As an actor based in Vancouver, he had minor roles on such television series as Stargate Atlantis and Smallville before an audition tape of him singing "Can't Fight This Feeling" helped to land him the biggest role of his career, Finn on Glee. This introduced him to an international audience as a high school quarterback who is at first reluctant to join the high school singing club. In later seasons, the character had graduated but returned as a singing coach. Following his success on Glee, Monteith's film work included the movie Monte Carlo and a starring role in Sisters & Brothers. In an interview with Parade magazine in 2011, he discussed his history of substance abuse as a teen, and in March 2013, he again sought treatment for addiction. In July 2013, he died of a toxic combination of heroin and alcohol in a Vancouver hotel room.