Matthew Morrison - Glee's Mr Schuester - dedicates song to Cory Monteith at New York show

Glee’s Matthew Morrison paid tribute to co-star Cory Monteith during his New York show by dedicating a song to the late actor.

Morrison, who plays Mr Shuester in the Fox series, told the crowd at his show at 54 Below that Monteith was a “great young man” and likened him to a “brother.”

The singer, 34, changed his opening number to the song “What I Did for Love” from the Broadway classic A Chorus Line, which he dedicated to Monteith.

As he finished, Morrison said that it was “awkward” to continue to perform given Monteith’s sudden death, but said: “You guys came to see a show, I came to perform a show, so that’s what we’ll do. And we’ll do it in Cory’s honour.”

The song has a significant meaning to Glee, as Monteith’s girlfriend Lea Michele’s character Rachel Berry performed the ballad during the series two premiere in 2010.

Morrison, who worked with Monteith since the show’s inception in 2009, also offered his condolences to the Canadian actor’s family and girlfriend Lea Michele.

A statement released from Michele's official spokesperson said: “We ask that everyone kindly respect Lea’s privacy during this devastating time.”

Monteith, 31, who played Finn Hudson in Glee, was found dead in his hotel room in Vancouver shortly after midday on Saturday.

An autopsy on the actor’s body will take place today.