Creator Ryan Murphy Talks Glee And Cory Monteith's Death

Glee creator Ryan Murphy has said the show will go on following the death of Cory Monteith, who starred in the comedy-musical series as Finn. The 31-year-old was found on 13th July in his Vancouver hotel room, a coroner ruled he had died on a heroin and alcohol overdose. On the death of his colleague and friend, Murphy said in an interview with E!, "it's hard to even explain how personally upsetting it is." 

Ryan Murphy at the New York premiere of Eat, Pray, Love.

He went on to relate the last time he had spoken to Monteith. An incident had occurred where the cast had discovered Monteith was using again and Murphy was instrumental in ensuring Monteith went into a rehab facility. Monteith, following an intervention, arranged by Murphy and Lea Michelle, said "I want to get better". Murphy went on to say  "I always felt and continue to feel even in his death that he did, that he really wanted to fight it and he was humiliated and shamed". 

Fortunately neither Michele nor Murphy feel any guilt about Monteith's death, understanding it was entirely down to the force of an addiction. On the subject Murphy said "I feel like we did everything that we could and I know that Lea feels she did everything that she could." 

Michele has been a powerful influence in the decisions involving Glee. Murphy paid tribute to her, saying she has handled the tragic situation was with "humanity and grace". He also said if Michele had decided to leave the show, the show would have to end as "she is the show". 

Lea Michele and Cory Monteith at 19th Annual Screen Actors Guild, L.A.

20th Century Fox and the producers of Glee made the decision to continue filming the current series. Murphy said the person who made the decision was Michele "who felt that the best thing for the cast and crew was to be together and to get back to work and be together every day and talk about our memories of him." As additional support, the producers have arranged for grief counsellors to be permanently on set for two weeks.

The cast and crew have decided to pay tribute to Monteith in a special Glee episode which will be written following a memorial the cast hope to have arranged this week. 

 Cory Monteith at 19th Annual Screen Actors Guild, L.A.