Glee actor Cory Monteith, who had struggled for years with substance abuse and once said he was lucky to be alive, died of an overdose of heroin and alcohol, the British Columbia coroner's office says.
"There is no evidence to suggest Mr Monteith's death was anything other than a most tragic accident," the office said in a statement on Tuesday.
The 31-year-old was found dead in his Vancouver hotel room on Saturday after he didn't check out on time.
At a briefing on Tuesday afternoon, police said they believe Monteith had been dead for several hours before he was found. They said the coroner's report didn't indicate the levels of heroin or alcohol in his system.
They also ruled out foul play.
"Our belief is that when he took the heroin he was alone," said Vancouver Police Department spokesman Brian Montague.
"There was evidence in the room that was consistent with a drug overdose. We're not providing exactly what we found at the scene," Montague said.
Police said it was too early for the coroner's office to conclude whether Monteith was the victim of a bad batch of heroin, which turns up from time to time in Vancouver.
Monteith's death recalled the lives of Corey Haim and River Phoenix - actors who battled substance abuse and died in their 20s and 30s.
Monteith had talked bluntly about struggling with addiction since he was a teenager, calling it a serious problem and telling Parade magazine in 2011 he was "lucky to be alive".
Monteith admitted himself to a treatment facility in April for substance addiction, a representative said at the time.
He also received treatment when he was 19.
It's also more challenging for people addicted to multiple substances, she said.
"When an addicted person re-enters their environment, they have a lot to negotiate," such as finding a sober network of friends and not giving in to cravings.
Gia Milani, who recently produced and directed a Canadian film featuring Monteith, said this week that Monteith seemed "healthy" when she last saw him four weeks ago.
"He looked super fit and he was energetic and excited," Milani said.
She said Monteith showed no signs of a substance abuse problem while shooting the film a year ago.
Glee, with its catchy song-and-dance numbers and high-profile guest stars like Gwyneth Paltrow and Britney Spears, became an instant hit when it debuted in 2009.
Monteith played the show's resident hunk Finn Hudson.
Sources: ninemsn news & youtube
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