Glee
Monteith struck gold when he landed the role of Finn Hudson, a football jock with an untapped gift of singing, on Ryan Murphy's musical comedy that debuted May 2009. Though the Canadian actor had recurring stints on other television shows, Glee was his Hollywood breakout. Memorable performances included "Don't Stop Believin'," "Just the Way You Are" and "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun." (Monteith posed with some of his castmates in 2011 for a THR cover story when Glee filmed in New York City.)