Few would argue that the death of Glee actor Cory Monteith was not one of the most high profile, widely publicised celebrity losses of the year. The 31 year-old star was found dead in a Vancouver hotel room back in July after what was found to be an overdose involving a deadly cocktail of heroin and alcohol. Monteith enjoyed a relatively short but bright career as one of the TV show's central characters whose on screen relationship with Lea Michele mirrored their real lives.

Cory Monteith
Cory Monteith's Death Came As A Shock To Many.

Tributes still flood in for the star, the cast and crew are said to be devastated and Michele has barely been seen in public since: Cory's absence left a deep wound. Therefore it was probably fitting that this year's 65th Emmy Awards would make the decision to include a special tribute to Monteith in their annual 'In Memoriam' section ahead of Glee's official tribute episode when the new series starts airing next month.

Hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, the Emmys will remember Monteith as well as James Gandolfini, Jean Stapleton, Gary David Goldberg and Jonathan Winters, according to E! Online. During a conference with reporters on Wednesday, Emmy producer Ken Ehrlich defended the decision to include Monteith in the 'In Memoriam' segment. "It was a rather personal choice, but Cory's appeal was to maybe a little different generation than some of the others we're honoring," said Ehrlich.

Cory Monteith Lea Michele
Lea Michele & The Rest Of The Glee Cast Were Devastated.

"We felt it needed to be represented, that at 31, he passed away under very tragic circumstances. And that it was important to be responsive to younger viewers, to whom Cory Monteith meant as much as perhaps these other four individuals meant to their own generations," he explained.

Some have taken issue with the fact that whilst Monteith will be included, Dallas star Larry Hagman will not. In response, Ehrlich insisted that it was hard to please everybody and they'd tried their best, having said "No matter what we do, there will be people who feel we could have made other options, and done other things."

Cory Monteith Glee
Monteith Will Be Remembered At This Year's Emmy Awards.

Ehrlich asserted that the five deceased stars the Emmy organisers have decided to include will be meaningful cross-generationally, adding that the "traditional In Memoriam segment will be presented in a unique new format that will give added importance to an already much anticipated segment of the Emmy show."

Jane Lynch, who plays Glee's sports coach, will be the one to honour her fallen co-star in the 'In Memoriam' section which is likely to be very emotional.

The 65th Emmy Awards will air this Sunday on CBS.