Main Cast and Characters
The original main cast of Glee featured Lea Michele as Rachel Berry, Cory Monteith as Finn Hudson, and Chris Colfer as Kurt Hummel. The ensemble also included Dianna Agron as Quinn Fabray, Mark Salling as Noah Puckerman, and Amber Riley as Mercedes Jones. Matthew Morrison played Will Schuester, the glee club director, while Jane Lynch portrayed Sue Sylvester, the antagonistic cheerleading coach. Jayma Mays and Kevin McHale rounded out the core group as Emma Pillsbury and Artie Abrams respectively. The series ran for six seasons on the Fox network, concluding in 2015 with a total of 121 episodes.
Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, and Chris Colfer were the three highest billed actors in the early seasons, with Monteith and Michele sharing top billing. Monteith's character Finn Hudson served as the central male protagonist for the first four seasons before his departure. Colfer's Kurt Hummel became a breakout character and was later promoted to a series regular for the final two seasons. Agron's Quinn Fabray was a central antagonist turned supporting character across multiple seasons. Riley's Mercedes Jones evolved from a background member to a fan favorite with prominent musical solos. Morrison and Lynch provided the adult dramatic anchors as the faculty advisors at McKinley High.
Cast Earnings and Contracts
By the final seasons, the main cast members were earning between 300,000 and 500,000 per episode, with Monteith and Michele at the top of the pay scale. The cast negotiated raises following strong ratings in the first three seasons, which consistently placed Glee in the top 25 most watched programs in the United States. Monteith and Michele signed a combined contract worth over 3 million per episode for the penultimate season. The show generated significant ancillary revenue through music sales, with the cast releasing over 70 singles that charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Glee also spawned a concert tour, a spin-off series, and a 2011 feature film that grossed over 42 million in its opening weekend.
Cast members also earned backend participation through music royalties, as the Glee cast albums regularly charted on the Billboard 200. The series soundtrack sold over 13 million copies in the United States, with individual cast members receiving points from record label deals. Monteith and Michele were the highest paid television actors on a single-camera comedy at the peak of their earnings. Agron, Colfer, and Riley secured pay increases in later seasons that reflected their growing importance to the show's narrative. The total cast compensation across all six seasons exceeded 150 million, making it one of the highest earning ensemble television casts of its era.
Where the Cast Is Now
Lea Michele has continued acting in television and theater, starring in the series Scream Queens and the Broadway musical Funny Girl. Chris Colfer has published multiple novels and won Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for his portrayal of Kurt Hummel. Amber Riley has pursued music and television work, including a role in the Broadway production of Dreamgirls. Matthew Morrison has remained active in theater, starring in productions of Hairspray and Guys and Dolls. Jane Lynch has had a prolific career in voice acting and comedy, including regular roles in animated series and award show hosting duties.
Cory Monteith passed away in July 2013, and his character Finn Hudson was written out of the series with a tribute episode. Mark Salling faced legal issues in the years following the show and was sentenced to prison, with his death reported in January 2018. Dianna Agron has focused on directing and producing independent projects, while Kevin McHale has continued acting in television series and theater productions. Several cast members have reunited for anniversary specials and charitable events, and the show remains