If you heard sobs on Thursday night, chances are they were coming from girls across campus tuning in to Glee’s farewell to Cory Montieth, lovingly titled “The Quarterback.”
The 31-year-old star’s passing was a shock this past July when Montieth was found dead in his Vancouver hotel room, the cause of death cited as a mix of heroin and alcohol. Known for privately dealing with addiction and completing a stint in rehab this past spring, his passing was sudden and sent a shock through the hearts of fans young and old.
Including six songs, mostly sung by original cast members of the show, the memorial episode was no-frills and truly heartbreaking. The most emotional point in the one hour memorial came when Lea Michele, Montieth’s girlfriend both on and off of the show, sang a cover of “To Make You Feel My Love” in his memory.
It seems as if Montieth’s death hits so close to home because he was such a presence in pop culture for the past four years. After a meteoric rise to fame on Glee, he gained a reputation as someone who was kindhearted and heavily involved in charitable works. Before his passing he advocated for Project Limelight, a Vancouver-based arts charity which has received bittersweet publicity after the star’s passing. In an odd way, that exposure seems to be something Mr. Montieth would have appreciated.
So, with a heavy heart the audience of Glee spent the night paying their final farewell to a kind-hearted quarterback who showed the value of being yourself both onscreen and off. He deserved a tribute that was fit for a quaterback: someone who brought people together and brought out the best in people, and that is exactly what Glee delivered.