Ryan Murphy Remembers Cory Monteith, Says ‘He Was Taken Too Soon’

Cory Monteith may be gone, but his memory lives on with those he left behind. “Glee” co-creator Ryan Murphy recently shared some loving thoughts about the actor who would have turned 33 on May 11.

According to People magazine, Murphy has not stopped thinking about Monteith since his sudden and tragic passing in 2013. During the EW/People Upfronts party Monday evening the famed showrunner told the magazine “It’s always hard” to talk about the late actor because he misses him. Still, he shared a few heartfelt thoughts about the late television star on what would have been his birthday.

“It’s a very sort of sad feeling when I think about him. I miss him. I loved him. I think about him everyday,” he said, later adding that “he was taken too soon.”

Although his death was a devastating blow to Murphy and all who knew him, the “American Horror Story: Hotel” creator says there was some good that came out of his passing. He says he firmly believes Monteith, who lived with addiction, “influenced and helped so many people.” Murphy claims this thought alone has helped him a great deal in coping with the loss.

"I have to hold on to that,” he said. “It’s too overwhelmingly sad.”

Murphy isn't the only one ensuring that Monteith’s legacy lives on. The actor's former girlfriend and “Glee” co-star Lea Michele shared a sweet message on Twitter Monday in honor his birthday. Accompanying the message was a photo of Monteith smiling while playing the drums.

“I know you’re serenading everyone right now.. We love you Cory! Happy Birthday,” she wrote.

Monteith died in July 2013. His body was found inside a hotel room in Vancouver, Canada shortly after he had completed a long stint in rehab. While the cause of his death was initially unknown, autopsy reports later revealed it was a deadly mix of heroin and alcohol that claimed the actor’s life.