Glee Cast deaths: Every beloved star we’ve lost from the hit show
Glee has been marred by the tragic deaths of some of its cast members. Examples of Glee cast deaths include Cory Monteith, Mark Salling, Naya Rivera, and Robin Trocki. These individuals captivated audiences with their heartfelt stories and vibrant performances.
Source: Twitter
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Key takeaways
- Glee Cast deaths
- 1. Cory Monteith (Finn Hudson)
- 2. Mark Salling (Noah “Puck” Puckerman)
- 3. Naya Rivera (Santana Lopez)
- 4. Robin Trocki (Jean Sylvester)
- 5. Michael Lerner (Sidney Greene)
- 6. Tim Conway (Marty Rogers)
- 7. Meat Loaf (Barry Jeffries)
- 8. Suzanne Krull (Vogue Interviewer)
- 9. Edmund Shaff (The Hipsters Singer)
- 10. Jean Sincere (Ancient Librarian)
- Final word
Key takeaways
- Cory Monteith, who played Finn Hudson, died at 31.
- Mark Salling, known as Noah “Puck” Puckerman, took his life at 35.
- Naya Rivera, who portrayed Santana Lopez, died at 33 in a heroic act.
- Robin Trocki passed away at 63 due to health complications.
- Michael Lerner, who appeared as Sidney Greene, died at 81.
- Meat Loaf, the iconic singer and actor who played Barry Jeffries, passed away at 74.
Glee Cast deaths
Glee aired on Fox from 2009 to 2015. How many people from Glee have died? The musical comedy-drama has lost over 8 cast members. Here is a look at some of Glee actors who are dead:
| Name | Role played | Cause of death |
| Cory Monteith | Finn Hudson | Mixed drug toxicity |
| Mark Salling | Noah “Puck” Puckerman | Murder |
| Naya Rivera | Santana Lopez | Accidental drowning |
| Robin Trocki | Jean Sylvester | Alzheimer |
| Michael Lerner | Sidney Greene | Brain seizure |
| Tim Conway | Marty Rogers | Normal pressure hydrocephalus |
| Meat Loaf | Barry Jeffries | Not disclosed |
| Suzanne Krull | Vogue Interviewer | Aortic rupture |
| Edmund Shaff | The Hipsters Singer | Natural causes |
| Jean Sincere | Ancient Librarian | Natural causes |
1. Cory Monteith (Finn Hudson)
Source: Getty Images
- Date of Birth: May 11, 1982
- Place of Birth: Calgary, Canada
- Nationality: Canadian
- Died: July 13, 2013
- Age: 31
Cory Monteith portrayed Finn Hudson, the lovable quarterback-turned-glee-club-star. Unfortunately, he was one of the Glee characters who died at a young age. Cory died on July 13 2013, at age 31, in a Vancouver hotel room from a mixed drug toxicity.
Monteith had been open about his struggles with substance abuse since his teens. He even entered rehab at 19 and again in March 2013. His death prompted the emotional tribute episode "The Quarterback," and his real-life girlfriend, Lea Michele, played a key role in helping the cast resume production to grieve together.
2. Mark Salling (Noah “Puck” Puckerman)
Source: Getty Images
- Date of Birth: Born August 17, 1982
- Place of Birth: Dallas, Texas, United States
- Nationality: American
- Died: January 30 2018
- Age: 35
Mark Salling brought depth to Noah "Puck" Puckerman, the rebellious yet redeemable bad boy. He died by murdering himself on January 30 2018, at age 35.
It was attributed to his legal troubles after pleading guilty to possessing over 50,000 images of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in 2017. He faced a four-to-seven-year sentence, which would have put an end to his once-promising career.
3. Naya Rivera (Santana Lopez)
Source: Getty Images
- Date of Birth: January 12, 1987
- Place of Birth: Valencia, California, United States
- Nationality: American
- Died: July 8, 2020
- Age: 33
Naya Rivera's portrayal of Santana Lopez, the sharp-tongued cheerleader with a powerful voice, was iconic. On July 8 2020, Rivera, aged 33, drowned in Lake Piru, California, after heroically saving her four-year-old son, Josey, from a rip current.
Her body was found on July 13, coinciding with Monteith's death anniversary. Rivera had written a memoir, Sorry Not Sorry (2016), which reflected on her experience on Glee.
