Fans share their stories of meeting Cory Monteith

Yesterday, after learning the sad news that Glee’s Cory Monteith had died, all I could think of was the many fans who have shared their stories of meeting Cory with us over the last few years and the common thread of all them – Cory always made a point to be kind and say hi to his fans.

So, last night I asked OLV readers to share more of their personal stories of meeting Cory and here are a few of them, unedited, in each fan’s own words. If you met Cory and would like to share your story please feel free to add it in a comment below.

I was lucky enough to meet Cory Monteith on June 3rd, 2011 in Skokie, IL when he was promoting the Glee Live tour with Naya Rivera. There was a meet and greet for fans at the AT&T store so my friend, Juan and I waited for about 4 hours in the heat in order to meet both Cory and Naya. We even made posters for them as gifts. When we met them, they were both very nice and impressed with the hand-made posters. What I remember about Cory is that he was so much better looking in person than in Glee. I was like “Wow, he is so hot! And very tall!” I was wearing a Glee Live! tour T-shirt that fans there had not gotten yet because the tour hadn’t started til the following night, but I had visited Los Angles a couple weeks before and bought the shirt outside the Staples Center. I hadn’t attended the concert there, but bought the t-shirt as I was nearby visiting the Grammy Museum. Cory asked me about it as we ended the meet and greet, clearly surprised I had it before all the Chicago fans. I briefly was able to hug him as well and it was wonderful. Even though it was a brief minute of meeting him and Naya, it was a wonderful experience and I will never forget it.

– Christy Killelea, Chicago, IL

Two years ago I met Cory, when they were filming for the first time in New York. My friends and I stood outside the hotel they were filming in, waiting for the cast to come. Although most of the cast hurried past us, Cory stopped and talked to all the fans who were waiting, even with people telling him to hurry up. He was humble and kind, and just had the most amazing smile on his face. He talked about Glee, about being in New York, and how excited he was to see all the fans. I never would have guessed that just two years later, I would be sobbing over his death. He was wonderful and kind, we truly suffered a huge loss on July 13th.

– Samantha Levine

I spent a couple of hours waiting in the sun. But when I got in the Samsung store and met Cory, it was worth it. Cory was one of the reasons why I started watching Glee. Glee has always been one of the high points of my weeks so I thank him for that.

– Stephanie

I had the chance to meet Cory last year during the Upfronts in NYC. Before that, I had seen him in NY while they were filming Glee. He ALWAYS stopped for fans; no matter how crazy or how crowded! He was a loving individual who really cared for Gleeks!! When I met him, there were so many fans around him. It was mayhem but he tried his best to take pictures with everyone. I’ll remember him as someone who had a smile that would make anyone’s day. Someone who was truly talented and amazing! It’s sad we’ve lost somebody as great as him 🙁 May he rest in peace.

– Kevin

I wish this wasn’t for such a sad occasion, but here’s a pic from my memory of meeting Cory May 2012. My friends and I didn’t bother him by asking for pics with him, but he said hi & asked us how we were doing…all with the cutest smile. He was such a sweet guy. And it hurts to say ‘was’…I’m still in denial, I guess. I want this to be a horrible nightmare.

I love Cory…even if I only got to meet him this one time. Also, I want to send a ton of love to Lea; she’s also a sweetie and I can’t even begin to imagine her heartache.

– Amanda

I had the pleasure of meeting Cory at the Glee live 3D red Carpet. He was the sweetest guy I have ever met. He will forever be in my heart

– Danielle

When glee first started I met Cory. He was sitting at a table and I walked up to him and threw skittles down in front of him. I said, “Did those fall out of your hair, because you’re sweet like candy.” He laughed and was so sweet about everything. He even started joking about my pick up line and then everyone started singing ‘Don’t Stop Believing.’ It was an awesome day.

– Brittany Chorzelewski

December of 2009 I got a call from my sister who said “I have someone here I think you want to talk to” and I heard a voice say “Hello!”. It sounded so familiar but I didn’t want to admit who it was because , of course, I would scream. This man I had never met talked to me like I was an old friend. He asked me about the weather and school and then he asked “Do you know who this is?”. He asked in a nice way, not a do you know I’m famous attitude so I responded “Yes, but to be honest if I say it out loud I may scream” He laughed and was so sweet. I could hear my sister egging him on saying “Sing to her!” to which he responded “I would sing for you but its 8 am here in Vancouver and I wont sound great”. After the conversation ended I was so elated I ran to my mom and told her all about it, EVERY detail. Then I around my room singing Don’t Stop Believing. The man on the phone was Cory Monteith. I will never forget that phone call. Its the little things we all do for each other that really change our lives.

