted “Devastated about the news of Cory Monteith – such an incredible guy – my thoughts are with his family and friends”. Glee’s executive producers and Fox Television and Broadcasting Company released a statement about Monteith, announcing “We are deeply saddened by this tragic news. Cory was an exceptional talent and an even more exceptional person. He was a true joy to work with, and we will all miss him tremendously. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones.” Through his relationships and his work, Cory Monteith had a profound impact on many people, celebrities and fans alike.

       To provide closure for fans, the third episode of season five on Glee will honor the life of Cory Monteith and his character on the show, Finn Hudson. The episode will air around October 10.