Cory Monteith Called 'Brother' By 'Glee' Star Matthew Morrison, Actor Dedicates Song to Late Co-Star in NYC Concert
Matthew Morrison paid tribute to his "brother" Cory Monteith by dedicating a song to the late actor during his Sunday night performance in New York City.
Monteith, 31, was found dead in his Vancouver hotel room on July 13. He starred in the TV series Glee alongside Morrison and played Finn Hudson - a football player, student and Glee club member.
The 34-year-old, who plays Mr. Shuester in the Fox series, held a concert at 54 Below in N.Y. on Sunday. He changed his opening number to the song What I Did for Love from the Broadway classic A Chorus Line, and dedicated the performance to Monteith. The song has a significant meaning for the late actor, since Monteith's girlfriend/Glee co-star Lea Michele's character, Rachel Berry, performed the tune during the series 2 premiere in 2010.
Morrison told the crowd that it was "awkward" to be performing so soon after Monteith's death. Describing him from onstage, Morrison called the late actor his "brother" and called him a "great young man."
"You guys came to see a show, I came to perform a show, so that's what we'll do," he added. "And we'll do it in Cory's honor."
Morrison worked with Monteith since the show premiered in 2009. A source told Us Weekly, "[Matthew] was very emotional on stage. It was difficult for him to get up to perform, but he did not want to disappoint anyone."
Monteith and Michele dated for over a year and she supported him when he voluntarily checked into a rehabilitation center in March for substance addiction. A source reportedly told Hollywood Life that after Michele found out about her beau's death, she was "absolutely hysterical and completely inconsolable. She is devastated beyond belief."
The autopsy for Monteith's body will be carried out Monday.
