Cory Monteith's 5 Best Performances on 'Glee'

The "Glee" star leaves behind a slew of standout performances.

ByABC News
July 15, 2013, 2:44 PM
Rachel (Lea Michele) and Finn (Cory Monteith) have dinner with her dads in the episode of 'Glee' airing on Fox.
Rachel (Lea Michele) and Finn (Cory Monteith) have dinner with her dads in the episode of 'Glee' airing on Fox.
Fox

July 16, 2013— -- intro: The television world is still reeling from the news of Cory Monteith's death this past weekend.

The 31-year-old actor who played football-hero-turned-singing-heartthrob Finn Hudson on the Fox show "Glee" was found dead in his Vancouver, British Columbia, hotel room Saturday.

Officials have ruled out foul play and are looking into the possibility of a drug overdose, investigators told ABC News.

An autopsy is being conducted on Monteith, though determining the cause of death likely will depend on lab test results, according to the British Columbia Coroner's Office.

Authorities Investigate Possibility of Drug Overdose in Cory Monteith's Death

Monteith was cast on the show from its beginning in 2009. As Finn, the star quarterback, Monteith risked his reputation to join the school's glee club, only to discover that he loved it. He later became glee club captain. His on-again/off-again relationship with star singer Rachel Berry, played by his off-screen girlfriend Lea Michele, propelled the series through four seasons.

Over those four years, there were many standout performances by the Canadian actor. Click through to see five of them.

quicklist:title: 'Don't Stop Believin''text: For the series premiere in 2009, Finn joins the glee club for the iconic scene that would become the cast's biggest hit, singing Journey's "Don't Stop Believin.'"media: 19672176

quicklist:title: 'Jessie's Girl'text: Though he had never sung before "Glee," Monteith had a number of memorable solos, including the '80s hit "Jessie's Girl," which he sang during Season 1.media: 19672208

quicklist:title: 'Can't Fight This Feeling'text: After appearing on television shows like "Stargate Atlantis" and "Smallville," Monteith landed his role as Finn with the help of an audition tape on which he sang REO Speedwagon's 1985 hit, "Can't Fight This Feeling." He later performed the song in the first season.media: 19672232

quicklist:title: 'We've Got Tonight'text: In one of his most recent performances, Monteith as Finn reunites with some of the current and former glee club members at a wedding to perform the Bob Seger hit opposite Lea Michele's Rachel.media: 19672261

quicklist:title: 'Bye Bye Bye'/'I Want It That Way'text: After graduating from high school and returning to coach the glee club in the fourth season, Finn clashed with the club's head coach, Mr. Schuester, played by Matthew Morrison. The two recover from their rift after a '90s boy-band mash-up of "Bye Bye Bye" and "I Want It That Way."media: 19672305