'Glee' Cory Monteith Memorial Service: Lea Michele 'Emotional,' Plus Season 5 Premiere Date Announced
The cast of Glee came together for a memorial service in remembrance of the late Cory Monteith in California on Thursday.
"Today, Ryan Murphy and Lea Michele gathered the cast, crew and producers of Glee, along with colleagues from the network and studio, to share memories and music in an emotional celebration of the life of Cory Monteith," Fox said in a statement regarding the memorial service. "We thank the public for their continued outpouring of love and support as we grieve our friend and colleague during this difficult time."
Jane Lynch, who plays Sue Sylvester on the series, was also in attendance.
"It was beautiful, I'm still really sad but it was beautiful," she told TMZ following the service.
Lea Michele: Cory Monteith Made My Life 'Incredible'
After the memorial service, several members of the cast also enjoyed lunch together. Photos show that Dianna Agron, Jenna Ushkowitz, Kevin McHale, Harry Shum Jr., Jacob Artist, Vanessa Lengies were all present at the West Hollywood restaurant.
Ushkowitz, who plays Tina Cohen-Chang on the show, previously uploaded an Instagram photo with a touching memo in memory of her co-star.
"I was lucky enough to closely experience the love and light that Cory shared with the world, as well as having the privilege of traveling down the road together on a once in a lifetime journey," she wrote on Monday.
Monteith died at the age of 31 from a mixture of heroin and alcohol while in a Vancouver hotel on July 13.
Cory Monteith's Death: Lea Michele 'Went Crazy, Screaming' When She Found Out, Says Source
Murphy, the show's co-creator, told The Hollywood Reporter that the show will pay tribute to Monteith during the third episode of season 5. He also explained what the show plans to do with his character.
"The right thing to do for the show, at least at this point, is to have that character pass," Murphy told the magazine in a Thursday report. "When we do the tribute episode to that character, we'll have to do it in a way where the cast members will not have to re-create feelings of grief that they've had this week -- but do it in an upbeat way. If we can do this responsibly and help young people through these feelings, that's the best that we can hope for."
Season 5 of Glee has been pushed back to Sept. 26.
See Monteith's greatest Glee moments.