Cory Monteith once flew across the country on his own dime to sit with a sick child, whose last wish was to meet the "Glee" star. That's how Jane Lynch wants her friend to be remembered.

Lynch, who plays Sue Sylvester on "Glee," appeared on "The Tonight Show" last night, getting a bit chocked up when speaking with Jay Leno about the type of person Monteith was.

Monteith, 31, was found dead in his Vancouver hotel room last weekend with heroine and alcohol in his system, according to the coroner's office.

Read: Cory Monteith Died of "Mixed Drug Toxicity"

Lynch said Cory had one of the biggest hearts in Hollywood.

"He was one of those guys that he knew he was breathing rarefied air," she said, turning her head to fight the tears. "The gifts that the show, this wonderful show gave us. He was always aware that it was a gift and he was quite generous."

After the "Wreck-It Ralph" star explained how she admired Cory's adventurous nature, she said, "I don't think he left one day unlived."

Related: Cory Monteith's Friend Speaks on The "Glee" Star's Quality of Character

She closed by calling Monteith a "bright light."

"We've lost a really great guy," she added.

(Photo Request: Michael Buckner/Getty Images)