Dianna Agron: Cory Monteith's Death "Still Doesn't Seem Real"

Glee star reflects on her costar's July 13 passing and says he's "smiling down on us"

By Zach Johnson Sep 20, 2013 11:24 AMTags
Dianna Agron, Cory MonteithMichael Caulfield/WireImage

Though it's been two months since Cory Monteith died of an accidental drug overdose, the Glee star's passing hasn't fully resonated with those who knew and loved him. During a Sept. 13 appearance on Katie, his costar Dianna Agron was asked how she's coping after the 31-year-old's tragic death.

"It's one of those things that still doesn't seem real," said Agron, 27. "You just take out a new lease on life and you realize that he's smiling down on us."

The Family star added, "We all have nothing but the truth, which is he was one of the most amazing people that I've ever met—generous, loving, kind—and that's how he'll always be remembered."

Monteith and four other actors will be more prominently featured during the Emmy Awards' "In Memoriam" tribute on Sunday, Sept. 22. During a conference call with reporters earlier this week, show producer Ken Ehrlich and CBS executive Jack Sussman defended their decision to highlight Monteith.

"It was a rather personal choice, but Cory's appeal was to maybe a little different generation than some of the others we're honoring," Ehrlich explained. "We felt it needed to be represented, that at 31, he passed away under very tragic circumstances. And that it was important to be responsive to younger viewers, to whom Cory Monteith meant as much as perhaps these other four individuals meant to their own generations."

In addition to Monteith, James Gandolfini, Jean Stapleton, Gary David Goldberg and Jonathan Winters will be featured in the expanded "In Memoriam" segement.