What Happened to the Glee Cast? Where Are They Now?

From Lea Michele and Darren Criss to Jane Lynch and Chris Colfer, here’s where the stars of Glee are today.

August 14, 2026: When Glee premiered on Fox in 2009, few people could have predicted how deeply the musical comedy-drama would become part of pop culture.

The series followed the students and teachers of William McKinley High School as they navigated friendships, romance, family struggles and the pressure of fitting in, all while competing through their school’s glee club. Over six seasons and 121 episodes, Glee turned its young cast into international stars and introduced audiences to a huge collection of unforgettable characters and musical performances.

More than a decade after the series finale aired in 2015, many of the show’s stars have taken very different paths. Some continued acting, others returned to Broadway, while several built careers in music, writing, producing and podcasting.

At the same time, the Glee family has experienced heartbreaking losses that forever changed the way fans remember the show.

HOLR breaks down where some of Glee’s most recognizable stars are now and what they have been doing since leaving the halls of McKinley High.

Lea Michele

Lea Michele became one of Glee’s central stars through her portrayal of ambitious performer Rachel Berry.

After Glee, Michele continued working in television, appearing in Scream Queens and The Mayor, while also releasing music. However, Broadway remained an important part of her career.

In 2022, Michele returned to Broadway as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl, taking over the role during the show’s run. More recently, she starred as Florence Vassy in the Broadway revival of Chess, which concluded its run in June 2026.

Away from the stage, Michele has also focused on her family life. She married Zandy Reich in 2019, and the couple now have two children, Ever and Emery.

Darren Criss

Darren Criss went from playing Blaine Anderson to building an impressive career across television, film and Broadway.

After Glee, Criss continued his collaboration with Ryan Murphy, most notably playing serial killer Andrew Cunanan in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story. His performance earned him both an Emmy and a Golden Globe.

Broadway has also been a major part of his career. In 2025, Criss starred in Maybe Happy Ending, a production that earned major recognition and brought him his first Tony Awards for both his performance and the musical itself.

Criss is also a musician and co-founded Elsie Fest, a music festival celebrating Broadway and pop performers.

Chris Colfer

Chris Colfer became a fan favorite as Kurt Hummel, a character whose storylines helped make Glee particularly meaningful to many viewers.

Following the show, Colfer expanded his career beyond acting. He became a successful author, particularly through his children’s book series The Land of Stories.

He has continued writing while making occasional screen appearances, choosing a somewhat quieter path than some of his former castmates.

Colfer’s post-Glee career demonstrates how the show’s stars did not necessarily need to remain in traditional Hollywood roles to stay creatively successful.

Jane Lynch

Jane Lynch was already an established actress before Glee, but Sue Sylvester introduced her to an entirely new generation of viewers.

Since the series ended, Lynch has remained one of the busiest members of the cast.

She has continued working in television, film, animation and theater, while also becoming a familiar television host. She has hosted Hollywood Game Night and Weakest Link and appeared in shows including The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Only Murders in the Building.

Her career after Glee has been particularly diverse, proving that Sue Sylvester was only one chapter in a much longer acting career.

Matthew Morrison

Matthew Morrison played teacher and glee club director Will Schuester.

Following Glee, Morrison continued working in television and theater, including appearances on Younger, Grey’s Anatomy and other productions.

He has also remained connected to music, releasing albums and performing live.

Morrison’s career has moved between Broadway, television and music, much like it did before his Glee years.

Amber Riley

Amber Riley’s powerful voice made Mercedes Jones one of Glee’s most memorable performers.

After the show, Riley continued to build a career around music and musical theater.

She won Dancing With the Stars in 2013 and later earned an Olivier Award for her performance as Effie White in the West End production of Dreamgirls.

Riley has also released solo music and appeared in television projects, continuing to showcase the vocal talent that first made Mercedes such a beloved character.

Harry Shum Jr.

Harry Shum Jr. played Mike Chang, one of Glee’s talented dancers and performers.

After Glee, Shum moved into several major television and film roles. He played Magnus Bane on Shadowhunters and later joined Grey’s Anatomy as Dr. Benson “Blue” Kwan.

