Actress Dianna Agron is mourning the loss of her former on-screen love interest and off-screen friend Cory Monteith.
Agron issued a statement Wednesday remembering Monteith as "one of the most generous and kind people" she had ever met.
"I have never lost a friend. In this difficult time, I am leaning on all the wonderful memories we shared with Cory, how many ways he was able to make us smile," Argon said. "'Glee' was a gift to all of us. It gave us a family in this industry. We really cut our teeth and grew up on this show."
The statement comes after the actress met with Glee costar Jenna Ushkowitz and Jane Lych for brunch in L.A.,
"In playing underdogs, we learned that we had dug into the hearts of our viewers and that we could stay there," Agron said. "Cory is so deserving of that place in everyone's heart."
When "Glee" premiered in 2009, Agron played Quinn Fabray, the cheerleader everyone loved to hate. She also played girlfriend to Cory's Finn Hudson character. After Quinn got pregnant by Finn's best friend and lied about it, the two broke things off. He then began dating Rachel Berry played by Cory's real-life girlfriend Lea Michel.
"He was one of the most generous and kind people that I have ever met. He had a smart, curious mind, he was an enormous talent," Agron said. "He was loving to not only me but my family. My heart goes out to his family, to Lea to everyone that is struggling with the loss of our friend."
"We will miss you Cory," Agron said. "We will always carry a piece of you with us."
An autopsy report released Monday showed confirmed that the actor died of mixed drug toxicity of heroin and alcohol. Monteith has been public with his battle with substance abuse. He told Parade magazine in 2011 that he was lucky to be alive. In March the actor began seeking treatment for his addiction.
