How Cory Monteith's “Glee” Parents Romy Rosemont and Mike O'Malley Brought Cast to 'Tears' While Filming Final Tribute

Glee alumni Kevin McHale and Jenna Ushkowitz are reflecting on how their cast paid tribute to Cory Monteith on- and off-screen following the actor's shocking death in 2013.

McHale, 36, and Ushkowitz, 38, are nearing the end of their rewatch of Glee for their podcast, And That’s What You Really Missed. They reflected on the series' direction after 31-year-old Monteith died before season 5 began filming.

In the pair’s Sunday, Jan. 19 episode, in which they discussed season 5, episode 11, “City of Angels,” the two revealed how Monteith’s on-screen parents, Romy Rosemont and Mike O'Malley, were supportive of the grieving younger stars on set.

In the episode, the Glee Club competes at Nationals and dedicates their performance to their late co-director, Finn Hudson. The group also brings along Finn’s mother, Carole Hudson-Hummel (Rosemont), and stepfather, Burt Hummel (O'Malley).

Related: Lea Michele's Glee Costars Recall Her 'Strength' on Set After Cory Monteith's Death: 'Heartbreaking on So Many Levels'

McHale explained that fans could see the cast members crying over losing their real friend in "Quarterback" — the episode in which Monteith’s character, Finn, died. “You see us crying and, like, how real that is, but we were not happy to be there,” he said. “Every time Mike [O'Malley] and Romy [Rosemont] speak, we are all in tears. But we're smiling because it's the way they fill up a room. They both are so warm.”

He continued by remarking that what audiences “feel from those characters is how they feel as real people as well in real life.” He added, “It was really our first time being able to be around them in this way where a lot of it mimicked real life.”

Related: Cory Monteith's Glee Costars Admit Drug Overdose Plot Still Hits 'Too Close to Home' 10 Years After His Death

Ushkowitz added that O'Malley, 58, and Rosemont, 60, were “so thoughtful.”

“They're always very sound in their advice and how they led us as a company sometimes and gave us advice as veterans who had worked before on big shows,” Ushkowitz said. “They've always been like parental figures to us. So to have them, and also have them connected to Finn as deeply as they were, both on-screen and off, it was very satisfying as well.”

The actress said that production “picked all the right people for this episode to honor Finn.”

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As the podcast episode came to a close, the pair reflected on the TV episode’s final musical number that paid tribute to the late actor, including a montage of flashbacks accompanied by a medley of Finn’s favorite songs.

Before the original Glee Club begins singing  U2’s “I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For” in Nationals, Carol turns to Burt and tearfully reveals the group is singing all of his favorite songs.

McHale said when watching that, he felt like he couldn’t handle it, and Ushkowitz immediately agreed: “It’s too much.”

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