His film career also grew significantly. Shum appeared in Crazy Rich Asians, All My Life and Everything Everywhere All at Once, the latter becoming one of the most celebrated films of its year.

His post-Glee career is a strong example of one cast member successfully moving from a musical television series into mainstream film and drama.

Jenna Ushkowitz

Jenna Ushkowitz played Tina Cohen-Chang, one of the original members of New Directions.

After Glee, Ushkowitz returned to the stage and also moved into producing. She was part of the producing team behind Once on This Island, which won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical.

She has also worked on podcasts, including a Glee rewatch podcast with former co-star Kevin McHale.

Today, Ushkowitz continues to balance entertainment work with family life. She and her husband, David Stanley, have two children.

Kevin McHale

Kevin McHale played Artie Abrams and has remained closely connected to the Glee fandom.

Since the series ended, McHale has worked in television, music and hosting. He has also reunited with former Glee colleagues for other projects.

McHale and Ushkowitz have continued discussing the show through their rewatch podcast, giving longtime fans an opportunity to revisit episodes and memories from behind the scenes.

In 2026, McHale also spoke out against fans who continued promoting the idea that Glee was “cursed” because of the deaths of several former cast members. He criticized the theory and emphasized that the people involved were real individuals with families and loved ones.

Naya Rivera

Naya Rivera’s legacy remains one of the most emotional parts of the Glee story.

Rivera played Santana Lopez, a character who became particularly important to LGBTQ+ viewers and remains one of the show’s most remembered characters.

After Glee, Rivera appeared in Devious Maids and Step Up: High Water and released her memoir, Sorry Not Sorry: Dreams, Mistakes, and Growing Up.

Rivera died in July 2020 at age 33 after accidentally drowning in California’s Lake Piru while on a boat trip with her young son, Josey.

Her death profoundly affected her former castmates and fans around the world.

Cory Monteith

Cory Monteith played Finn Hudson, one of Glee’s original leading characters and Rachel Berry’s longtime love interest.

Monteith died in July 2013 at age 31 from mixed drug toxicity involving heroin and alcohol.

His death occurred while Glee was still airing, and the series addressed his passing through the season five episode “The Quarterback.”

Monteith’s death remains one of the defining tragedies associated with Glee, particularly because he was still an active member of the cast when he died.

His relationship with Michele also made his loss especially difficult for fans, as the two were dating at the time.

Mark Salling

Mark Salling played Noah “Puck” Puckerman, one of Glee’s original characters.

Salling’s career ended after he pleaded guilty in 2017 to possession of child pornography. He died by suicide in January 2018 at age 35, before his scheduled sentencing.

His story is now a difficult part of the show’s history and is separate from the legacy created by the fictional character he played.

The Glee Cast’s Legacy

Looking back at the Glee cast today is complicated.

For some stars, the series became the beginning of award-winning careers across Broadway, television and film. For others, it was one chapter in a much longer creative journey.

The cast has also experienced profound personal losses, particularly the deaths of Monteith, Salling and Rivera.

Those tragedies have sometimes led to insensitive online theories about a supposed “Glee curse.” In 2026, former cast members have pushed back against that idea, asking fans to remember their former colleagues as real people rather than characters in a story.

Meanwhile, Glee itself continues to find new audiences.

More than a decade after the finale, the series remains popular with younger viewers, and creator Ryan Murphy recently acknowledged that he understands why audiences continue to connect with the show. He has even discussed the possibility of revisiting Glee in some form, although no reboot has been officially announced.

HOLR breaks down what happened to the Glee cast, and their stories show just how much can change after a television series becomes a cultural phenomenon.

Some members found new stages. Others found new creative careers. And some left behind legacies that fans continue to remember.

For longtime Gleeks, the music may have ended at McKinley High years ago, but the cast’s stories are still unfolding.

FAQs

What happened to the Glee cast?

Many Glee stars continued successful careers in television, film, Broadway, music and writing after the series ended in 2015.

Where is Lea Michele now?

Lea Michele has continued her Broadway and music career and most recently starred in the Broadway revival of Chess, which ended its run in June 2026.

What is Darren Criss doing now?

Darren Criss continues to work in television and theater. His recent major Broadway success came with Maybe Happy Ending, for which he won Tony Awards in 2025.

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