‘Glee’ Actor Mark Salling’s Death Caused by Asphyxia

Glee actor Mark Salling died from asphyxia by hanging, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner.

The coroner confirmed the cause of death Thursday, two days after his death from an apparent suicide, reports TMZ. Salling was found dead by law enforcement, hanging from a tree by the Big Tujunga Creek, near his Sunland home in Los Angeles.

Salling was 35 years old and was weeks away from being sentenced for possession of child pornography. He pleaded guilty to charges in December after reaching a plea deal, accepting four to seven years in prison. He also faced 20 years of supervised release after his prison sentence.

The sentencing hearing was scheduled for March and the actor was out on bail.

The actor, who played Puck on Glee, also agreed to pay $50,000 in restitution to any victims who requested it. Prosecutors said there were over 50,000 images on his computer, some showing children as young as 3 years old.

Salling reportedly had the money to pay some victims. TMZ reported that Salling created a corporation in 2009 to manage his income from Glee. The value of the business, managed by his father, was reportedly worth $1.971 million. Victims seeking restitution could still sue Salling’s estate.

“I can confirm that Mark Salling passed away early this morning,” Salling’s family said in a statement through their attorney. “Mark was a gentle and loving person, a person of great creativity, who was doing his best to atone for some serious mistakes and errors of judgment. He is survived by his mother and father, and his brother. The Salling family appreciates the support they have been receiving and asks for their privacy to be respected.”

Salling reportedly attempted suicide multiple times before his death. Back in August, he reportedly cut his wrists and went to a rehab facility for psychological treatments before he reached the plea deal.

“He was in a dark place. He was very lonely. He was very depressed,” a friend told Us Weekly Tuesday. “He was going to prison soon. Whoever was in his life pretty much cut him off.”

The friend told Us Weekly that many people “cut” Salling out of their lives after he was arrested.

“There’s really no words in this sort of situation,” the friend told Us Weekly. “His closest friends are just in shock — from everything over the past couple of years.”