– Anna

The two year anniversary of my meeting Cory is coming up soon, and it’s going to feel a lot different than it did last year. Cory’s band Bonnie Dune was playing a show at Hershey Park and my friends and I knew we had to go. So because the show wasn’t until later in the afternoon, we had plenty of time to ride the rides at the park. While waiting in line for a roller coaster, we saw some of his band mates walk up the exit ramp and tried not to get too excited. Moments later, Cory Monteith walked up behind them in his usual v-neck and Canucks hat. He could see that we were excited and he smiled and waved to us. Meanwhile the coaster was coming and going and soon we were so wrapped up in seeing Cory that we had stopped paying attention to pretty much anything else. So the four of them were soon let onto the ride and before we knew it, we were going on the same ride and in the two rows directly behind them. We were trying to compose ourselves, at which point Cory turned around, smiled, and asked the four of us if we were ready for the ride. Luckily we were on a roller coaster so we could scream in excitement as loud as we wanted. As we pulled back into the station, Cory again turned around again and smiled at us. I asked him if he enjoyed it and he said “YEAH! But I think I peed my pants a little.” We couldn’t stop laughing because this was such a Cory thing to say, because he never took things too seriously. When the ride ended, we ran down to where you can see your picture from the ride and tried to figure out our game plan from there. It was decided that I would ask for a picture because I had composed myself the most. They came down to where we were and they were laughing at their pictures, at which point in time I approached Cory and asked if we could get a picture with all the guys. With another big smile on his face he said “Yeah, let’s get some pictures.” We lined up and took two pictures, talked about some travel issues they had tweeted about, and told them we couldn’t wait until the show. Instead of following them around the park all day and being creepy, we went in different directions while trying to digest that we had met our favorite actor and he was more down to earth than we had ever imagined. I left that day going forward telling everyone how great Cory was and how he truly valued his fans. He didn’t have to take time out of his day to spend time with us, but he did because he really, really cared about us. This is such a sad time but all I can think about now is that carefree smile he had on his face almost everywhere he went. Rest in Peace Cory, we’ll always love you.

– Lauren Fitzgerald

I met Cory a few times. The first was when Glee’s second season had just started filming and my friends and I went to set. Cory came out and said hi to us, asked everyone out there how they were, and he genuinely listened when we told him. We told him what was going on in our lives and he talked to us – not like we were fans, but like we were friends. He didn’t care that we were strangers, he just embraced us like he’d known us for years. The second was when he was filming Monte Carlo and he was the exact same. He showed a tenderness and an earnest caring that some people just can’t achieve that it warmed my heart so much. And the third time I met him, it was during a filming for the third season, and goddamn it, he was even better than before. I may have been alone that time, but he treated me like such a relevant person that I felt like I’d been with him all my life.

He may have played a close-to-chest asshole on TV, but he was nowhere near that in real life. Cory knew how to enjoy himself and have fun. And yes, he may have had a problem, but he tried to get help and get better. And that shows great things for his personal character. He wanted to be better not only for himself, but for the people in his life and the people he influenced.

Cory Monteith had —hell, has— this essence about him that makes you feel like you’re worth something when you feel like you’re not. He wasn’t your typical celebrity. He was a man that touched many people, on screen and off, and he made us feel his love with everything he said or did. He was a great talent and person that we all have to do without now, but that doesn’t mean he is gone. He is with us all, in our hearts and minds, and he will forever be there.

This man has touched so many hearts and he has been doing it for years. And he will continue doing it for more years to come.

My deepest condolences go out to his family, his friends, co-workers, and any loved ones he had wherever he went.
Cory Monteith: tall, awkward, canadian, actor, drummer, person – angel of the sky.

“Love is how you stay alive, even after you are gone.”

– Deonya Jordan

In Chicago at the Glee tour in 2011 on June 3rd.

He made a nervous situation very comfortable by being so friendly. Both him & Naya were very welcoming.

As we were posing for our second camera, he made a fart noise with his mouth to make us all laugh which just made the whole experience very relaxing.

I told him that I was attending all three Chicago shows (in 27 hours) and his response of “Wow, awesome!” was so genuine and thankful.

One of the best experiences in my life that I will treasure forever.

– Anthony Laatsch & Erica Kudek, Wisconsin

I was lucky enough to go to the red carpet premiere for the Glee 3D movie, I wasn’t close enough to talk with them or take pictures with them but I did get to watch them all interact with the fans and was happy that they were just as thrilled to see us as we were to see them. He’ll never know it but just getting the opportunity to watch him and take his picture and breathe his air for a just a few minutes was one of the highlights of my life. I am heartbroken and will miss him dearly.

– Cherish

Share this...

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin