Kevin McHale, Cory Monteith and Naya Rivera.

Kevin McHaleis looking back at the moment he found about hisGleecostarCory Monteith’sdeath.
On Thursday, the 35-year-old actor recalled learning of the tragic news while in Europe withNaya Rivera, who died seven years later in July 2020 as of theresult of a drowning accident.
Monteith was found dead on July 13, 2013, at Vancouver’s Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel, the result of amixture of heroin and alcohol. He was 31.
“We are so saddened to confirm that the reports on the death of Cory Monteith are accurate,” his rep said in a statement at the time. “We are in shock and mourning this tragic loss.”
Less than three months later,Gleeand its stars processed their grief with the emotional season 5 episode“The Quarterback,”which mourned the loss of both Finn and Monteith himself.
Cory Monteith.Patrick Ecclesine/FOX

In April, McHale and costarJenna Ushkowitzreflected on Monteith’s impressive acting abilities on their podcastAnd That’s What You REALLY Missedwhile recapping the Fox hit’s season 1 finale.
McHale admitted that he regrets not telling the late actor how remarkable he was at the time, sharing, “We’re talking about this but what pisses me off is like he was such a good actor and I don’t think we necessarily told him that enough and like, the things we miss out [on] getting to see him do because he’s so good.”
Glee - “Total Eclipse of the Heart”.Courtesy Fox Television

The pair — who played Artie Abrams and Tina Cohen-Chang, respectively — went on to praise Monteith and costarLea Michele’s rendition of Journey’s “Faithfully” onGlee.
McHale said it was “such a good versionof the song,” while Ushkowitz added, “They sound excellent.”
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Michele— who fell in love with Monteith on set and dated off screen from 2012 until his unexpected death a year later — alsopaid tributeto the late actor on Thursday, writing alongside a black-and-white throwback snap of the pair, “Hey you. 10 years.”
“It feels like only yesterday that you were here and yet a million years ago all at the same time. Ihold all of our memories in my heartwhere they will stay safe and never forgotten,” continued Michele, 36.
“We miss you every day and will never forget the light you to brought to us all. I miss you big guy. I hope you found Taylor up there and are playing the drums together. 🤍,” she concluded her post, seemingly referring to lateFoo FightersdrummerTaylor Hawkins, whodied unexpectedly in March 2022 at age 50.
source: people.com