monteith was born in calgary, alberta and raised in victoria, british columbia. he had one older brother. his parents divorced when he was 7 years old. he lived with his mother in calgary, alberta, with his father living in oromocto, new brunswick. before becoming an actor, he worked in nanaimo, british columbia as a wal-mart people greeter, at a car wash, taxicab driver, school bus driver and roofer.