Until his untimely demise in 2018, American actor, singer, songwriter, composer, and musician Mark Salling was worth $100,000.
On the Fox series “Glee,” Mark Salling played the role of Noah “Puck” Puckerman. Smoke Signals and Pipe Dreams are two of his records as a recording artist. After pleading guilty to charges of having child pornography, Salling took his own life in early 2018.
Mark killed himself on January 30, 2018. Friends reported him missing after he went absent for some time. He had just pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography and was awaiting punishment at the time. As part of the plea deal, he agreed to a term of between four and seven years in prison.
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Early Life and Education
Mark Salling, the youngest and second child of school secretary Condy and accountant John, was born on August 17, 1982, in Dallas. His early education was at home, and he later attended Culver Military Academy and Lake Highlands High School, from which he graduated in 2001.
In order to further his guitar education, Salling enrolled in the Los Angeles Music Academy College of Music.
Glee actor Mark Salling’s net worth revealed – and his victims may not get a penny https://t.co/tnX0awCHAs pic.twitter.com/1YiFMXLtXf
— Chochilino (@ChochilinoRadio) February 1, 2018
Recording Career
Under the moniker Jericho, Salling first released songs as a professional singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. His first album, named “Smoke Signals,” was published by Jericho Records in early 2008.
Pipe Dreams Records was Salling’s own independent record label that issued his 2010 album of the same name. The album’s lead track, named “Higher Power,” was a smashing success.
Glee
Salling’s big break came in 2009 when he was cast in the starring role of Kurt Hummel on the Fox television musical series “Glee,” which follows the exploits of a fictional Ohio high school glee club. As Noah “Puck” Puckerman, he was Cory Monteith’s best friend and football teammate as Finn Hudson.
Chris Colfer, Lea Michele, Amber Riley, Darren Criss, Naya Rivera, Matthew Morrison, Jane Lynch, and many others made up “Gleebig “‘s an ensemble cast. After four seasons as a series regular, Salling was demoted to a guest star position for the final two seasons.
Over the years, he sang duets and solos on the series, covering songs including “Sweet Caroline,” “Just Give Me a Reason,” “Fat Bottomed Girls,” and “Good Vibrations.” Salling and the other cast members won the SAG Award for Best Ensemble in a Comedy Series. The final episode of “Glee” aired in 2015.
Other Acting Roles
Salling’s acting experience predates “Glee,” though, and she has been in a number of films and TV shows. His first cinematic role was in 1996’s “Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering,” the fourth film in the “Children of the Corn” slasher franchise.
Naomi Watts, Karen Black, and Brent Jennings were the stars. The 2006 slasher flick “The Graveyard” marked Salling’s return to the arena of direct-to-video film releases.
In 1999, Salling had an appearance on the action-crime series “Walker, Texas Ranger,” in addition to his numerous television acting gigs. Thereafter, he made an appearance in the 2014 TV movie “Rocky Road.”
Personal Life
Salling dated his “Glee” co-star Naya Rivera from 2007 to 2010. After that, from 2010 to 2011, he dated DJ and Playboy model Roxanne Dawn.
Salling, notably, produced a theme song for the Los Angeles-based Echo Park Ornithology Club, where he was a lifelong member and dedicated birdwatcher.
S*xual Assault Charges
DJ Roxanne Dawn, Salling’s ex-girlfriend, accused him of s*xual assault at the beginning of 2013. The allegation stemmed from Dawn’s assertion that the two had engaged in unprotected s*x without her knowledge.
Salling has responded with a defamation lawsuit, claiming that the accusations are false. In 2015, the two reached a mutually agreeable out-of-court settlement in which Salling paid Dawn $2.7 million.
Child Pornography Charges
Late in 2015, Salling was arrested on suspicion of holding hundreds of images and films of child pornography, which only added to his legal woes. Over 50,000 child pornographic photographs were discovered on his computer and flash drives after he was released on $20,000 bail.
The following May 2016, Salling was arrested and charged with receipt and possession of child pornography. He entered a guilty plea to possession the following year and was due to be sentenced in March of 2018. It was anticipated that Salling would receive a sentence of four to seven years in prison and be required to participate in a rehabilitation program.
Suicide
Salling hanged himself near his Los Angeles home at the end of January 2018, less than two months before his sentence hearing. His death was officially classified as a suicide by the city coroner.