Mark Salling Dead at 35: Former ‘Glee’ Star Facing Child Porn Sentence Dies of Apparent Suicide

Mark Salling, a former star of the TV musical series Glee who was awaiting sentencing in a child porn case, has died of an apparent suicide in California, according to reports.

Salling, 35, who starred as Noah “Puck” Puckerman on the popular Fox TV show between 2009 and 2015, was found at about 8:50 a.m. local time near a riverbed in Sunland, TMZ reported Tuesday.

Los Angeles County officials would not confirm the manner of Salling's death to InsideEdition.com, saying it was part of an ongoing investigation. Multiple reports said Salling had hanged himself. 

Nine months after the final episode of Glee aired in 2015, Salling was arrested and found to have numerous pornographic images of children on his computer.

Salling pleaded guilty last year to possession of child pornography, and reached a plea deal with prosecutors in December. He was reportedly expected to serve four to seven years in prison.

He was due to return to court in March for sentencing.

Salling's death is the second among Glee castmembers. Cory Monteith, who played Finn Hudson, died of an accidental drug overdose in 2013.

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