Jane Lynch celebrated Cory Monteith's role on Glee and paid tribute to his 'beautiful soul' at the 65th annual Emmy Awards last night.

Lynch led a tribute to her late co-star, who died from heroin overdose in a Canadian hotel in July, saying he was a 'wonderful' man whose addiction to drugs led to 'senseless destruction'.

She said: 'Cory was a beautiful soul. He was not perfect, which many of us here tonight can relate to. His death is a tragic reminder of the rapacious, senseless destruction that is brought on by addiction. Tonight we remember Cory for all he was and mourn the loss of all he could have been. To a generation that loved Cory so, please know this gifted and wonderful young man was worthy of your love.

'And if you were lucky enough to know Cory as we did, and witness first hand Cory's goofy, breezy sense of humour, his natural instinct for inclusiveness and his unbridled sense of generosity day in and day out, I promise you have loved him even more.'

Edie Falco meanwhile made an emotional speech about James Gandolfini who died from a heart attack earlier this year, celebrating the life of her TV husband on The Sopranos.