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Cory Monteith Death: Coroner Releases Final Report

Coroners Release Final Report On Cory Monteith

The BC Coroners Service has released its final report into the death of actor Cory Monteith.

Coroner Claire Thompson concluded that Monteith died of mixed drug toxicity involving intravenous heroin use combined with the ingestion of alcohol, a news release stated Wednesday.

The death has been ruled accidental.

Monteith, who was 31, was found dead in a Vancouver hotel room on July 13th. He had a brief stint in rehab earlier this year.

"Investigators at the scene found drug paraphernalia, including a spoon with drug residue and a used hypodermic needle, along with two empty champagne bottles and glasses," Wednesday's news release stated. "The investigation confirmed that hotel video captured Mr. Monteith returning alone to his room at 2:16 a.m. on July 13, and that he was not seen alive again.

"It was also confirmed that he had a history of illicit drug use with intermittent periods of rehabilitation and of abstinence from drugs. It is noted that if someone has abstained from using opioids (which include heroin) for a period of time, tolerance may be lessened," the release said.

Before becoming an actor, Monteith worked as a Wal-Mart people greeter in Nanaimo, B.C., as well as a taxi driver, school bus driver, and roofer, the Canadian Press reported.

He was also a drummer for the California-based band Bonnie Dune, and was an avid supporter of the Project Limelight Society, a Vancouver charity that offers a theatre program to at-risk youth.

His big break came in 2009 when he landed the Finn Hudson role on "Glee."

One of the final roles filmed by Monteith before his death screened at VIFF last week.

"All The Wrong Reasons" stars the late actor as a regional manager of a department store going through marriage problems.

The movie's director, Gia Milani, spoke to CBC News in the days after Monteith's July 13 death from an overdose of heroin and alcohol in Vancouver.

"It was a pretty heavy role, very dramatic, very intense, quite a departure from [his "Glee" character] Finn," Milani said. "He was really excited to play it, partially because he could play his own age. He was really looking forward to showing another side of himself."

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