Former ‘Glee’ Star Mark Salling Dead at 35
Mark Salling, best known for playing Noah “Puck” Puckerman, was once one of Glee’s favorite stars.
This quickly changed after the Los Angeles police department received a tip, served a search warrant and discovered Salling was in possession of child pornography. Police found more than 50,000 images on his computer and thumb drive. He was arrested in his home in December of 2015 and was later indicted by a federal grand jury for receiving and possessing child porn images.
According to the Washington Post, a month before his sentencing, Salling signed a plea deal agreeing to plead guilty, pay restitution and register as a sex offender. Prosecutors agreed to ask the judge if Salling could serve four to seven years. Each one of his charges carries up to 20 years in prison.
On Tuesday morning, Salling’s attorney, Michael J. Proctor, confirmed the actor’s death. The cause of death is unknown at this time, though speculation is running high that he committed suicide.
His situation has made another Glee death surface. In July of 2013, the TV show lost their popular jock Corey Monteith, known as Finn Hudson. Monteith died from a heroin and alcohol overdose at age 31 after battling substance abuse off camera for many years. But unlike Monteith, Salling’s death sparked mixed reactions from Glee’s cast, crew and fans on social media:
Most mourned and asked to avoid adding further heart break to Salling’s family.
Today we lost another #Glee cast member.Yes, he committed crimes against children.Yes, it’s horrific. But #MarkSalling was a broken man, no doubt an abuse victim himself. I loved Mark, and am sad when I consider the devastation of his parents. PLEASE withhold your cruel comments.
— Tim Davis (@loudmouthmuch) January 30, 2018
Let me be clear. Having compassion for #MarkSalling in no way minimizes his crimes, nor does it minimize the pain and devastation of the victims of those crimes. I’m just saying stop adding to his family’s pain. This was their son. If you’re without sin, feel free to cast stones.
— Tim Davis (@loudmouthmuch) January 30, 2018
It’s a painful loss, again. Two young actors, lost too soon. RIP #marksalling pic.twitter.com/g6kx4MWToV
— Paris Barclay (@Harparbar) January 30, 2018
Others weren’t sure how to feel.
I’m so conflicted about the death of Mark Salling because yes, he is a horrible monster who did inexcusable and unforgivable things. But he is a person who took his own life, and no matter the reason, suicide isn’t something I can celebrate.
— Cassidy Fraley (@Cassidy_Fraley) January 30, 2018
And some called for action.
ppl who are using mark salling’s death to talk about his mental health are disgusting, use this energy to talk about the trauma he inflicted on thousands of children, use this energy to talk about how he deteriorated their mental health, use this energy to help these kids heal
— rei (@tunahater) January 30, 2018
