'Glee' star's boyfriend found dead in Center City hotel

THE PHILADELPHIA Medical Examiner's Office said yesterday that the sudden death of a young Los Angeles nightclub entrepreneur Thursday at a Center City hotel remains unclear pending further investigation.

Matt Bendik, 31, who was dating "Glee" actress Becca Tobin, was found unconscious inside his room Thursday by a maid at the Hotel Monaco, on Chestnut Street near 5th in Center City, according to police and published reports.

"The autopsy did not immediately establish a clear cause of death," Department of Public Health spokesman Jeff Moran said in a statement. "There was no evidence of trauma.

"As is the usual procedure in evaluating a sudden, unexpected death, the Philadelphia medical examiner will be conducting additional studies."

He did not say when the additional tests would be completed.

The hotel staffer discovered Bendik about 1 p.m., police said, and TMZ.com reported he was facedown on his bed. He was pronounced dead at the scene, about 1:20 p.m.

Police said nothing in the room appeared suspicious. They don't believe foul play or suicide played a role in Bendik's death. Investigators found no medications, drugs, paraphernalia, alcohol or weapons in the room, TMZ reported.

At Hotel Monaco yesterday, general manager Mark Hughes declined to comment to the Daily News. "We cannot confirm or deny any reports" in the media, he said.

Bendik was last seen before midnight on Wednesday by a manager at a local unnamed club, the website reported.

Bendik's early death comes three days shy of the one-year anniversary of "Glee" star Cory Monteith's death by a drug overdose. Monteith, like Bendik, was 31 years old at the time of death and found by staff at a Vancouver hotel. Monteith was dating fellow "Glee" star Lea Michele.

Initial reports of the mysterious death stated that Tobin, 28, and Bendik were seen on the town here Wednesday night, but TMZ later reported that the actress, who has been on "Glee" since 2012, playing Kitty Wilde, did not accompany him to Philadelphia. Bendik, who runs clubs in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Honolulu, apparently was in Philadelphia on a business trip.

He reportedly is involved with Recess Lounge, a private social club on 2nd Street near Chestnut, but it could not be confirmed late yesterday. Calls to Recess went unanswered.

Bendik was a graduate of Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration.

The Twitter page for one of his clubs, DBA Hollywood (@dbahollywood) posted a black background, apparently in tribute to Bendik. The account also posted a photo of a sign outside the club that read, "We love you Matt."

Bendik's last tweet was sent Wednesday featuring a link to his Instagram photo of Tobin with the hashtag WCW, or Women Crush Wednesday.