Richard Monteith has given an emotional interview to Canadian channel Global News, describing his late cousin as 'his hero'
Cory Monteith's cousin Richard has given an emotional interview to a Canadian news channel about the Glee star's tragic death on Sunday morning.
Richard Monteith spoke to Global News yesterday, describing his cousin as his 'hero'. It's the very first time a member of Cory's family has spoken to the press following the shock news.
He said: 'He would do anything for anyone, give you the shirt off his back.'
Richard was spotted outside the Fairmont Pacific Hotel in Vancouver yesterday, where Cory was found dead, sobbing as he stopped to read messages and look at flowers left by fans of the Glee actor.
He spoke openly about his cousin and how hard Cory had worked to achieve success in Hollywood, revealing: 'He started out rough and then he started making it. He was at the top. He was where he wanted to be. He told me no matter how long your tunnel is – just know there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. He was that light for me.'
Cory was found dead in his hotel room on Sunday morning by staff at the Fairmont Hotel. He'd been on a night out with friends had returned to his room alone. Police have ruled out foul play and an autopsy was carried out on the star's body yesterday, but authorities are awaiting the results of toxicology tests before they reveal the cause of death to the world's press.
Richard added: 'Because he is such a high profile guy, you know it is not going to end there. There is going to be ridicule about – he has done this or that – and I just hope people know it is not about that… His life was full of beautiful stories, triumphs, failures and successes that it does not matter what his problems were… it matters how many lives he changed and that he was genuine.
'Even though he is not here, he is still here. Even though he is gone, he is not gone. His light still shines in me, and in his family and all his fans.'
Cory was open about his drug addiction problems as a teen and in March this year he voluntarily admitted himself into a rehab facility for substance addiction. He was released in April.
His Glee co-star and girlfriend Lea Michele is said to be inconsolable and has requested privacy. Sending you lots of love, Lea...
LEA MICHELE PLEADS FOR PRIVACY FOLLOWING CORY MONTEITH'S DEATH
CORY MONTEITH: HIS LIFE IN PICTURES
Got a tablet? You can now download Marie Claire magazine straight to your iPad, Kindle (just search the store for 'marie claire magazine'), Nook or Google Nexus.