GLEE star Cory Monteith has been found dead in a hotel room in Canada.
The troubled actor — famous as heartthrob Finn Hudson in the smash hit TV series — had recently spent time in a rehab clinic for substance addiction.
Staff at Vancouver’s luxury Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel discovered his lifeless body on Saturday afternoon local time.
Cops said the 31-year-old had been out with friends the night before and was found dead after he failed to check out of his room on the 21st floor.
Deputy Police Chief Doug Lepard said there was no indication of foul play. A post mortem is due to take place today.
Tributes poured in for the tragic star today.
Glee co-star Dot-Marie Jones, who plays football coach Shannon Beiste, said on Twitter: “I have no words! My heart is broken.”
She described Cory a “hell of a friend” and an “amazing” man.
Zooey Deschanel, star of sitcom New Girl, tweeted: “What an absolutely tragic loss of a very talented young man.”
20th Century Fox Television, which makes Glee, paid tribute to the actor as “an exceptional talent and an even more exceptional person. He was a true joy to work with and we will all miss him tremendously.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones.”
Monteith’s PR representatives said in a statement: “We are in shock and mourning this tragic loss.”
In April, Monteith admitted himself to a treatment facility for “substance addiction” and asked for privacy as he took steps toward recovery, a representative said at the time.
Lea Michele, his Glee co-star and real-life girlfriend, told a magazine how she loved and supported him and was proud he was seeking help.
It was not Monteith’s first time in rehab. He first received treatment when he was just 19 and has talked about his addiction struggles, saying he had a serious problem and took just “anything and everything.”
He told Parade magazine in 2011 that he was “lucky to be alive.”
The Canadian born actor shot to fame in 2009 starring in Glee as a high school football player who joins a singing club.
The show became a worldwide hit and Monteith was among the cast favourites who remained series regulars as their characters graduated high school and moved on to other adventures.
Within minutes of reports of his death tributes were coming in on Twitter under the hashtag #CoryMonteith.
Big Bang Theory star Kaley Cuoco told of her shock on the social media site, saying there were “no words”.
And cast members both past and present shared their thoughts on the devastating news.