Cory Monteith - Cory Monteith 'Lucky To Be Alive' After Drug Past

During an interview with Parade Magazine, the 29-year-old actor spoke for the first time about his past struggles. After growing up in British Columbia, Cory's parents divorced when he was 7-years-old but the actor remained a promising student. However, he began skipping school and smoking drugs, Monteith explains, "I'm lucky on so many counts - I'm lucky to be alive". After attending 12 different schools in total, the actor admits he "burned a lot of bridges", adding, "I was out of control". When pushed on the specifics of his drug usage, the Glee star candidly revealed, "Anything and everything, as much as possible. I had a serious problem". Fearing the worst, his mother and friends stepped in when he was 19-years-old and the young actor entered rehabilitation, saying, "I did the stint but then went back to doing exactly what I left off doing". He was later given an ultimatum to get clean, and admits he "was done fighting" himself and finally looked to turn his life around.

After initially gaining work as a roofer, Cory Monteith was put in touch with an acting coach and his career in entertainment began shortly after. The actor is set to appear in the forthcoming romantic-comedy 'Monte Carlo', with SELENA GOMEZ.