4. Robin Trocki (Jean Sylvester)
Source: Twitter
- Date of Birth: June 30, 1956
- Place of Birth: New Jersey, United States
- Nationality: American
- Died: December 14, 2019
- Age: 63
Robin Trocki played Jean Sylvester, Sue Sylvester's sister with Down syndrome, in a handful of episodes. She passed away on December 14 2019, at 63, from Alzheimer's complications.
Trocki’s role on Glee was ground-breaking. Glee was her only acting role, and she had previously worked in a bakery. Nevertheless, many fans praised her for excellently portraying and representing people with Down syndrome on mainstream TV. Trocki had lived with Down syndrome her entire life.
5. Michael Lerner (Sidney Greene)
Source: Getty Images
- Date of Birth: June 22, 1941
- Place of Birth: Brooklyn, New York, United States
- Nationality: American
- Died: April 8, 2023
- Age: 81
Michael Lerner, a prolific character actor, played Sidney Greene in Glee's fourth season. He died on April 8 2023, at 81, from brain seizure complications.
Lerner’s extensive career included roles in Elf and Barton Fink, earning an Oscar nomination. He also appeared in Clueless (TV), Barton Fink, and had over 100 film and TV credits. Lerner studied acting at UCLA.
6. Tim Conway (Marty Rogers)
Source: Getty Images
- Date of Birth: Born December 15, 1933
- Place of Birth: Ohio, United States
- Nationality: American
- Died: May 14, 2019
- Age: 85
Tim Conway, a comedy legend, appeared as Marty Rogers in Glee's fifth season. He died on May 14 2019, at 85, from normal pressure hydrocephalus. He was also known for The Carol Burnett Show. He is always praised for bringing humour to his brief role in Glee.
Previously, Conway had appeared in McHale's Navy and served in the United States military. He was married twice and had seven children.
7. Meat Loaf (Barry Jeffries)
Source: Getty Images
- Date of Birth: September 27, 1947
- Place of Birth: Dallas, Texas, United States
- Nationality: American
- Died: January 20, 2022
- Age: 74
Meat Loaf was one of the Glee cast members who have passed away. His birth title was Michael Lee Aday, and he played Barry Jeffries in Glee's second season. The music legend passed away on January 20, 2022, at the age of 74; the cause of death was not disclosed.
Meat Loaf was known for Bat Out of Hell. He also acted in Fight Club, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and Wayne’s World. As a singer, Meat sold over 80 million records. In 1993, he was the Grammy winner for I’d Do Anything for Love.
8. Suzanne Krull (Vogue Interviewer)
Source: Getty Images
- Date of Birth: July 8, 1966
- Place of Birth: New York, United States
- Nationality: American
- Died: July 27, 2013
- Age: 47
Suzanne Krull appeared as a Vogue interviewer in Glee's fourth season. She died on July 27 2013, at 47. Krull had roles in Lost, Zoey 101, ER, and Go. She had some training in acting.
9. Edmund Shaff (The Hipsters Singer)
Source: UGC
- Date of Birth: May 2, 1935
- Place of Birth: San Francisco, California, United States
- Nationality: American
- Died: June 16, 2023
- Age: 88
Edmund Shaff played a singer in "The Hipsters" in Glee's second season. He died on June 16 2023, at 88, from natural causes shortly after his birthday. Shaff had roles in Modern Family, Desperate Housewives, and Mad Men.
He was also an actor known for his roles in Memoirs of an Invisible Man (1992), Herbie: Fully Loaded (2005), and Set It Off (1996).
10. Jean Sincere (Ancient Librarian)
Source: Twitter
- Date of Birth: August 16, 1919
- Place of Birth: Michigan, United States
- Nationality: American
- Died: April 3, 2013
- Age: 93
Jean Sincere played the "Ancient Librarian" in Glee, known for shushing students. She died on April 3 2013, at 93, from natural causes. Sincere appeared in Frasier, iCarly, and Malcolm in the Middle and voiced Mrs. Hogenson in The Incredibles. She began acting in the 1940s. She worked as an actress from her 90s until her death.
Final word
The most notable Glee cast deaths are Cory Monteith, who died of excessive drug use in 2013; Naya Rivera, who drowned heroically saving her son in 2020; and Mark Salling, who took his life in 2018 amid legal troubles. Other cherished actors, including Robin Trocki, Michael Lerner, Tim Conway, Meat Loaf, Suzanne Krull, Edmund Shaff, and Jean Sincere.
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