Mark Salling was an American actor and musician who is best known for appearing on hit TV series Glee. The star died at the age of 35, weeks before he was due to be jailed after pleading guilty to two child pornography charges.
Who is Mark Salling?
Mark Salling was born in Dallas, Texas, on August 17, 1982, and was raised in a "strict Christian home".
He graduated from high school in 2001, before attending the Los Angeles Academy College of Music, where he gave guitar lessons to make a living.
After roles in films Children Of The Corn IV and The Graveyard, Salling was cast in the TV show Glee in 2008, playing American football star Noah "Puck" Puckerman.
During his six seasons on the show, his performances led to Salling being nominated for a Teen Choice Award for male Breakout Star.
What were the child porn charges faced by Mark Salling?
On October 4, 2017, Salling pleaded guilty to two counts of child pornography.
Police found 50,000 "sexually charged" images on the 35-year-old's computer, including pictures containing a pre-pubescent child.
While he was initially facing 20 years jail time, TMZ reported that prosecutors were looking for a sentence of between four and seven years with 20 years of supervised release.
Salling agreed to compensate the children in the photos to the tune of $50,000 each.
He was also required to enter a sex offender treatment programme as part of his plea deal.
The actor was initially caught after police were reportedly tipped off by one of the star's ex-girlfriends and he was arrested on December 29, 2015, but later released on $20,000 bail.
He was charged with receiving and possessing child pornography on May 27, 2016.
The case was referred to federal authorities after investigators realised the scope of the collection.
Lieutenant Andrea Grossman, commander of the LAPD Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, said: "It doesn’t matter who you are or what you do, if you hurt a child you will be held accountable."
She added: "These images are more than photographs, they are child abuse."
What was Mark Salling's cause of death?
On January 30, 2018, TMZ reported that Salling had taken his own life, just weeks before he was due to be jailed over child pornography charges.
His lawyer confirmed the death of the actor, who was found dead in a field close to where he lived and near a baseball field after a "welfare check" 911 call at 8.50am.
TMZ reported that a family member reported Salling missing at 3am on Tuesday, January 30.
According to the website, he was found hanged, with a coroner confirming in February 2018 his death was due to "asphyxia by hanging, suicide".
In a statement given to The Blast his family said: "Mark was a gentle and loving person, a person of great creativity, who was doing his best to atone for some serious mistake and errors of judgement.
"He is survived by his mother and father, and brother. The Salling family appreciates the support they have been receiving and asks for their privacy to be respected."
TMZ also reported that the actor had cut both his wrists in a suicide attempt weeks before his guilty plea.
He reportedly "freaked out" and called for his roommate, who contacted the emergency services.
Salling was rushed to hospital and taken to a rehab facility a few days later.
What did Mark Salling's ex girlfriend say about his death?
Actress Georgie Leahy was with Mark right up until his arrest for child-pornography.
She said she was having a manicure when the news broke.
"I collapsed in the nail salon," Leahy told The NY Post.
"What happened with Mark evoked so many complex feelings," she said.
"I didn't feel like I had permission to hurt because of everything he was accused of."
This was originally published by The Sun
